Today, celebrated folk duo Ordinary Elephant (husband/wife singer/songwriters Crystal Hariu-Damore and Pete Damore) release their enthralling self-titled album with the focus track “The Prophet.” With poignant melodies and unforgettable vocal harmonies, Ordinary Elephant creates music that deeply resonates with the soul. The duo’s gift for lyrically capturing the essence of the human experience is evident throughout this gorgeous album’s 14 songs.
“The Prophet” draws you in with its simplicity and sincerity, featuring delicate guitar and banjo with harmony throughout. The tale of self-love began with a well-worn copy of Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet, gifted to Crystal by a dear friend. Ordinary Elephant shares, “It’s not unusual for us to take on another character’s voice in a song, as we did here, but taking it to a deeper level and physically embodying these characters for the video was a new and moving experience for us.” Watch the compelling video for “The Prophet” which premiered on Glide HERE. Listen to Ordinary Elephant HERE.
Raves are coming in for Ordinary Elephant:
“… a charming work of harmonic folk that feels intimate and poignant. Crystal Damore’s vocals are earthy and soulful, complemented by Pete’s vocal counterparts and simple yet moving banjo.”
– Glide
“The husband & wife duo pack a consistent punch in their melodies and performance.”
– Americana Highways
Ordinary Elephant was produced by multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell (Joan Baez, Levon Helm) and recorded in Powell’s studio in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, on the banks of Bayou Teche. The power of their stripped-down, intimate tracks is obvious from the outset on Ordinary Elephant, which begins with the bittersweet “Once Upon A Time.” Like much of the album, it’s a subtle, engrossing tune, building steadily with a gentle but relentless insistence. The slow-burning “Say It Loud” offers a candid look at depression and the power of human connection, while the pensive “Hardwood” finds peace in accepting our place in the natural world. The carefree song “Joy Has Not Forgotten Me” captures the essence of Ordinary Elephant. Crystal explains: “Joy is always there if you’re willing to work for it, and it feels like that notion is at the heart of who we are as a band.”
Ordinary Elephant began in 2014, when Crystal and Pete left established careers to pursue their passion for music, jumping into an RV and hitting the road. After years of touring constantly and building a fanbase, the duo earned the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year on the strength of their breakout album Before I Go. They followed up with 2019’s Honest, which the Associated Press hailed as “one of the best Americana albums of the year” and PopMatters called “one of the best folk duo records in recent memory.”
The duo are currently on the road and are touring through the summer and fall. Dates are below and on their website HERE. Their shows, just like themselves, are anything but ordinary; transcendent and intimate, they focus on the magic and beauty hiding in plain sight.
Ordinary Elephant 2024 Tour Dates
May 3 – Washington, D.C. – Lucky Penny House Concert
May 4 – Chester, MD – Macum Creek Concerts
May 8 – Roanoke, VA – 3rd Street Coffeehouse
May 11 – Hot Springs, NC – Rare Bird Farm
May 15 – Columbus, OH – Natalie’s Grandview
May 16 – Marshall, MI – Northfield Mandolins Showroom
May 17 – Lake Orion, MI – 20 Front Street
May 18 – Western MI – House Concert
May 30 – Houston, TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
May 31 – Austin, TX – The 04 Center
July 12 – Mansfield, OH – Mechanics Bank Live @ Lunch Concert Series
July 12 – Westerville, OH – House Concert
July 25 – Kansas City, MO – Tap Room at Waldo Pizza
July 26 – Lawrence, KS – Vintage Church Auditorium
August 22 – La Veta, CO – La Veta Mercantile
August 23 – Alamosa, CO – Society Hall
August 24 – Estes Park, CO – American Legion Post 119
August 29 – Bend, OR – LIVE at the Love Shack
August 31 – Olympia, WA – New Traditions
September 1 – Kingston, WA – Concerts at The Barn
September 4 – Eugene, OR – The Hybrid
September 7 – Grass Valley, CA – Velvy Appleton House Concert Series
September 14 – Santa Monica, CA – McCabe’s Guitar Shop
October 18 – Wake Forest, NC – Wake Forest Listening Room
November 8 – Santa Fe, NM – San Miguel Mission
November 9 – Corrales, NM – Old San Ysidro Church
November 16 – La Grange, TX – The Bugle Boy