Ida (band)
| Ida | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Genres | indie rock, indie folk, baroque pop, acoustic, dream pop |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Polyvinyl Records |
| Associated acts | Secret Stars, Low, His Name Is Alive, Tara Jane O'Neil, Michael Hurley, Levon Helm, Nanang Tatang |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | Daniel Littleton Elizabeth Mitchell Karla Schickele Jean Cook Ruth Keating |
| Past members | Michael Littleton |
Ida is an indie rock band from New York City. They are known for their three part harmonies, sparse, minimal, often quiet arrangements, and for their three singer-songwriters. Their music shows strong folk, pop, punk, world, R&B, and American roots music influences, but there are also avant garde and experimental aspects to their sound.
The band began in 1991 when Daniel Littleton and Elizabeth Mitchell started recording and performing as a duo. After playing shows with double-bassist Rick Lassiter they recorded a 4-track cassette of their songs. Jenny Toomey, co-owner of Simple Machines Records heard it, and offered to release an album on her label. Between 1994 and 1997 Ida released three full-length albums and several seven inch singles with Simple Machines Records including split singles with The Secret Stars and Portastatic. Shortly after the release of their debut Tales of Brave Ida, Daniel’s brother Michael “Miggy” Littleton joined the band as a drummer and multi-instrumentalist. Their second album, 1996’s I Know About You received much critical acclaim from the independent music press. CMJ praised it as “subtle, gentle and picturesque”, Alternative Press gave it five stars, their highest rating, Pitchfork wrote “…Incredible Stuff”. Bassist and singer-songwriter Karla Schickele (Beekeeper) joined the band in late 1996.
Ida's touring earned them a devoted following of listeners, and the attention of both the press and major labels. Their performances with violinist Ida Pearle, cellist Elaine Ahn, and clarinetist Sue Havens gave them a distinct and complex “chamber pop” sound. They released two EPs in 1998, Losing True, and The Ida Retsin Family, before signing with Capitol Records. After a shake up at Capitol Records, Ida successfully got out of their contract and released 1999’s Will You Find Me with Tigerstyle Records, an independent label. Will You Find Me received greater recognition than any previous Ida record and landed on year end “Best of..” lists in both Spin Magazine and The New York Times while receiving praise from The New Yorker and The Village Voice.
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