Yola

Inspired by country and soul from the likes of Aretha Franklin, The Band, Gillian Welch, Gene Clark, The Byrds, Staple Singers, Emmylou Harris, Otis Redding and Dolly Parton, Yola is a force of nature and an incredibly talented singer and writer. After several years as a writer, producer and featured vocalist with dance artists such as Massive Attack, Duke Dumont and Chase & Status and a spell fronting the acclaimed band Phantom Limb, before embarking on a solo career. From her very first show, Yola has been burning up stages all over the UK, Europe and Canada with a killer combination of her huge voice, larger-than-life stage presence, a brilliant band and superb songs.Walk Through Fire, her long-awaited debut album, confirms Yola’s status as the queen of country soul from the very first note. The Dan Auerbach (Black Keys)–produced album is a contemporary twist on a traditional sonic tapestry of orchestral strings, fiddle, steel, and shimmering tremolo guitars. Walk Through Fire is a genre-bending release from one of the most exciting artists on the British music scene today. Watch out for her on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on Dec 31st!‘She's a powerhouse of a singer: she's part Southern soul, she's part gospel and she's completely amazing. You'll want to remember her name: Yola.’ - The Current, NPR‘A voice that can range from confessional coo one moment, to full-on heart-wrenching howl the next…her roots may be English, but what she brought was otherworldly.’ - Rolling Stone‘Sporting an afro that’s almost as spectacular as her voice, Yola explores that glorious territory between country and soul… authentic Americana with a British soul’ - **** The Times