Music & Video
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THE QUEEN OF THE LOWLANDS
10-track album, released June 2025
(All songs written by Odette Michell, except 'Flowers' (O. Michell/D. Kulesh). Produced by Stu Hanna)
Odette's highly-anticipated second studio album 'The Queen of the Lowlands' unveils ten evocative, self-penned tracks that weave together both the personal and the historical; songs of the sea and of extraordinary people. The driving title track, featuring Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention) on soaring fiddle, brings to life the story of Dutch passenger steamship the SS Koningin der Nederlanden (Queen of the Netherlands), and received notable airtime on BBC Radio 2's The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe, alongside 'Hourglass', the melodically haunting first single taken from the album. Expertly produced by Megson’s Stu Hanna, 'The Queen of the Lowlands' is an enthralling and diverse collection of songs, and boasts an enviable line-up of guest musicians to match - notably top-flight fiddlers Phil Beer (Show of Hands) and Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention/Albion Band). Elsewhere duet vocals are expertly delivered by BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Nominees Ninebarrow (Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere), as well as Liverpool-based Scottish folk singer Calum Gilligan. Odette also performs in exciting folk trio Michell, Pfeiffer & Kulesh and here is joined by co-writer Daria Kulesh on the spine-tingling murder ballad 'Flowers.' Completing the guest list is Lukas Drinkwater on double bass and Vicki Swan on the Scottish small pipes.​
"The presence of a major talent.. What will surely be one of the releases of the year" - RNR Magazine ★★★★
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"A collection which shows an increase in both maturity and deft songwriting across a range of moods and inspirations"
- Spiral Earth ★★★★
"Self-penned tracks that could easily pass as coming from the folk tradition" - Songlines ★★★★
"An inspired collection of heartfelt songs with no need of comparison, for the ‘Queen of the Lowlands’ stands high in its own right" - Folk & Tumble ★★★★
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"Michell has an instinct for a narrative - all the songs here are originals, steeped in tradition but not trapped by it. Highly enjoyable." - The Observer
"This is an exceptional album, I can't see how it could be improved, and confirms what many have know for some time, in Odette Michell we are privileged to have one of the great folk writers and performers in our midst" - FATEA Magazine
"If this isn’t among the top folk albums of 2025, then there’s something seriously wrong with the genre’s collective ears"
- Folking.com
“With every track a potential single, the album is a masterpiece from concept through composition to realisation”
- Folk At Five, Argyll FM
"Modern folk songs that sound like they have been with us for centuries, such is Michell’s command of folk phrasing"
- Irish Music Magazine
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“I’m absolutely stunned by the quality of the album - I can’t believe they're not traditional but they are all self-penned songs... Absolutely amazing” - Tim Walker, BBC Radio Lincs
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- BUY ALBUM HERE
THE WILDEST ROSE
10-track album, released April 2019
(All songs written by Odette Michell, except 'True Lovers Farewell' (Trad/Arr). Produced by Stu Hanna)
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‘The Wildest Rose’, the enchanting debut album from British folk singer-songwriter Odette Michell, described as a'tour de force' of original folk songs, garnered Odette her first national and international radio play, a string of live interviews, and a host of outstanding press reviews. The album features notable contributions from Stu Hanna (producer), Phil Beer (Show of Hands), and fiddle/whistle player Toby Shaer (Cara Dillon, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys).
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Storytelling and life experiences form the basis of many of these songs, and as such Odette often pays homage to her Northern English / Irish heritage, whilst also referencing historical events, the natural landscape and the idiosyncrasies of human experience. Dubbed by fRoots Magazine as "One of the stand-out debuts of 2019", ‘The Wildest Rose’ is a compelling, highly accomplished debut that both soars and impresses, whilst effortlessly breathing fresh new life into the rich acoustic tradition that the songs themselves emerged from.
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"A dulcet and very vintage debut" - RNR Magazine ★★★★
"Graceful and mysterious, Michell encapsulates listeners with her nostalgic imagery and sweet melodies" - Maverick ★★★★
"An absolute masterclass in how to deliver a traditional song" - Northern Sky ★★★★
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- BUY ALBUM HERE
BY WAY OF NIGHT
5-track EP, released March 2018
​​(All songs written by Odette Michell, except 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' (S. Denny/Fairport). Produced by Alex Tinlin)
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Odette's 2018 debut EP ‘By Way of Night' established her as a bold and emerging new talent on the British folk and acoustic music scene ("As a debut release, this EP is stunning" FATEA Magazine ... "A talent that English folk should not ignore" FolkWords). Demonstrating a seamless crossover between folk/songwriter with country inflections and an intimate storytelling feel, this highly impressive debut EP garnered high praise from peers and reviewers alike and gained Odette her first radio play on both BBC and Folk Radio stations.
- BUY EP HERE
FLOWERS - MICHELL, PFEIFFER & KULESH
10-track album, released June 2024
​​('Song of the Free' and 'Flowers' written by O. Michell/D. Kulesh; for all track info, please click here. Produced by Jason Emberton)
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Odette Michell, Karen Pfeiffer and Daria Kulesh contribute not only their voices, songwriting and arrangements to their highly acclaimed debut album, but also their impressive multi-instrumental skills; which between them includes bouzouki, guitar, accordion, bodhran, shruti box, percussion and woodwind (Irish flute and recorders). Praised by Songlines Magazine as "an astute mix of traditional and original songs with arrangements that delight the ear... harmony singing so tight that you couldn't blow smoke between them...”, the album went on to gain multiple 5-star reviews and was named Album of the Week by both FATEA Magazine and Celtic Music Radio; as well as making it onto Folk London's Best Albums of 2024 List, whilst also being shortlisted for Album of the Year 2024 by Celtic Music Radio. The trio were also nominated for Band of the Year at the 2024 FATEA Awards.
These three female voices from three different cultures rise in sublime harmony, weaving powerful stories that have moved people across borders, languages, and times. Exquisite, yet far from purely decorative, this rich, multilingual record evokes images of flowers placed in rifle barrels; it tells stories of women who certainly aren't blushing roses to be picked or discarded at will. Featuring a strong theme of female empowerment and a heartfelt plea for peace, 'Flowers' is truly an album for our times - yet it is also deeply rooted in the timeless folk tradition. As The Morning Star wrote, these are "folksongs that tell stories of female empowerment and a desire for peace... As relevant as ever in our current times...”
Expertly produced, mixed and mastered by Jason Emberton, the album also features Phil Beer (violin on The Cossack's Bride), Jonny Dyer (guitar on May Colven), Katrina Davies (violin) and Marina Osman (piano on Those Were the Days).