La Strada, despite what the name may lead you to believe, are quintessentially New York. Half of the band members were found through staple city search engine Craigslist, and the rest through serendipitous chance, including a run in on the subway. And just like the island of Manhattan itself, it is the collection of worldly influences which make La Strada so idiosyncratic. I meet with them on a sunny late summer’s day in Union Square, having been impressed by their recent performance at a local Barack Obama fundraiser.

I wanted to know about the origin of their Italian name, being such a fan of the Fellini film. "I am influenced by Nina Rota, who scores Fellini films," Devon, who arranges the string section, tells me. "We enjoy and compare ourselves to a Fellini-esque end of a film, especially Starling which we often end with. It can be an amazingly loud and raucous point!" says Ted. James adds that the translation (‘the road’) conjures up broad and metaphorical imagery which is also a reference to all European cinema, not just Fellini.

La Strada evolved from four people, and after each addition they found they could always be bigger and better, until now, at seven strong. They are compiled of James Craft (lead vocals and accordion), Ted Lattis (guitar and vocals), Corrina Albright (viola and vocals), Devon Press (guitar and vocals), Daniel Baer (violin and vocals), Brady Miller (drums and vocals) and Maria Jeffers (cello and vocals). As a group of seven, La Strada are a modern blend of Balkan infused indie, and have been writing songs together for almost a year. To get to know their influences better, I asked what band or singer they would most liked to have played with, past or present. It seemed to leave them dumbstruck with choice, except for a resounding agreement with The Beatles. After a few minutes of painstaking pondering, Devon picks France Gall, Daniel chooses Astor Piazzolla, Corrina admits wanting to sing back up for Paul Simon, James would like to work with PJ Harvey, Brady would play percussion for Tom Waits, and finally Ted debates between My Bloody Valentine and Bob Dylan. The vast choices give you an idea of La Strada’s infusion of musical influences. "We have trouble pinpointing exact influences, as there is a breadth of them," Ted tells me. "There is sixties pop, contemporary baroque acts like Arcade Fire, both American and European folk. And then there is also minimalism, world music, and classical, ranging from all periods," adds James.

The majority of the band are from Brooklyn, which has recently become a breeding ground for popular indie or rock acts, beginning with Yeah Yeah Yeahs and continuing right up to Vampire Weekend. "There was a revived late 1970’s early 1980’s sound, but that has given way to subtle song writing and it is not genre specific, either. There is a more natural sound in recording with the added technology, making it cleaner," Ted and Devon tell me. They mention Frances, another Brooklyn based indie band who La Strada liken themselves to. La Strada seem part of the new, Eastern European influenced American sect, whose power-folk sound has spread from Brooklyn to a bigger stage, following the footsteps of success found in Beirut or A Hawk and a Hacksaw. But they are still refreshingly new, with unrehearsed answers, an unspoiled intellect, and an immediate friendliness. So where next? "It would be good to still have it be this fun," says Corrina. "We’ve been together over a year now and enjoyed every second of it." Ted sums up the aspirations of La Strada, "it would be great to live off what you love, and find out how great our sound can be." If La Strada’s sound is already so refined after just a year, it will be exciting to see what they achieve after another year. We expect it will be something big…

Their EP ‘La Strada’ will be on iTunes from Jan 27th, and you can catch them at the Baruch Performing Arts Centre on September 26, at the CMJ music marathon between October 21-25, the L Magazine showcase, and opening for O Death at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 30.

La Strada Official Site

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