Ola Szmidt is an experimental musician and sound therapist whose work has found a place in major U.S. dramas like Goliath and True Detective. Yet, despite this impressive success, her approach to music is driven by far more than commercial ambition…
For Ola, music is about connection—about sharing her soul and forging a deeper bond with others. When asked about her greatest achievement in music, she humbly responds, “It’s all the friends I’ve made along the way.”
Born in Poland, but now a resident of Leicester, Ola views music as a calling. She uses it as a tool for healing, offering listeners a respite from the stresses of modern life.
“In today’s world, we’re bombarded with fast frequencies, noise, loud music, and constant social media stimulation. Our minds are always racing,” she says. “In my music, I work with low frequencies to slow things down—to help the person and their brainwaves relax.”
Her goal when performing is simple but profound: “Whenever I do a gig, I want to calm everyone—give them space to just be, to switch off.
“ My hope is that everyone can find a moment in the day to listen to their hearts and do something that quiets the mind. ”
A versatile musician, Ola incorporates her voice, flute, guitar, and self-produced electronic sound art into her work. Through the use of loop stations, she creates intricate soundscapes, manipulating her vocals and flute to build layered, original compositions. Her style is eclectic, blending Eastern folk, jazz, ambient, and soul influences, with performances sung in both English and Polish.
In 2025, she will release her long-awaited 14-track LP, an album she has been developing for over three years. “It’s a baby that’s been buried for too long!” she says with a smile.
The album is deeply personal and emotionally charged. “Those who’ve heard it have cried,” she reveals. “There’s a song about domestic violence called ‘Touching Too Loud,’ one about my daughter, a love song, and one about growing up. The song about growing up seems to touch people the most.”
Ola’s connection to music runs deep: “I can’t wait for people to hear it. Music makes so many things possible. It’s a massive part of my life. It’s an extension of me. If I don’t have the words to express something, I turn to music to help me find them.”
Picture credit: Ola Szmidt
For her, music is a refuge, a space where she feels completely at one with herself. “It’s a healthy coping mechanism—a way of cleansing myself when I feel hurt or when I see injustice in the world.”
In 2023, Ola performed at London’s Tate Modern, and this year, she plans to share her new music across the UK, with a particular focus on bringing together the music community in Leicester. She frequently performs at St Nicholas Church, a historic venue renowned for its “incredible acoustics.”
“It’s the 7th oldest church in England, and when I make music there, I think about all the sounds bouncing off those ancient walls,” she says. “The energy of the place is just magical. We need magic in our lives, and that’s what I seek in my music.”
For updates, follow: www.instagram.com/olaszmidt
By Louise Steel
