“The sound of this Columbia quartet can shape-shift to become sleek pop-rock or something spry and jazz-kissed, but the center always holds; that is, the songwriting of lead singer Violet Vonder Haar, whose accented melodies and down-to-earth lyrics provide all the amble and anchor that good folk music requires. The Undercurrents are the band Vonder Haar’s songs have always deserved, fleshing them out both with rustic tones and crackling colors.” (Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune)
Four-piece, all-female band Violet and the Undercurrents have been described as “..Sophisticated folk-rockers ..” (Columbia Daily Tribune) The Columbia, Mo.-based power house of inventive and creative energy pulls influences from several genres of music and artists, such as The Local Natives, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Ani Difraco, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, and St. Vincent. With such varied inspirations, it’s hard to peg their sound to one genre. From classically trained vocalist, Violet Vonder Haar, Phylshawn Johnson’s and Linda Bott’s years of jazz and indie rock involvement, to Suzuki cellist Caitlin Lukin, the girls bring a lot to the musical table.
Violet and the Undercurrents released their first full-length album, “Hour After Hour” on the Nation of Love record label in July of 2013. The Undercurrents have played to audiences in over 10 US States and countless cities across the country. In 2014, the Undercurrents successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign for a month-long tour through the Western U.S. in April and released their newest full length album, “WAVES”, which was listed on 90.1 KKFI (Kansas City) Mark Manning’s top 114 albums of 2014. Other notable recognition includes being nominated for Inside Columbia’s 2015 Best Band and approved for an official “Violet and the Undercurrents” Pandora Station.
Violet and the Undercurrents has shared the stage with artists such as Wild Child, The Rainmakers, Tigran Hamasyan, Alexis and the Samurai, Tilly and the Wall, Frontier Ruckus, SHEL, The Way Down Wanderers, Miss Tess and the Talkbacks, and Kristen Ford.