Australian Songstress Enchants the New Deal

In the back room of the New Deal Café, an enchanting voice that bounced high and low through the Greenbelt venue could be heard Wednesday night.

Wendy Rule was on stage.

Sporting a black cami and burgundy dress draped with black lace, Rule, along with accompanist and fiancé, Timothy Van Diest, took the crowd of almost 40 on a two-hour long journey full of fairy tales and mythology.

The independent artist, raised in Melbourne, Australia, first took the stage at the young age of 15. Rule, now 44, has toured all of her home country and has ventured on to Europe and the United States. She has released six full-length albums since 1996 and will soon release “Don’t Be Scared,” an album that “explores the world of dark fairy tale.”

Inspired by nature, love, magic and the universe, Rule, a practicing witch, describes her style as “dark, magical folk.”

“The fairies give them to me,” Rule said about song ideas forming in her head.

The night started with some mingling with the songstress. A handful of people seemed familiar with Rule and her music, shouting song requests throughout the night.

Before singing, Rule cast a “magical circle,” a ritual she performs at the start of every performance as a way to call on the four elements of earth, air, water and fire.

And then, a night of magic began.

The first song, “Horses,” from her 2003 album, “The Lotus Eaters” was well-received by the crowd, who clapped and shouted in approval. A slew of songs, including, “Radiate,” “Guided by Venus” and “Vasilisa,” followed, which incorporated Rule’s motherly love for her 19-year-old son, Reuben, Greek mythology and a Russian fairy tale.

Alongside Van Diest, who played guitar and provided backup vocals, Rule captivated the audience with her sense of humor and riveting storytelling.

By the end of the night, the audience had witnessed 11 of Rule’s  magical songs and left with a trail of mystical energy.

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