* En anglais uniquement
Based in Los Angeles,
the Belle Brigade is a pop duo featuring
Barbara and
Ethan Gruska, the grandchildren of Oscar-winning film composer
John Williams. Before teaming up with her younger brother,
Barbara launched her career as a touring musician, becoming one of L.A.'s most sought-after drummers thanks to her work with
Inara George and
Jenny Lewis. Taking a break from the road in 2009, she began writing music with
Ethan, a teenaged pianist who'd been penning his own songs in her absence. Both siblings had been raised by
Jay Gruska, a former solo artist who, after releasing two major-label albums in the early '80s, made his name writing songs for artists like
Michael Jackson,
Janet Jackson, and
Amy Grant. The
Belle Brigade took most of their cues from the '70s, though, creating a sound whose vocal harmonies and bright, breezy pop hooks were heavily influenced by
Fleetwood Mac. Using
Barbara's connections in the L.A. music scene, they pieced together a backup band and entered the recording studio with producer
Matthew Wilder, emerging in spring 2011 with their well-received, self-titled debut album. The duo's sophomore long-player, the ATO-issued
Just Because, followed in early 2014. ~ Andrew Leahey