Hello reader,
How are you today?
Today, we’re excited to shed light on another artist we know you’ll enjoy: Ollella. If you’re looking at the name and trying to decipher how to say it, please allow me to help, oh-lel-uh. Ollella is the moniker of Ellie Barber, who not only is a classically trained cellist (since the age of 9) but also is a vocalist and songwriter. Barber, who is based in Seattle, is making a name for herself in the Pacific Northwest after releasing her debut album Back Back Back in 2023, which garnered some acclaim.
Ollella catapulted into our world at SWT after releasing the first single, “Optimist,” in December and the second single, “Mothers & Colors.” Nearly two weeks ago, she released her third single, “At Rest,” off her upcoming album, Antifragile (out March 21st). We liked what we heard off of those first two singles and wanted to advocate and shed the spotlight upon Ollella.
The press release for “At Rest” drops a big name in the music media world: “Among others who her music has enlightened, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest has featured her as a finalist twice, in 2022 and 2024, with the most recent entry being ‘Tea Kettle Tea,’ a track from Back Back Back, which NPR’s Robin Hilton praised, ‘It’s just violin, cello, and bass, with a little percussion, but it feels rich, full, it feels huge. It’s a really beautiful reminder of how you can do a lot with very little. It’s just absolutely gorgeous.'”
In addition, the “At Rest” press release provided the following insight about the video submission from Barber, noting:
“The NPR Tiny Desk Contest provides a special opportunity to create a new version of a studio track, which we’ve had so much fun with over the last few years. It’s an incentive for me to bring in new collaborators and see where a song goes with a new group of people.”
Barber further elaborates on her vision, “For ‘At Rest’ it felt important for me to have a crew of all women, because the chorus lyrics repeat the line ‘I’m just a girl, at home, at rest.’ Generally speaking, the song’s lyrics reference accepting the messiness of a busy life. It’s from the feminine perspective though – my perspective – which adds another element. Women are historically the keepers of the home, so a woman resting at home amongst a mess feels somewhat radical. Playing this song with a group of all women felt quite moving to me. It hit differently.”
And Barber found this song cathartic, noting: “I wrote this song, literally, amongst a mess. I had gotten home late from a gig the previous night, and after three trips to-and-from the car at 1 am I didn’t have the energy to put all my gear away before bed. The next day instead of tackling my to-do list, I sat on my studio couch with my cello, nestled between a guitar case to my left, a couple bags of sound equipment on my right, and several boxes of merch on the floor, and I wrote this song. It was one of the ones that just spills out–I needed it.”
The aforementioned NPR Tiny Desk Concert submission; the video for “At Rest”:
(All credits and rights to Ollella)
Video credits:
- Songwriting, Cello, Vocals – Ellie Barber a.k.a. Ollella
- Bass – Kelsey Mines
- Violin – Lea Fetterman
- Piano, backup vocals – Halley Greg
- Percussion – Lacey Brown
- Backup vocals – Erika Cunningham
- Engineering and Mixing – Jordan Cunningham
- Cinematography – Brady Lawrence
It’s difficult not to be enamored with “At Rest.” Many artists would be happy to achieve this anthemic statement amongst their discography and to think this song is one within a full album. We’re in for a treat with Antifragile. Where to start? They rock—every single human involved.
“At Rest” has a lot going for it, starting with the exquisite musicianship of Barber on cello. Everyone is supremely talented and you’ll not only hear but also see that. Barber’s plucking on cello and Lea Fetterman’s plucking on violin will amaze you. The addition of deeper sound via Kelsey Mines’ excellent upright bass playing adds depth to the song as does Lacey Brown’s percussive beats. The beautiful harmonies of Hally Greg and Erika Cunningham’s voices paired with Ellie Barber’s perfectly. This is a powerful, inspiring song that will sound outstanding live, one that I see instantly becoming a fan favorite and a staple amongst future shows and tours.
The lyrics to “At Rest”:
Scrub
When I’ve tracked in the mud
And it’s gathered in the corners of my head
Sweep
When I’m racking my brain
To remember what it was you said
Fold
When I’ve got time to attend
All the clothes piled on my bed
Dust
When I told you I’d show up
But mistakenly I went somewhere instead
And yes I live in quite a mess
Day in day out just trying my best
To me it feels more like a nest
I’m just a girl a home, at rest
Oh I’m just a girl at rest
Soak
When my feet rest by the fire
And I’m tucked into the arms of my lover
Dry
When I’ve lost sense of time
And I’m not rushing from one thing to another
And yes I live in quite a mess
Day in day out just trying my best
To me it feels more like a nest
I’m just a girl at home, at rest
I’m just a girl at home, at rest
I’m just a girl at rest
Be sure to check out Ollella’s album release show:
- April 26th – The Great Hall @ Seattle Town Hall – Seattle, WA
This photo also taken by Rachel Bennett is the cover art for Ollella’s forthcoming album, Antifragile.
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
