Date Palms

Date Palms formed first as a duo in 2008 by multi-instrumentalists Marielle Jakobsons and Gregg Kowalsky in Oakland, California. Their first stages of sound came in the form of bass-heavy ambient pop, augmenting electronic textures with more organic violin playing in their slow, foggy, and often instrumental compositions. The duo recorded frequently, and eventually issued their debut album, Of Psalms, with Root Strata in 2010. They followed with Honey Devash in 2011 and in 2012 contributed to a four-band split compilation along with similar synth/psych acts Pulse Emitter, Expo 70, and Faceplant. Around this time the duo expanded to include bassist Ben Bracken, tanpura player Michael Elrod, and Noah Phillips on electric guitar, an instrument that had always been left off previous Date Palms sessions. The duo-turned-quartet began playing live and worked together on third album The Dusted Sessions, which saw release in 2013, this time on Thrill Jockey.