Wild Belle, JSPH
11/8/16
Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St, Cincinnati, OH
18+, 8pm show, Buy Tickets
Brother-and-sister duo Wild Belle make folk-, dance-, reggae-, and psychedelic rock-tinged indie pop. Chicago-area natives Elliot and Natalie Bergman grew up playing music, with Elliot eventually studying jazz saxophone at the University of Michigan. Elliot and Natalie are two of four children born to musician parents, who brought them up in a house full of music. The siblings first started playing together in 2006, when Elliot invited Natalie to tour as a backup singer/percussionist with his Afro-pop band NOMO. In 2011, they began working on Natalie’s songs and Wild Belle was born. A year later, the duo released the single “Keep You” and drew label interest after a high-profile show at Austin’s South by Southwest Festival. In 2013, Wild Belle released their debut album, Isles, on Columbia. Natalie and Elliot Bergman named their album Isles, due to every track resembling its own island, drawing in influences from reggae, soul, and jazz music.
Two years later, the duo returned to studios in their native Chicago, as well as in Natalie’s new home, Los Angeles, to record their sophomore release. Inspired in part by personal turmoil, the album saw the pair deliver a deeper, fuller-sounding album. The resulting Dreamland was released in April 2016.
Wild Belle has gained recognition through touring with Toro y Moi in the past. Wild Belle will continue with their touring kick by appearing at music festivals across the United States, including Lollapalooza, Coache
