Sitting at the cross-section of Scandinavian folk and ambient electronica, multi-instrumentalist Ola Szmidt weaves a landscape from the sounds of the air surrounding her to create her latest release, "Rooted." Szmidt, a recipient of the Steve Reid Innovation Award, sets the foundation of "Rooted" by looping the clippings of her own voice into a distinct pulse. A piano chord enters shortly after that pulse is set, creating oscillation between the ringing notes and the upswing of Szmidt’s looped in-breathes. From that ebb and flow, a mantra of healing is born.
Szmidt’s body of work showcases her ability to construct spaces that tactfully display as both delicate and sharp, without either aspect dominating the presentation. Her recording catalog is primarily built out of looping - whether it be her flute, guitar, or her own voice - creating a space where an ensemble can emerge from the actions of a single person. Her first EP was produced by Kieran Hebden following her receiving the Steve Reid Innovation Award, and she has since gone on to enroll as a masters student of Improved Music and Jazz at the University of York.
On “Rooted,” Szmidt initiates the narrative of regrowth with words that echo the actions of a forest emerging from the ashes of a fire, from the perspective of a single rose. She sings, “Somewhere in the basement / there is a rose petal burnt / I will recover every single one of them / I imagine my legs rooted to the Earth / I am grateful.” In the woven space built grown out of Szmidt’s echos and layers, a sense of tired relief can be felt all around the listener. The fire is over, the air is calm, and it's safe to come out. The healing journey can begin.
