O-Janà

O-Janà
Ludovica Manzo - vocals, live sampling
Alessandra Bossa - piano, synth, electronics

The combination of these two composers and improvisers with different backgrounds, each charged with spontaneity, curiosity and audacity, is exciting and the result of it is a music which moves from electronics to songwriting to free-improvisation.
The main characteristic of the duo is to expand boundaries in exploring and experimenting in the field of song composition and free improvisation, working on their own original material. Compositions are characterized by smooth and liquid soundscapes with melodies lying on a mix of prepared piano and electronic sounds while their lyrics are, by turns, funny or poignant or thought-provoking.

O-Janà + LLovage
Ludovica Manzo - vocals, live sampling
Alessandra Bossa - piano, synth, electronics
Olo Walicki - double bass, electric bass and electronics
Jacek Proscinski - drums and electronics

Adventurous and electrifying, capable of breaking down barriers between audiences, this project brings together two existing duos, Italian O-Janà and Polish LLovage.
During the pandemic they started a correspondence about creative ideas and general concepts around music and life, they finally met in Novara for a residency supported by Novara Jazz and Katowice JazzArt Festival in June 2021.
The result of this meeting was a feast in which landscapes and electronic grooves blend with lyrical songs and folkloric echoes.
Both duos combine elements of electronic music and a contemporary jazz approach.
LLovage focuses on strong rhythms and O-Janà enriches with sound textures and melodies.
Everything intertwines organically in this new ensemble, a perfect connection of different but similar words.
A project supported by Novara Jazz and Katowice JazzArt Festival curated by Enrico Bettinello and Martyna van Nieuwland Markowska.

• biography •

O-Janà is a duo that brings together singer Ludovica Manzo and electronic musician/pianist Alessandra Bossa, two composers and improvisers with different backgrounds. The combination of these two artists, each charged with spontaneity, curiosity and audacity, is exciting and the result of it is a music which moves from electronics to songwriting to free-improvisation.
The main characteristic of the duo is to expand boundaries in exploring and experimenting in the field of song composition and free improvisation, working on their own original material. Compositions are characterized by smooth and liquid soundscapes with melodies lying on a mix of prepared piano and electronic sounds while their lyrics are, by turns, funny or poignant or thought-provoking.
Although they are always looking for the clear structure and the "song" form, O-Janà's concerts have a strong free improvisational component where sounds can sometimes evolve into distorted beats and jagged lines.
They played in many important festivals and clubs throughout Europe and North America including Casa da Musica di Porto, Toronto Jazz Festival, Winter Jazz Festival of Copenaghen, London Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, Gas Festival Gotebörg, Istituto Svizzero of Rome, Europe Jazz Conference in Novara.
Their first self-titled Ep was recorded at The Academy of Music and Drama of Göteborg, Sweden and released in May 2012. An extract from this album was also used as the soundtrack for the shortfilm Tram Mob, by Maude (2012) and for videos "Il mondo in un minuto" of Repubblica TV.
Since 2013 O-Janà have collaborated with percussionist/drummer Michele Rabbia and in 2018 they release the album "Inland Images" (Folderol Records) in which also appears the norwegian guitarist Eivind Aarset.
They are part of the project "Nuova Generazione Jazz 2019" supported by Italian Ministry of Culture (MiBAC), I-Jazz and the Italian collecting society SIAE.

• audio •

O-Janà with Michele Rabbia and special guest Eivind Aarset "Inland Images" (2018)

"Inland Images" on Spotify

• Video •

The Crescent Moon Bear - Official Video from "Inland Images"

O-Janà live @ Istituto Svizzero - Roma

O-Janà + LLovage - Video of the Concert

O-Janà + LLovage - Promo Video

Video on O-Janà website