Ollella - Antifragile (2025) Hi-Res

Ollella’s Antifragile is a boundary-pushing album that blends folk, pop, and rock with the emotive power of cello and electric guitar to create a powerful, resilient album that captures creativity and clarity amid chaos. Seattle's music scene has been illuminated by the power of Ollella, not only as a singer-songwriter but as a luminary weaving threads of folk, pop, and rock into her distinctive musical canvas. With her sophomore album, Antifragile, Ollella, known offstage as Ellie Barber, has embarked on a journey that transcends conventional genres, carving out a space that is uniquely hers amidst the tumultuous landscape of modern music.

Antifragile follows Ollella's critically acclaimed 2023 release, Back Back Back. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Cat Power and Joni Mitchell, Ollella embodies a contemporary spirit within the folk tradition, pushing boundaries with every chord and lyric.

Ollella's prowess as a classically trained cellist-turned-indie-rock frontwoman is palpable throughout the album. Half of the songs on Antifragile were penned on her cello, while the remainder were crafted on a four-string electric guitar tuned to mimic the cello's resonance. This duality of earthy, acoustic tones and edgy electric textures forms the foundation of her sonic identity, a dialogue between instruments that resonates deeply within the album's compositions.

Recorded at Sage Arts Recording in Arlington, Washington, under the guidance of producer and guitarist Jordan Cunningham, Antifragile captures the essence of Ollella's musical evolution. Joined by a talented ensemble including drummers Sean Lane and Emily Silks, bassist Nate Sharp, and with arrangements by trombonist Willem de Koch of the Westerlies, Ollella has crafted an album that is both intricate and expansive.

The album's lead single, "Optimist," exemplifies Ollella's departure from musical norms. As noted by Music Mecca, her redefinition of musical structure anticipates the unpredictable beauty that defines Antifragile. This sentiment echoes through the album's second single, "Mothers & Colors," where Ollella deftly navigates complex time signatures against a backdrop of soulful vocals and evocative instrumentation.

Beyond its musical innovation, Antifragile serves as a poignant commentary on resilience in the face of contemporary challenges. Named after the concept coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the album reflects Ollella's belief in the human spirit's capacity to not just withstand but thrive amidst chaos. Each track - from the introspective "At Rest," recently performed for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest (watch it here), to the dynamic "Mothers & Colors" - offers a glimpse into Ollella's world, where clarity emerges from chaos and creativity knows no bounds.

As Ollella herself reflects, "The conversation between the cello and tenor guitar felt very fluid to me while writing this album, and that conversation definitely shows up in the album’s sonics. The cello is earthy, the electric guitar is edgy." Her music, enriched by personal and musical growth, has resonated with listeners seeking depth and authenticity in an ever-changing world.