Squirrel Flower

Under the name Squirrel Flower, Ella O'Connor Williams has been developing a songwriting voice since the mid-2010s that began between Arlington and Boston, Massachusetts, before a stint in Iowa to study at Grinnell College and start organizing her first solo tours. Rooted initially in the DIY scene, the Squirrel Flower project took shape with the EP Early Winter Songs from Middle America in 2015 and Contact Sports in 2016, later reissued in an expanded version. Her music sits between indie folk and indie rock, with guitars that are at times bright and at times more abrasive, a restrained vocal delivery, and lyrics that favor intimacy without losing tension. After several years of performing on the American independent circuit, Squirrel Flower released I Was Born Swimming in 2020 on Polyvinyl, a debut album produced by Gabe Wax, followed by Planet (i) in 2021 and Tomorrow’s Fire in 2023. Across these records she expanded her sonic palette, incorporating denser textures and more electric arrangements while maintaining tight songcraft. In 2024 Squirrel Flower also appeared on the Tiny Desk series in a setup that highlighted the direct, stripped-back aspect of her repertoire.