Ollabelle

Artist’s Website

Featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered”, Ollabelle draws inspiration and materials from a deep well of rural American roots music — including gospel, blues, bluegrass, and country — while re-imagining these sounds for contemporary audiences. Their music honors the spirit and substance of its original sources as it flourishes today. An egalitarian sextet whose members’ résumés run the gamut from rock, jazz and pop to avant-folk and downtown classical ensembles, Ollabelle’s most striking sonic trademark is their seamless vocal blends, relaxed yet confident and self-assured. “Ollabelle is very much a democracy,” says singer Amy Helm (musician Levon Helm’s daughter). “Everybody comes from such incredibly different backgrounds, but there are points musically which are the common ground. It’s a shared endeavor where everybody gets an equal say.” Inspired by the spirit and sound of the
traditional country singer, Ola Belle Reed, the six musicians decided to call their group “Ollabelle.” Their self-titled debut album was released on DMZ/Columbia Records earlier this year.