Bio: Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees

Halifax-based electro-dance outfit Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees is an artful blend of honeysuckle and poison. Bitter yet sweet, the quartet of viscid nectar collectors harvest sounds akin to Tiga, Daft Punk, MSTRKRFT and '80s-era Madonna.

Queen bee Rebekah Higgs' ethereal-vocals are fused with dense instrumentation by her fellow insects Colin Crowell on beats and production, Sean MacGillivry on drums and Jason "JVo" Vautour on guitar.

Since their humble bedroom dance-party inception Rebekah and Colin felt limited by their resources, but persevered with fierce determination and exploration. In recent months they've figured out the precise recipe for beekeeping. Colin is quarter part sonic scientist. JVo is the arms. Sean is the legs and Rebekah fills out the equation with her vocal powerhouse – the lungs of Ruby Jean.

Never quite satisfied or easily distilled, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees are in a constant state of evolution – shedding old skins and bringing their unparagoned sound to the next level.

Dressed to kill in shimmering gold jackets and vintage-inspired glam dresses, it's no surprise Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees recently took home best dressed in alt. weekly The Coast's Best of Music Awards. These well-tailored bumble bees are all about extravagance – glitter, glitz, rubies, and gold galore. Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees indulge in the extraordinary, having shared the staged with such world-renowned acts as Kid Koala, Team Canada DJs and You Say Party! We Say Die!

The Dalhousie Gazette hailed Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees live performance as "an underlay of prefabricated drum beats, not overpowering and still encouraging to a dance floor breakdown. The band produced electronic noises to amplify the beat, and Higg's vocals and shimmy dancing are centre stage."

Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees have created a space for experimental trip-hop in a seemingly traditional historic port town. Sean's interest peaked after catching their debut show at Stage 9, a since-defunct bar downtown. He was drawn to the band's unique arrangements and vision, "for me it's a crazy lady with a crazy swarm of music buzzing around her. Everyone brings such myriad influences to the table; it's a hornets' nest of styles and energy."

Inspired by the names of both her grandmothers, Rebekah finds having an alter-ego a bit of a relief – her creativity is spontaneous and unfiltered. "I came up with this fictional character Ruby Jean Poole and after the thoughtful bees was added in a nursery rhyme/children's story fashion."

Ruby Jean is vicariously represented through various costumes and post cards of vintage pin-up poster girls. "My grandfather was always taking pictures of my grandmother in her bathing suit when they were first married. I have many pictures of her taken in her '20s in these silly poses. She was beautiful and confident. I want that side of her to live on."

Drawing upon their various cultural styles and influences, all members of Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful perform in other projects. From Sean's legendary Great Plains and Jenn Grant & Her Night Painters, to Rebekah's solo endeavours, Colin's integral role in Jon McKiel's band and JVo's signature guitar work in Jon Epworth and the Improvements, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees sets the bar for original style.

The unlikeness of this musical collaboration merely adds to their mystical allure. Discover their dance-floor assault and magical jewel accents this summer when Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees turn their pollen into syrupy sweet honey and release their highly anticipated album.

*photography by Robin Hart Hiltz