Al Olender

Al Olender doesn’t want to hide from you. After the sudden loss of her older brother and muse, singer/songwriter Olender realized that there’s nothing scarier than being honest with yourself. The Upstate New York-based artist asks: what happens if we vow to never tell a lie, ever again? Charting the daunting territories of staring your demons right in the face and prodding at the ugly parts of your reflection, Olender pieces together her most vulnerable moments to produce celebratory and beautiful ruminations on grief, reminding us of the power that comes in really getting to know yourself.

Her songs sit in the world between day dreams and night thoughts. Equipped with voice and guitar, her music pulls from the enduring melodies of classic folk songs, stacked high with harmony. Drawing influence from the songs her dad would sing to her in the grocery store and the eclectic CD car collection of her mother, her music takes quiet turns toward unapologetic loud femininity (submithub.com). The Boston Globe reflects, “Sometimes a new song immediately becomes an old favorite, as if it’s been part of your personal soundtrack forever.” From darkly humorous comments to chromatic melodies, Al Olender often jabs at the numbness protecting her heart. “Nothing fixes grief,” she explains. “It transforms. Sometimes it’s like a giant glooming thunder cloud and sometimes it’s like a tiny little raindrop.”

Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Enjoy one week of access with your live stream ticket.