Odette

Based in Sydney, Australia, Odette is an English-born singer/songwriter whose soulful and smart pop songs have earned critical acclaim as well as chart success in her adopted country. The unique blend of confessional piano-led balladry and spoken-word poetry on her 2018 debut, To a Stranger, helped pave the way for 2021′s more experimental Herald.
Born in Bath, England, Georgia Odette Sallybanks was largely raised by her mother in Inner-Western Sydney, where she began playing the piano and writing songs while still in primary school. As she grew into her teens, she gravitated toward strong artistic personalities like Joanna Newsom, Laura Mvula, and later Kate Bush and Björk. Her first break came while she was still in her teens through Triple J radio’s Unearthed portal. EMI saw promise in some of the tracks she had uploaded and signed her to a record deal.
In 2017, Odette released “Watch Me Read You,” a striking single that combined a soulful vocal hook with unique spoken-word sections. Her full-length debut, To a Stranger, was released the following year and yielded additional hits like “Collide” and “Take It to the Heart.” The album itself peaked at number 13 on the pop chart and earned the singer a pair of ARIA Music Award nominations. Working again with producer Damian Taylor, Odette recorded her follow-up album, Herald, which drew heavily on themes of growth and mental health. Released in early 2021, the record built on the rhythmic poetry and piano style of her debut while adding more experimental production and electronic elements. ~ Timothy Monger