Oi Va Voi

London-based ensemble Oi Va Voi resists easy categorization, since tags such as dance, rock, electronica, and world music each capture only fragments of their output. The group reached this hybrid identity through the unusually varied cultural and ethnic origins of its members, every one of whom contributed distinct influences. Rock & roll merged with Jewish traditions, dance rhythms intertwined with klezmer, Eastern European brass blended with trip-hop aesthetics, and these strands combined into a dense, singular sound.

Formed in the late ’90s, the collective took its name from the Yiddish exclamation “Oh, dear God,” although members occasionally suggested the literal rendering carried a somewhat coarser edge. Guitarist-vocalist Nik Ammar, drummer-percussionist Josh Breslaw, bassist Leo Bryant, clarinetist-vocalist Steve Levi, trumpeter-vocalist Lemez Lovas, and violinist Sophie Solomon arrived from markedly different musical backgrounds yet pooled their experiences to produce original material. Their self-released debut, Digital Folklore, announced the project’s intent and later became a sought-after collector’s item. Energetic performances across England built a solid following, resulting in a 2002 BBC Radio 2 World Music Award nomination based solely on live work. Shortly afterward KT Tunstall became vocalist, and the band issued its first official album, Laughter Through Tears, on Outcaste Records in 2004. The record balanced club-oriented tracks such as the Tunstall-sung “Refugee” with pieces rooted in Israeli, Balkan, and Yemeni traditions, delivered by guest singers from locations ranging from Tunis to Uzbekistan.

Critical reaction was enthusiastic, yet internal shifts soon imperiled continuity. Tunstall departed for a solo path, followed by founding violinist Sophie Solomon. Seeking a replacement singer, the remaining members auditioned extensively, at one point remarking that they had heard “every vocalist in London” without satisfaction. Executives at the label pressed for a more commercial direction, an approach the band rejected. A serious illness within the group further delayed the follow-up, leaving the quartet of Ammar, Breslaw, Levi, and Lovas without a contract or front-person and on the verge of dissolution.

Activity ceased for roughly a year until circumstances improved in 2006. New vocalist Alice MacLaughlin joined, and the band began working with producer Mike Spencer, previously associated with Erasure, Kylie Minogue, and Jamiroquai yet deeply engaged with traditional music. Bassist Matt Jury completed the lineup, and V2 Records signed the refreshed ensemble. The resulting self-titled album, tracked in both Tel Aviv and London, appeared in summer 2007 and signaled renewal through its fusion of rock, soulful electronica, and global-music elements. MacLaughlin elected to pursue solo work, so Bridgette Amofah took over vocals while virtuoso violinist Anna Phoebe entered the live configuration. Expanded to seven pieces, Oi Va Voi toured widely, appearing at European festivals plus dates in Israel, Turkey, and Russia.

Amofah’s first recorded contribution arrived on the fourth album, Travelling the Face of the Globe, cut at London’s RAK Studios and featuring guest appearances by Dick Rivers and Agi Szaloki. After its release the band mounted a U.K. and European tour; guitarist Ammar subsequently exited and was replaced by Michael Winawer.

Recording ceased for an extended period, though live performances continued. In 2015 the group began writing its fifth album, Memory Drop, produced by drummer Josh Breslaw and mixed by Moshik Kop. Lead single “Searchlight” previewed the material, which reached completion in November 2018.