Chaparelle

Chaparelle was born from a chance meeting between Zella Day and Jesse Woods at Austin City Limits in 2021. Already a fan of Jesse’s music, Zella invited him to an after-party she was playing; their chemistry immediately caught fire, burned fast, and showed no signs of simmering. What began as new friends trading a few songs quickly ignited into something deeper – long nights on the phone, countless plane rides, and weeks at a time spent co-writing songs in the Texas Hill Country. Day jokingly says they “kept it professional at least three out of five days.” Now, the newly-married couple is based just outside Austin, Texas – the Live Music Capital of the World.

Day was born and raised in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ. After being signed to a major record label, she packed up, moved to California, and began making waves – hitting the late-night TV circuit, playing Coachella, and touring in support of Lana Del Rey. Meanwhile, Woods was living his life in Texas. The Houston native was playing football on scholarship at Texas A&M before an injury steered him toward a pivotal fork in the road – prompting him to hone his musical talents. He began studying songwriters like Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and Harry Nilsson, crafting a dreamy sound that’s soft, poetic, and often described as neo-folk. “Just people making music for the sake of making music,” says Woods.

They were then joined by the splendor of friend and creative juggernaut Beau Bedford – known for his work with the Texas Gentlemen and as co-owner of Electric Sound Studio, with credits including Chris Stapleton, Orville Peck, Diplo, and many more. It was Bedford who helped take the initial spark between Day and Woods and turn Chaparelle into a full-blown blaze. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds, they created a project that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Four years in the making, Chaparelle channels romance, longing, and raw musical instinct into a sound that blurs the lines between country, Americana, soul, and rock & roll. Their debut album, Western Pleasure, captures the magnetic tension and harmony at the heart of the band, pairing classic country influences with a modern sense of freedom and emotional depth. Since officially forming in 2023, Chaparelle has quickly built momentum, appearing at major festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits, Luck Reunion, and Under The Big Sky, while earning a reputation for captivating live performances driven by the undeniable connection between its three members.