Lula Wiles

Lula Wiles is a Boston-based folk trio consisting of Ellie Buckland, Isa Burke, and Mali Obomsawin. Formed in 2014 after meeting at Maine Fiddle Camp and later attending Berklee College of Music, the group represents a sophisticated intersection of traditional roots music and contemporary social consciousness.

Their sound identity is defined by a 'one-mic' recording philosophy that emphasizes natural room acoustics and the tight, intuitive vocal blending characteristic of family-style singing groups. Musically, they draw from bluegrass, Cajun, and classic country, but their career arc has seen them move toward increasingly pointed social commentary, particularly on 'Shame and Sedition' (2021). Obomsawin’s perspective as an Abenaki First Nations person adds a critical layer to their exploration of American history and colonialism. Critically, they are praised for their technical proficiency as multi-instrumentalists and their ability to modernize the folk genre without relying on electronic artifice. They occupy a similar cultural space to artists like I'm With Her or The Be Good Tanyas, serving as a bridge between the old-time fiddle community and the modern indie-folk scene.