Biography
Owelu Dreamhouse is a Melbourne-based duo formed by vocalist Nkechi Anele, who is Nigerian-Irish, and multi-instrumentalist and arranger Nic Ryan-Glenie. Their creative partnership originated in the iconic Naarm (Melbourne) soul band Saskwatch, where they first collaborated before the group disbanded in 2019. After a five-year hiatus from the music industry, during which Anele reconnected with her Nigerian heritage and grappled with her identity as a third-culture kid growing up as a woman of colour in predominantly white Australia, she reunited with Ryan-Glenie, who lived nearby, to explore new musical ideas.
The duo's self-titled debut album, released on February 6, 2026, via HopeStreet Recordings, blends cinematic soul, psychedelia, Afrobeat, West African highlife, 90s R&B, and jazz influences drawn from their personal collections of West African records, Latin sounds, and European new music movements. Writing began in July 2023, with rehearsals in early 2024, live recording over a weekend in April 2024 at a farmhouse with eight musicians and top Melbourne session players, their first gig in July 2024, single 'Tourist' in October 2024, a performance at WOMADelaide in March 2025, and the full album release in 2026. The project name derives from Anele's grandmother's village, Owaelu, in Nigeria, reflecting themes of cultural ties, displacement, gender, identity, and belonging across generations, as explored in tracks like 'Tourist' and Manu Dibango-inspired 'Stutter'.
Their musical style emphasizes live collaboration, spontaneity, and a genre-fluid philosophy of 'try it until it fits,' prioritizing community, personal narrative, and creative safety over commercial outcomes. Co-produced by Henry Jenkins, the album fosters a supportive space amid industry challenges, marking Anele's triumphant return and a shared vision for authentic expression.
Fun Facts
- The album was recorded live over a single weekend in April 2024 at a farmhouse with eight musicians, capturing spontaneous collective energy.
- Owelu Dreamhouse played their first gig in July 2024, released single 'Tourist' in October 2024, performed at WOMADelaide in March 2025, and dropped the full album in February 2026.
- Nkechi Anele describes Nic Ryan-Glenie as the key figure who believed in her more than she believed in herself, providing admin support and creating safe creative spaces during her return from a five-year industry break.
- The duo shares overlapping tastes from West African records, North/South American music, UK/African sounds, 90s R&B, and European jazz/afro-beat/dance, despite different backgrounds.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Manu Dibango - Stylistic influence via his 1972 album Soul Makossa (Track 'Stutter' on Owelu Dreamhouse debut) [1970s influence on 2024-2026 project]
Key Collaborators
- Nkechi Anele - Core duo member, vocalist (for Nic Ryan-Glenie) (Owelu Dreamhouse self-titled debut album, previously Saskwatch) [2010s (Saskwatch) to 2023-2026]
- Nic Ryan-Glenie - Core duo member, arranger/multi-instrumentalist (for Nkechi Anele) (Owelu Dreamhouse self-titled debut album, previously Saskwatch) [2010s (Saskwatch) to 2023-2026]
- Henry Jenkins - Co-producer (Owelu Dreamhouse self-titled debut album)
- N'fa Jones - Guest artist (Owelu Dreamhouse self-titled debut album)
- Bilalli - Guest artist (Owelu Dreamhouse self-titled debut album)
External Links
Tags: #afro-funk, #funk, #futurism
References
Heard on WWOZ
Owelu Dreamhouse has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.