{{Short description|American-Russian musician (born 1983)}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | birth_name = Olga Balashova | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|10|3|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR | origin = Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * synthesizer * beats * piano }} | genre = {{flatlist| * electronic * classical }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * singer * songwriter * producer * composer * remixer * video director }} | years_active = 2007–present | label = {{flatlist| * One Little Independent Records * New Amsterdam Records }} | associated_acts = {{flatlist| * Dirty Projectors * Chairlift * Nothankyou * BELL * Son Lux }} | website = {{URL|bellinspace.com}} }}
'''Olga Bell''' (born '''Olga Balashova''', {{langx|ru|Ольга Балашова}}, 3 October 1983) is an American musician, music producer, composer, and singer-songwriter. She was born in Moscow, Russia, raised in Anchorage, Alaska and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. A classically trained pianist and self-taught electronic music producer, she has worked in a wide range of genres, including classical, electronic pop, and Russian folk. Best known for ''Край (Krai)'', a tribute to her Russian heritage, and ''Diamonite'', an album she produced with Gunnar Olsen and Jason Nazary under the moniker '''BELL''', she has also played in Chairlift and Dirty Projectors and collaborated with Tom Vek under the name '''Nothankyou'''. In 2016, Bell released her third studio album ''Tempo''.
==Early life== Bell started playing the piano at age seven, after moving with her mother from Moscow to Anchorage, Alaska and made her public debut two years later.<ref name="Paganwood">{{cite web|title = The Muse of Ice: Olga Bell|url = http://paganwood.co/2014/04/24/the-muse-of-ice-olga-bell/|website = Paganwood|date = 24 April 2014|access-date = 27 August 2015|archive-date = 22 February 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180222043910/https://paganwood.co/2014/04/24/the-muse-of-ice-olga-bell/|url-status = dead}}</ref> Bell studied under Svetlana Velichko, a former Moscow Conservatory professor and Samuel Feinberg student, and at age twelve performed an original composition for piano and orchestra with her hometown Anchorage Symphony. At sixteen, she performed as a concerto soloist with the Anchorage Civic Orchestra.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=%22Olga%20Balashova%22&s_dispstring=Olga%20Balashova%20AND%20section(all)%20AND%20date(1/1/1990%20to%201/1/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=1/1/1990%20to%201/1/2002)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes|title = PIANIST TAKES CIVIC ORCHESTRA TO NEW HEIGHTS|last = Dinitz|first = Ken|date = 15 November 1999|work = Alaska Dispatch News|access-date = 3 September 2015|archive-date = 28 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201028213322/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=%22Olga%20Balashova%22&s_dispstring=Olga%20Balashova%20AND%20section%28all%29%20AND%20date%281%2F1%2F1990%20to%201%2F1%2F2002%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=1%2F1%2F1990%20to%201%2F1%2F2002%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes|url-status = dead}}</ref> In high school, she attended the Aspen Music Festival and School on a scholarship.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.eng.andreyrubtsov.com/|title = Tsar's Tower Orchestra|last = Rubtsov|first = Andrey|date = 9 November 2000|work = AndreyRubtsov|access-date = 3 September 2015|archive-date = 11 August 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150811082437/http://www.eng.andreyrubtsov.com/|url-status = dead}}</ref> She was also a fellow of The Banff Centre and Yale's Norfolk Festival, where she studied with Claude Frank and members of the Juilliard, Tokyo and St. Petersburg String Quartets.<ref name="Paganwood" />
==Career== ===2005-13: Beginnings and ''Diamonite''=== In August 2005, having graduated from the New England Conservatory but not been accepted to the Juilliard School's graduate program, Bell moved to New York City to pursue music outside the classical realm.<ref name="New York Times"/> She bought a laptop and started recording herself, singing into the built-in mic and making beats.<ref name="Paganwood" /> From 2005 to 2010, Bell split her time between piano teaching and theater accompaniment gigs and pursuing her new musical project on the side.<ref name="Paganwood"/>
As she wrote new material for the project, she performed at open mics and formed a band, '''BELL''', with Jason Nazary, Mike Chiavaro, and Grey McMurray to perform the songs with her.<ref name="Paganwood"/><ref name="Stereogum BTW">{{cite web|title = Band To Watch: Bell|url=http://www.stereogum.com/8557/band_to_watch_bell/franchises/band-to-watch/|website = Stereogum|date = 25 March 2008|access-date = 5 April 2016}}</ref> In 2007, they self-produced and self-released the six-song ''Bell EP''. In 2011, with Chiavaro and McMurray having left the band, Bell worked with Jason Nazary and Gunnar Olsen to produce and release her first full-length album, ''Diamonite''.<ref name="Diamonite Bandcamp">{{cite web|title = Diamonite|url=https://bell.bandcamp.com/album/diamonite|website = Bandcamp|access-date= 5 April 2016}}</ref>
''Diamonite'' received positive critical reception, with The New York Times praising its "bubbly, glitchy electronic pop songs"<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/arts/music/05judd.html|title = Skipping Through Russia, Lingering in a Biblical Age|last = Smith|first = Steve|date = 4 March 2011|work = The New York Times|access-date = 27 August 2015}}</ref> driven by Bell's "powerful"<ref name="New York Times">{{cite web|title = Breaking From Her Norm to Connect With Her Tradition|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/30/arts/music/olga-bell-releases-her-russia-inspired-krai.html?_r=0|website = The New York Times|date = 30 April 2014|access-date = 27 August 2015|last = Anderson|first = Stacey}}</ref> voice. Consequence of Sound remarked that "while moments on ''Diamonite'' might recall other artists, the band never sounds imitative or even descendant of those influences".<ref name="Consequence of Sound">{{cite web|title = Bell Diamonite|url = https://consequence.net/2011/06/album-review-bell-diamonite/|website = Consequence of Sound|date = 15 June 2011|access-date = 27 August 2015|last = Mojica|first = Frank}}</ref>
Aside from her work on her own music, she produced remixes of tracks from Chairlift, Son Lux, Phoenix, Caroline Shaw, and others.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/eight-artists-remix-caroline-shaw/|title = An 8-Week Series of World Premiere Remixes of Shaw's Pulitzer Prize-Winning 'Partita'|last = Brown |first = Hannis|date = 26 December 2013|work = WQXR|access-date = 3 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Soundcloud">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell - Soundcloud|url=https://soundcloud.com/bellinspace/tracks|website=Soundcloud|access-date = 5 April 2016}}</ref> In 2009 she was selected by composer Osvaldo Golijov and soprano Dawn Upshaw for a workshop and concert at Carnegie Hall.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/arts/music/12dawn.html?_r=0|title = Composers and Performers, Together as Creators|last = Kozzin |first = Allan|date = 11 May 2009|work = The New York Times|access-date = 3 September 2015}}</ref>
===2013-15: ''Край (Krai)'' and Nothankyou=== In 2011, Bell received the Jerome Fund Grant from the American Composers Forum to aid in the completion of her first large-scale composition ''Край (Krai)''.<ref name="New York Times" /> The album was released to critical acclaim in 2014, following a sold-out live premiere at the Walker Art Center<ref name="Walker Art Centre">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell: Origin/Outcome|url = http://www.walkerart.org/calendar/2014/olga-bell-originoutcome|website = Walker Art Centre|access-date = 27 August 2015|date = 2014}}</ref> in Minneapolis. Though originally arranged for a twelve-piece electro-acoustic ensemble, it has also been adapted for solo voice with orchestra. ''Край'' was considered "fresh and new" by The Daily Telegraph.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10772343/Olga-Bell-Krai-review-fresh-and-challenging.html|title = Olga Bell, Krai, Review: 'Fresh and Challenging'|last = Brown|first = Helen|date = 23 April 2014|work = The Telegraph|access-date = 27 August 2015}}</ref>
During the same period as ''Край'''s recording, Bell pursued side project '''Nothankyou''' with British musician Tom Vek, releasing three dance tracks between 2012-14 through Moshi Moshi Records and independently on Soundcloud.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/nothankyouofficial|website=Soundcloud|title = Nothankyou - Soundcloud|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> In 2013, she directed a video for their single ''Oyster''.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.spin.com/2013/09/dirty-projectors-olga-bell-tom-vek-nothankyou-oyster-video/|title = Dirty Projectors' Olga Bell Plays Dress-Up in Nothankyou's 'Oyster' Video|last = McGovern |first = Kyle|date = 19 September 2013|work = SPIN|access-date = 3 September 2015}}</ref>
From 2011 to 2013, Bell toured as a keyboardist and vocalist for Chairlift and Dirty Projectors.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-jul-25-la-et-ms-dirty-projectors-20120726-story.html|title = Dirty Projector Swings to a Different Spirit in New Album|last = Wood|first = Makael|date = 25 July 2012|work = Los Angeles Times|access-date = 27 August 2015}}</ref>
===2015-present: ''Incitation'' and ''Tempo''=== In mid-2015, Bell toured with Son Lux and premiered live versions of songs from ''Incitation'', an EP she released on One Little Independent Records later that year, and ''Tempo'', a full-length album to be released the following year.<ref name="Son Lux tour dates">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/sonlux/videos/10152943274434495/|title=Son Lux 2015 tour dates|website=Facebook |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="Tempo bandcamp">{{cite web|url=https://bell.bandcamp.com/album/tempo|title=Tempo|website=Bandcamp|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>
thumb|Olga Bell performing in London in 2016
On 12 August 2015, Nowness premiered the video for "Goalie", the last track on ''Incitation'', which Bell co-directed with Christina Ladwig.<ref name="Nowness">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell: Goalie|url = https://www.nowness.com/story/olga-bell-goalie-incitation-ep|website = Nowness|date = 12 August 2015|last = Wignall|first = James|access-date = 27 August 2015}}</ref> Bell also worked with Noah Kalina to produce a lyric video for the EP's title track.<ref name="Incitation video">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell - Incitation (Lyric Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5kYJNvru_o|website = YouTube|date = 15 September 2015|access-date = 16 July 2016}}</ref> ''Incitation'' was released on 16 October 2015. Pitchfork compared it to works by FKA Twigs and Björk, saying it "has an economy of purpose and more serious bent than her previous electronic work" and praising its "melismatic melodies and damaged electronic architecture" while also lamenting that it "hints in plenty of promising directions but hesitates from going all the way toward them."<ref name="pitchfork incitation">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell: Incitation EP Album Review|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21089-incitation-ep/|website = Pitchfork|first = Winston|last = Cook-Wilson|date = 19 October 2015|access-date = 16 July 2016}}</ref>
On 9 March 2016, Bell released "Randomness", which Pitchfork named Best New Track.<ref name="pitchfork randomness">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell: Randomness|website = Pitchfork|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18108-olga-bell-randomness/|date = 17 March 2016|access-date = 16 July 2016|first = Philip|last = Sherburne}}</ref> After releasing videos for "Randomness" and "ATA", Bell announced that ''Tempo'', her third full-length album would be released on 27 May 2016. On ''Tempo'', Bell explored dance music genres in order to create a record "first for the body, then for the mind."<ref name="Tempo bandcamp"/> The Quietus said it "takes the recognisable features of a genre and subverts them, playing on our conceptions of musical familiarity and never letting the audience grow complacent."<ref name="Quietus tempo">{{cite web|title = Review: Olga Bell|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/20411-olga-bell-tempo-album-review|website = The Quietus|first = Hannah|last = Williams|date = 14 June 2016|access-date = 16 July 2016}}</ref>
In the summer of 2016, Bell toured in the U.S. and Europe supporting Chairlift, Empress Of, and Yeasayer.<ref name="europe tour 2016">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell 2016 tour dates|website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/bellinspace/photos/a.207407132644622.66501.185298801522122/1190331231018869/|access-date = 16 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="chairlift tour 2016">{{cite web|title = Olga Bell 2016 tour dates|website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/bellinspace/photos/a.207407132644622.66501.185298801522122/1155350207850305/|access-date = 16 July 2016}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== * ''Diamonite'' <small>(as '''BELL''')</small> (2011) – CD, digital * ''Край (Krai)'' (2014) – 12" vinyl, CD, digital – New Amsterdam Records, One Little Independent Records * ''Tempo'' (2016) – One Little Independent Records
===EPs=== * ''Bell'' EP <small>(as '''BELL''')</small> (2007) – CD, digital * ''Incitation'' EP (2015) – 12" vinyl, CD, digital – One Little Independent Records
===Singles=== * ''Magic Tape'' <small>(as '''BELL''')</small> (2009) – 7" vinyl, CD, digital – twosyllable records * ''Dialtone'' <small>(as '''BELL''')</small> (2012) – digital * ''Know Yourself / Oyster'' Single <small>(with Tom Vek as '''Nothankyou''')</small> (2013) – 7" vinyl, digital – Moshi Moshi Records * ''Randomness'' (2016) – digital – One Little Independent Records * ''ATA'' (2016) – digital – One Little Independent Records
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * {{official website|bellinspace.com}} * [https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinspace/ YouTube] * [https://bell.bandcamp.com/ Bandcamp] *[https://vimeo.com/3653550/ Olga Bell BELL] (Music Fashion Magazine, 2009) *[http://composersforum.org/discover/articles/interview-olga-bell/ An Interview with Olga Bell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927123508/http://composersforum.org/discover/articles/interview-olga-bell |date=27 September 2015 }} (American Composers Forum, 2014) *[http://maxtotskywillbreakyourlegs.tumblr.com/post/95403166755/interview-olga-bell/ Interview with Olga Bell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210210912/http://maxtotskywillbreakyourlegs.tumblr.com/post/95403166755/interview-olga-bell |date=10 December 2015 }} (MaxTotskywillbreakyourlegs, 2014) *[http://thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/olga-bell/ Olga Bell] (The Great Discontent, 2012) *[http://www.loudandquiet.com/2014/07/olga-bell// Interview: Olga Bell]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} (Loud And Quiet, 2014) *[http://blogs.walkerart.org/performingarts/2014/02/05/olga-bell-dirty-projectors-angel-deradoorian// “Reckoning with my Russianness”: Olga Bell on Origin/Outcome] (Walker Art Center, 2014) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20151119095133/http://thetalkhouse.com/music/talks/nika-danilova-zola-jesus-talks-olga-bells-krai/ Nika Danilova (Zola Jesus) Talks Olga Bell’s Krai] (The Talk House, 2014) {{Dirty Projectors}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Olga}} Category:21st-century American composers Category:21st-century American women composers Category:Russian women composers Category:Singers from Moscow Category:Musicians from Anchorage, Alaska Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Russian emigrants to the United States Category:Dirty Projectors members Category:21st-century Russian women singers