Ozell grew up in
Reno, Nevada, in a musical household and began her classical training at an early age. Her parents did not play or perform themselves, but they had a passion for music and took music education seriously, getting Ozell to play the violin from the age of just four years old. She also started vocal training at the age of 11 years and soon after realised that music was the career path she wanted to pursue. From 13, she started working with an opera coach. At university in
Boulder, Colorado, she majored in
English literature and sang in
blues bands and
soul-
funk bands in her spare time throughout college. After graduating, she started performing in clubs around New York and became a part of the city's musical community with her blend of
jazz, blues and
American roots music, performing both original material and interpretations of works by other blues, soul and
country songwriters. ==Music career==