Comprising resonant and impassioned vocals, flawlessly executed guitar work, and organ,
Offa Rex are a psychedelic folk-rock collective made up of English singer/songwriter
Olivia Chaney and Portland-based indie rock outfit
the Decemberists. Stylistically akin to the folk talents of artists such as
Sandy Denny,
Anne Briggs,
Steeleye Span, and
Fairport Convention, the project originated with a simple tweet between
Chaney and
the Decemberists'
Colin Meloy (a huge fan of
Chaney's 2015 debut
The Longest River), which led to a conversation on the social media site. This resulted in
Chaney opening for
the Decemberists on a nationwide U.S. tour.
Meloy asked
Chaney if she'd ever entertained the idea of performing songs with a backing band -- he had
the Albion Dance Band in mind.
Chaney liked the idea, and
Meloy's long-lived fantasy of starting a '60s-styled psychedelic folk band led to the birth of
Offa Rex. The band’s debut full-length,
The Queen of Hearts, arrived in the summer of 2017. Produced at
Meloy's home studio in Portland alongside
Tucker Martine (
My Morning Jacket,
Modest Mouse) with arrangements handled by
Chaney, the record displayed an eclectic and varied sound palette, which paid homage to various aspects of '60s folk-rock and psychedelia. ~ Rob Wacey