Della Mae

In a relatively short period of time, Della Mae has become a sensation in the music world. Commanding a powerful collective chemistry with vocal, instrumental, and songwriting talent, the band, which formed in Boston, but now calls Nashville home, mines time-honored elements to create music that’s unmistakably fresh and contemporary.

‘This World Oft Can Be,’ Della Mae’s Grammy-nominated second album and Rounder debut, shows that like the Avett Brothers, Lumineers, and Punch Brothers, these five multitalented young women are respectful of American musical tradition, but not restricted by it, combining centuries’ worth of musical influences with an emotionally tough, undeniably modern songwriting sensibility.

“The identity that we’ve developed as a band is a melting pot of our different personalities and backgrounds,” asserts founder, Kimber Ludiker. After having the idea at a summer festival, Kimber hand picked musicians from all over the country: singer Celia Woodsmith comes from a blues/rock background, guitarist Courtney Hartman studied at Berklee College of Music, bassist Shelby Means played with various bands in Nashville, and mandolin player Jenni Lyn Gardner was schooled in traditional bluegrass. Della Mae’s members hail from all over the United States, and the five women each bring impressive musical resumes amassed in their previous ventures.

Della Mae stopped by the Folk Alley studios in June of 2014. Listen to their interview and watch videos of their in-studio performances below.