Artist description Lila has been decsribed as Rock and Roll with Jazz, Latin, Funk, Classical, Folk, and World influences. Karl Amelchenko, the primary songwriter of the group has always had a love of lyrics and acoustic guitar. His songwriting, and guitar style has most often been compared to that of Paul Simon. Chris Johns, while a classically trained cellist, has been influenced by diverse musical genres, and is now focused on expanding the role of what has historically thought of as a classical instrument in a rock setting. The bassist, Matt Ryder, a seasoned jazz musician with influences such as Charles Mingus, and Marcus Miller, is as adept with his electric in a rock setting as he is with an upright. Matt has a unique ability to flawlessly move between styles, genres, and moods, and his playing reflects his overall love of music. Mike Onalla, the drummer, is an anamoly in the rock world. A trained jazz drummer with a love of songwriters such as Bob Dylan, and Lou Reed. His ability to move from rock to jazz to hip hop to reggae to funk coupled with his sensitivity to the lyrics and feel of the song make him a rare commodity in the world of percussion players.

Music Style Danceable Art Rock

Musical Influences Artists with Talent and Soul

Artist History Lila was formed in Wilmington, NC in the Spring of 2001, and went through several incarnations before its current line up. Lila as it is today has been performing for approx. six months, but all the members have been performing for years on their own, or in other groups as diverse as acoustic duo's, jazz quartets, and symphony orchestras. While Chris, and Mike are both from North Carolina, Karl, and Matt are from New Jersey and Connecticut respectively. Lila is currently playing in the southeastern United States, and will shortly begin a more formal tour.

Group Members Karl Amelchenko, acoustic guitar, vocals Chris Johns, electric/acoustic cello, bass, vocals Mike Onalla, drums, percussion Matt Ryder, bass, guitar, vocals

Instruments Voice, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, Electric Cello, Acoustic Cello, Various Horns, Drums

Albums Spanish Moss

Press Reviews "The music itself is art rock, with semi-jazz, semi-classical, semi-ska back line supporting light, pop guitar and field-of-sunflowers-if-sunflowers-only-grew-in-England vocals and lyrical themes. If they can actually pull these intricate numbers off live, as i suspect they can, then they will be the band so many bands here in Wilmington have claimed to be over the past two decades, to put it simply, a world class rock band from Wilmington." -The Outrider Magazine, Wilmington, NC -

Location Wilmington, NC - USA

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