Ayla Nereo is an American musician known for her solo work and her work with the groups Wildlight and Starling Arrow.
Ayla Nereo | |
|---|---|
 Nereo in concert at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Folk, electronic |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, harp |
| Years active | 2006-present |
| Labels | Jumpsuit Records |
| Member of | Starling Arrow[1] |
| Website | aylanereo |
Early childhood and education
editAyla Nereo grew up in Sonoma County, California.[2] She was home-schooled by her parents until high school and was "raised to appreciate and respect the earth."[3] Some of the music that she grew up listening to includes ABBA, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, and classical and traditional Celtic music.[2]
Nereo studied psychology at college, and her artistic interests were dance and film-making.
Career
editNereo began to write and perform music around 2005. Initially afraid to sing for people, she gradually overcame her fears, with the encouragement of her friends. She describes her songwriting process as one of "channelling" songs.[4] In addition to her solo work, Nereo has released music with her brother as the duo Beatbeat Whisper,[5] with dance music DJ The Polish Ambassador, under the name Wildlight,[3] and a cappella group Starling Arrow.[6]
Reviewer Sterling Martin has called Nereo's music "breath-taking" as well as "expansive and intriguing."[7][2] Another reviewer, Maddy Crandall, referred to her music as "soul music" with "conscious lyrics," pointing to the environmental and progressive values in her music.[8]
Nereo often plays at large music festivals, and has toured with bands including Rising Appalachia, Trevor Hall, and Nahko and Medicine for the People.[8]
Personal life
editNereo lives in Nevada City, California.[3]
Discography
editSolo albums
edit- Play Me A Time (2006)
- Floating Felt (2009)
- BeHeld (2012)
- Hollow Bone (2014)
- Hollow Bone REMIXES (2015)
- The Code of the Flowers (2016)
- By the Light of the Dark Moon (2019)
- Sovereign Kin (2023)
With duo Wildlight
edit- Hers Was As Thunder (2013)
- Hers Was As Thunder (Remixes) (2014)
- The Tide (2015)
- The Tide (Acoustic) (2016)
- The Tide Remixes (2016)[9]
With Starling Arrow
edit- Cradle (2023)
References
edit- ^ "Starling Arrow - About". StarlingArrow.com. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
- ^ a b c Orlando, Cynthia (November 13, 2019). "AYLA NEREO, AN ARTIST TO WATCH". Portland Radio Project. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c Havens, Lyndsey (October 19, 2016). "Ayla Nereo on the Planet Being Her Muse & Creating With The Polish Ambassador". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ Calvano, Jordan (August 5, 2013). "Wildlight: Hers Was As Thunder review + Ayla Nereo interview". The Untz. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ Daytrotter (10 April 2008). "Beatbeat Whisper - Up The Long Tracks". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023.
- ^ Cristi, A. A. "Newly Formed Starling Arrow Announce Debut Single "Wild Sweet" Out Now & Album Due Out January 2023". Broadway World Music. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ Martin, Sterling (September 25, 2015). "Wildlight (The Polish Ambassador + Ayla Nereo) release The Tide". The Untz. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ a b Crandall, Maddy (October 14, 2019). "RISING APPALACHIA + AYLA NEREO TO PLAY THE OGDEN THEATRE". Grateful Web. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ "Ayla Nereo". Bandcamp. Retrieved February 4, 2022.