Naomi Ludlow (born 1994), known professionally as Ny Oh, is a New Zealand folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She is the lead singer of the band Neon Gru and has toured with Harry Styles as a multi-instrumentalist for his Love On Tour.
Ny Oh | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Naomi Ludlow |
| Born | 1994 Worcestershire, U.K. |
| Genres | Folk, psychedelic |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, percussion |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Member of | Neon Gru |
| Website | nyoh |
Early life
editNy Oh was born in the United Kingdom in 1994.[1][2] However, she moved to New Zealand when she was three[3] and grew up in Tauranga.[2][4] Her mother is a flautist[5] and a music teacher.[6] When she was four years old, Ny Oh began playing piano.[7] As a teenager, she took vocal lessons and played the violin.[4] She learned the viola and guitar at Bethlehem College.[7] Growing up, she was a fan of New Zealand musicians such as OMC, Crowded House, and Bic Runga[8] as well as international acts like John Mayer, Pink Floyd, and Bruce Springsteen.[1]
When she was 18, she relocated to London to attend the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance for vocal performance.[1][2] She made a living working for a vegan café and busking.[1] She spent much of her early twenties backpacking and hitchhiking[5] and spent time living on an illegally moored boat with other musicians near Camden Town.[9]
Career
editIn 2014, Ny Oh featured on the tracks "Younger Now" and "We Will Be Love" on Roaman's album Younger Now.[10] She collaborated with Roaman again in 2016 on the track "Free at Last" for his album Free at Last.[11] Ny Oh toured with Jonathan Wilson in 2018[3][5] and was part of Jesse Sheehan's band[2] as well as part of a songwriting collective called The Lyrical Nomads.[4] Also in 2018, Ny Oh released her first single, "Georgia,"[12] and her first EP, Without.[4]
Ny Oh, along with five other musicians, formed the band Neon Gru in 2018.[13] In 2019, they released their first single, "Growing Pains."[14] Ny Oh assisted with promotion of Harry Styles' album, Fine Line, as an anticipated new member of his touring band.[15] Later in 2020, Neon Gru released two additional singles, "Moonlight" and "Hot Wine."[13] In 2021, Ny Oh toured with Harry Styles during his Love on Tour.[16][17]
In 2022, Ny Oh was a featured artist on the track TAURUS on Pauli Lovejoy's OFFAIR: The Power of your Subconscious Mind Vol 1: SPACE.[18] Garden of Eden, Ny Oh's second EP, also released in 2022.[3] Neon Gru released two additional singles in 2022: a cover of Phoebe Bridgers' song "Motion Sickness"[19] and an original song called "Elon"[20] Ny Oh continued to tour with Harry Styles in 2022[21] and 2023.[3] She opened for Styles on March 7, 2023, for his show in Auckland, New Zealand.[3][7]
Reception
editNeon Gru's music has been described "eclectic and imaginative" by IndieGems[22] and "stunningly beautiful" by A&R Factory.[23] Ramona Magazine described Ny Oh's songwriting as "the love child of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez."[24] 1883 Magazine described her single "You Are" as "a slow-burning gem full of enthralling vocals, tender lyricism, crisp piano, and nuances."[25]
Discography
edit| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ny Oh | Without |
| 2021 | Neon Gru | I Am a Bird |
| 2022 | Ny Oh | Ny Oh's Garden of Eden |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Feature – Ex-pat Files: Ny Oh". NZ Musician. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ a b c d "Ludlow, Naomi, 1994–". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ a b c d e "Feature – Ny Oh: Alchemy Of Humans". NZ Musician. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ a b c d "Feature – NewTracks New Artist: Ny Oh". NZ Musician. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ a b c "'My relationship with Los Angeles is hot, funny, surrendering and calm.'".
- ^ "Getting to Know Ny Oh". jaxsta.com. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ a b c Mahon-Heap, Jonny (2023-03-06). "Kiwi artist Ny Oh on tour with Harry Styles: 'I had pretty bad imposter syndrome ... but I never let it take me down'". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ "TEN QUESTIONS WITH NY OH | 10 Magazine Australia". www.10magazine.com.au. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ "Off the Scheme: A Weekend with London Modern Troubadours". Virginia Vitalone. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ Younger Now, 2014-09-01, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ Free at Last, 2016-04-07, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ Georgia, 2018-08-14, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ a b Magazine, LOCK (2020-09-23). "Q&A: Ny Oh from Neon Gru • LOCK". LOCK. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ Growing Pains, 2019-12-28, retrieved 2023-03-13
- ^ "Harry Styles: Tiny Desk Concert".
- ^ Sims, Brittany (2021-11-22). "An Inside Look At Harry Styles' Backing Band For His 'Love On Tour' Concerts". TheThings. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ "Meet Harry Styles' new band members as Love On Tour begins". Capital. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ "Pauli The PSM Releases Afrofuturist Album "OFFAIR: The Power of your Subconscious Mind Vol 1: SPACE"". Arts + Culture. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Motion Sickness, 2022-04-28, retrieved 2023-03-13
- ^ Elon, 2022-11-22, retrieved 2023-03-13
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (2022-08-23). "Harry Styles Gives New York The Wildest Party of the Summer With the Start of His 15-Night Stand". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Andy. "Neon Gru – 'Moonlight' – indiegems.co.uk". Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ anrfactory (2020-06-04). "Neon Gru release beautifully progressive new track 'Moonlight'". A&R Factory. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ Magazine, Ramona (2023-03-05). "A Meandering Muse with Ny Oh". Ramona Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ "1883 On Rotation: Birdy, DanDlion, Ny Oh – 1883 Magazine". 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-13.