Ola Szmidt: Steve Reid InNOVAtion Award
Ola Szmidt is a singer-songwriter, musician, flautist and producer based in York. As a multi-faceted musician her work combines vocal and instrumental improvisations with live looping techniques, and self produced electronics with sound art and song-writing. Ola’s music shifts between Scandinavian and Eastern Folk traditions, whilst including Soul, Jazz, Contemporary Classical and Ambient practices. She writes and sings in both English and her mother tongue, Polish.
Awarded a bursary by the International Summer School in Dartington, Ola studied Jazz Improvisation with legendary free jazz improvisers Keith and Julie Tippett. She has previously completed a Music Technology and Performance Degree at De Montfort University, under Dr John Richards (Dirty Electronics).
As a featured artist with the Emmy Award Winning company hitRECord, Ola is an ongoing contributor and collaborator. She has recently supported Braids, cellist Hildur Gudnadottir (Mum), Antipop Consortium, Maja Ratkje and Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab).