There’s an effortless cool to Dida Pelled that feels both classic and quietly subversive. The Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter carries the kind of laid-back magnetism that can disarm a room in seconds—part jazz lifer, part genre wanderer, and wholly committed to doing things her own way. A prodigy with deep roots in tradition, Pelled has built a catalog that moves fluidly between jazz standards, blues burners, torch songs, and sly originals, all delivered with a wink of playfulness and a devotion to emotional truth.
That balance of virtuosity and intimacy has defined her rise since landing in New York at 20. While studying at The New School, a chance West Village gig led to a pivotal discovery by trumpeter and producer Fabio Morgera, who helped usher her into the studio for her debut. The resulting album, Dida Plays and Sings (2011), featuring heavyweights Roy Hargrove and Gregory Hutchinson, announced Pelled as a distinct new voice—pairing warm, unguarded vocals with guitar work that felt as personal as it did technically sharp. The record quickly earned critical praise and helped cement her place in New York’s ever-evolving jazz underground, while opening the door to steady touring across Europe.
Lately, Pelled’s momentum has only sharpened, with appearances at New York’s Winter Jazzfest orbit and BRIC JazzFest placing her firmly in the conversation among the city’s most respected players. Now, with her upcoming album I Wish You Would (due out May 1st) set to mark her full-bodied return to the blues, she leans into the rawest edges of her sound alongside Sullivan Fortner, Tony Scherr, and Kenny Wollesen. It’s less a departure than a sharpening—a reminder that beneath the charm and wit lies a musician deeply rooted in feel, history, and instinct.
In the end, what makes Dida Pelled stick isn’t just the chops, though they’re undeniable. It’s the way she invites listeners into her orbit—equal parts virtuoso and conspirator—leaving every room just a little more alive than she found it.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Since I Fell For You,” which smolders with intimacy and easygoing blues. While comparisons to Billie Holiday feel inevitable, Pelled also brings her own youthful, flowing style that enchants you as it drifts upward like the smoke from a slowburning cigarette at a darkened nightclub. Her guitar playing with its quiet and meditative journey is a perfect compliment to her vocals. All of this transpires into the kind of song that makes you want to pour a glass of wine and kick back to reflect.
“Since I Fell For You” was one of the first songs I learned to sing. For the first decade of being a musician, I just played guitar. When I started singing, I was shy. The moment I became a singer was when Mitch (Smalls/Ornithology founder) stopped me after a jam and complimented my voicing of “Since I Fell for You.” Since I fell for singing, I have channeled a lot of my heartbreaks through lyrics of my favorite blues. This album goes out to every woman that has broken my heart. It is my tribute to obsession and desire, and the song and dance of rejection and devotion. – Dida Pelled
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