Ghalia Volt

Arriving with a winning combo of sass, grit, and rock & roll punch, Belgian blues artist Ghalia Vauthier (now Ghalia Volt) first made her name in Brussels fronting the R&B-heavy Ghalia & the Naphtalines before her 2017 solo debut, Let the Demons Out (released under the name Ghalia & Mama's Boys), helped establish her Stateside. She traveled to the U.S. and immersed herself in the regional blues scene for solo debut Mississippi Blend, featuring regional luminaries including Cody Dickinson, Watermelon Slim, and Cedric Burnside. Her sophomore effort, One Woman Band — on which she sang, played slide guitar, engaged kick and snare drums with her feet, etc. — appeared from Ruf in 2021. In 2022, she toured as part of the label’s live showcase with Katie Henry and Will Jacobs; it was released as Blues Caravan 2022. In 2023, she followed up with third album Shout Sister Shout.
Volt initially cut her teeth as a street performer, busking around Europe and later throughout the American South, meeting local musicians, learning songs, and writing on her own. Back in Brussels, she spent some time as the frontwoman for the energetic R&B act Ghalia & the Naphtalines, then recorded her first original project as Voodoo Casino in 2016. Still, the birthplace of the blues remained a major source of inspiration, and it was a trip to New Orleans that connected her with local favorites Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys. She hit it off with the band and was invited to front Mama's Boys for a period, which led to the recording of her first solo album. Released in 2017, Let the Demons Out features Ghalia’s raw, punk-infused songs backed by members of Mama's Boys in a gritty, minimalist setting. Released two years later, her follow-up, Mississippi Blend, was recorded in Coldwater, Mississippi with an array of celebrated regional players, including Cody Dickinson, Watermelon Slim, and Cedric Burnside.
The completely solo One Woman Band arrived on Ruf in 2021. The title reflected the set’s contents: Volt sang and played electric slide guitar, snare, kick drum, tambourine, and hi-hat simultaneously. Volt was next part of the label’s live Blues Caravan 2022 showcase alongside Katie Henry and Will Jacobs. Following a European tour, she traveled to Joshua Tree, California to work with producer David Catching at his famed Rancho de la Luna studio. The completed album, titled Shout Sister Shout, appeared in October 2023. ~ Timothy Monger