Vox Vidorra

Vox Vidorra is an indie/soul quartet from Grand Rapids, MI. Lead by vocal phenom Molly Bouwsma Schultz, the band combines rich, Motown worthy vocals with an underbelly of indie rock, soul, and jazz provided by multi-instrumentalists Scott Schultz, Ryan K Wilson, and Theo Ndawillie II. The songs are reminiscent of days-gone-by but are rooted in now, exploring inequality, race, and religion, all with a melodic sheen that allows access to the depth of the recordings. The instrumentation is deliberate and often times sparse, highlighting Bouwsma Schultz’s electric mezzo-soprano, but is also complex, utilizing Ndawillie’s composing skills to employ lush string arrangements, propelling the songs over a familiar backbone that hints at Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. Written in a collaborative process, each member is essential to the band’s songwriting. With influences like Harry Nilsson, Patrick Watson, Radiohead, and Ella Fitzgerald, the band isn’t held to one sound, but is held together by Bouwsma Schultz’s voice, three-part harmony, and a strong commitment to melody. In playing almost 200 gigs in two years (and leaning on Wilson’s dozen plus years of experience in the local scene) the band has honed a stage show that will make anyone look up from their phone. “[Bouwsma Schultz] unceasingly stalks the stage – swaying, bending, stooping, kneeling and, inevitably, even writhing on the floor in an ever-passionate vocal display. “ remarked West Michigan legend writer John Sinkevics. The remaining members switch instruments seamlessly, suiting their talents to the song at hand, and provide a steady current for Bouwsma Schultz to swim in. The band’s restraint allows for a dynamic and engaging performance that can harness a crowded bar or command hushed attention from a theater. Established in early 2014, Vox Vidorra hasn’t been around long but is making waves in Michigan. Goon Lagoon Studio’s Tommy Schichtel (who co-produced/engineered the debut album “Promise Land”) asserts the band has the potential to be “one of the biggest things to come out of Grand Rapids in many years.” With attention from NPR/Michigan Radio, Valslist.com and West Michigan’s Local Spins, more and more seem to be coming to the same conclusion. “…Collaborative and masterful song crafting… Vox Vidorra stands ready to conquer massive chunks of musical territory in Michigan and beyond.” –localspins.com Time will tell, but the band’s focus is squarely on creation and community. Scott Schultz said it best stating, “these songs are simply the result of the greatest conversations we’ve had with each other,” a sentiment that mixed with serious musical chops finds Vox Vidorra on a uniquely firm foundation. They provide a range of products and services, most notably their highly acclaimed debut record Promise Land, released in 2015. Needless to say, Vox Vidorra is strictly about business. Their name is a multilingual neologism and alliteration meaning ‘the voice of the life you’re meant to live’. Their range of products and services are intended to be consumed to firmly place this ideal, nay, fact into their consumers' thinking and feeling places. Vox Vidorra offers no warranty, only guarantees. Such guarantees: -You’ll look up from your goddamn phone. -You will be moved. You will sing. You will cry. You will be driven to do something important with your life. You will dance. -Your soul will be saved. Vox Vidorra’s members sell their unique product in a highly efficient, ebullient way: Front-lady Molly Bouwsma-Schultz’s vocals are huge, dynamic and distinct, selling a dialectic message of love, hope, and longing through personal stories and a highly acute sense of social critique and responsibility. She also plays keys and percussion. Scott Schultz sells his soul via the bass, guitar, keys, and drums. He’s under contract of marriage to Molly as a means of profiting off their love for one another. Thank God and America for that. Ryan K. Wilson is a well dressed, handsome man that sings harmonies and plays keys, bass, drums, and guitar. He’s trustworthy, honest, talented, well connected, and can make your company a lot of money. Theo Ndawillie II is holistically blessed due to abandoning the church for deeply secular, spiritual, and philosophical rock n roll music. He has the artistic touch of a maestro, wunderkind, prodigy, and prophet rolled into one. He plays keys, drums, bass, he sings harmony, and he composes. He also has tattoos. For the right price, one can see Vox Vidorra perform their product as a life-enriching service to your mental health. Such things you will witness is Molly’s passion and energy transforming you, as if she’s an evangelical minister saving your dark, twisted, godawful soul from a moment such as this. You will also witness Scott, Ryan, and Theo switching instruments between songs with minimal fanfare for maximum sound-producing voracity. You will also often hear Molly, Ryan, and Theo sing in 3-part harmony, as if you needed more. Vox Vidorra does all this out of love, creativity, and their own deep friendship for one another. Their songs are nothing more than their greatest conversations they have ever had with one another. So, in sum: nothing can stop them. Enjoy Vox Vidorra immediately.