A product of a father who was a jazz drummer and a mother who was a classical pianist, indie soul singer Nedelle Torrisi, or Nedelle, grew up playing a variety of instruments, including violin, piano, and guitar. She eventually started composing and arranging her own material, which eventually led to her Republic of Two debut, which was released in May of 2003. She makes Oakland, CA, her home. From the Lion's Mouth followed in 2005; the next year, she appeared on the Curtains' album Calamity, and teamed with that band's founder, Chris Cohen, for another project, Cryptacize.