I have had the great pleasure of knowing Olga Bell for well over a decade, having first met her at the now-defunct Musicorda Summer Festival (where I was the director of dormitories). I haven't had a chance to see her in recent years, but what sticks with me about her is that she is wickedly funny and super sharp. She has one of those infectious, charming personalities that makes you want to stick around and see what she'll say next.
Since that time she has gone from playing Beethoven trios to creating her own brand of smart, idiosyncratic synth pop. I bought her album Diamonite when it came out in 2011 and couldn't stop listening to it for a solid month. One of my favorite tracks is "Dialtone" (I know, I know, how convenient for this particular project) Check it:
I also love her brilliant and strangely beautiful re-mixes - this one mashes up Renaissance composer Francisco Guererro with Spektral fav James Blake: Olga is now touring with indie rock band The Dirty Projectors. You might have caught them on Jimmy Fallon's show, but my favorite TV appearance is this Portlandia scene. (Look for Olga on the accordion...)