Bella White - “Rhododendron”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Sierra Ferrell, The Chicks, S.G. Goodman

There’s a quiver in Bella White’s voice that perfectly matches the traditional country tone of her music, sliding between notes in a manner that is somehow both free and precise. It’s a beautiful instrument drawn from the past, but one that feels at home today too. Back porches may depreciate, but they’re still there. The Canadian artist released her debut record Just Like Leaving in late 2020 and has since followed up with a couple singles including the moving ballad “Rhododendron”. Throughout White’s catalog, bluegrass influences tend to take hold both in instrumentation and her grounded songwriting. There’s something timeless here, but note how White writes little hooks that sneak in from modern folk influences as well. A young artist with an old soul, expect Bella White to charm in Austin this March and hopefully crafts a set of new tracks from a sophomore follow-up as her sound continues to mature. (Kevin McStravick)