Description
Singer-songwriter, poet, and songstress Joelle Bensaid puts a modern spin on nostalgia. She was born and raised in New York City to an American mother and French-Algerian father. Her love of music stems from an early age; growing up, her mother introduced her to the likes of Motown classics while her father played Sudoku to classical etudes. Her early influences included many genres, ranging anywhere from jazz to chanson to baroque pop. Growing up in New York City meant being surrounded and inspired by artists from all walks of life.
Her journey as a songwriter began with a passion for poetry. She had a strong infatuation with not only words and their meanings but also the way they sounded. She was fascinated by the idea that the phrasing of a word could change the meaning entirely and could impact whatever was being said. This is what eventually drew her to jazz. As she grew older, she began adding melodies to the words. By the time she turned eleven, she began songwriting, took piano lessons at age twelve, and taught herself guitar by the time she was fourteen. Her songwriting style is primarily a blend of jazz, folk, soft rock, and soul; however, like many of her songwriting heroes, she enjoys experimenting with a wide variety of genres. Her lyrics are deeply influenced by poetry, while her chord progressions are built intuitively.
She graduated from the esteemed jazz program at The New School in 2023 with honors. In 2022, she lived and performed in Paris, where she headlined Silencio des Prés, one of Paris’ hippest clubs, for their Jazz+ series. In 2023, she was selected by The New School to attend the Keep An Eye Workshop in Amsterdam. Bensaid has also been the host of a monthly jam session at Room 52 in Midtown. She has performed at numerous venues and private events in New York City and Paris, including Berlin Under A, The Walker Hotel, Arlene’s Grocery, Drom, and more. In addition to being a full-time musician, she is also a teacher, specializing in voice, piano, and composition.
Although primarily a solo artist, Bensaid performs regularly with her band, which is composed of David Rossi on bass, Henry Plotnick on piano, David Kim on guitar, Walter Ferguson on drums, and Sammi Katzmann on saxophone.
Her song “At the Altar” was released on October 6th, 2023, and is available on all streaming services. Her highly anticipated debut album, Dry Spells, is set for release next year.