Biography
Stress Dolls is the moniker of Chelsea O'Donnell, a songwriter from Buffalo, NY. The project's sound has drawn such comparisons as "Joni Mitchell meets Nirvana," "Avril Lavigne and Foo Fighters in a blender," and "Kathleen Hanna fronting Modest Mouse."
O'Donnell began playing around Western New York in 2013, initially calling herself Wolf and eventually forming a band. After releasing one EP, the group went through a few different line-ups and, in time, changed their name to Stress Dolls. The band released a self-titled EP in the Fall of 2016, which they recorded earlier that year at GCR Audio.
Due to differing pursuits the band split in early 2017, but O'Donnell decided to keep playing under the name Stress Dolls. She made a move to Nashville, TN but was there only 6 months before chronic health issues - Crohn's disease and gastroparesis- sent her to the hospital to undergo a feeding tube procedure. Following the surgery she moved back to Buffalo, and after a period of recovery, began writing, performing, and recording again. Largely due to the tentative nature of her health, O'Donnell established Stress Dolls as a solo act in order to go at her own pace.
In early 2022 she was invited to work with producer Jim Wirt (Fiona Apple, Something Corporate, Incubus) at Superior Sound Studios in Cleveland, OH. After recording a few songs together, including her singles "Body" and "Alone," she was offered a record deal with Sun Pedal Recordings. After signing, Wirt and O'Donnell recorded several more tracks that went on to comprise her debut album, Queen of No, released in May 2024.
In 2025, O'Donnell founded her own record label, Angry Girl Music, and reissued Queen of No to streaming services.
Currently, Stress Dolls takes on several forms live: solo with O'Donnell and her acoustic guitar; as a duo when joined by longtime collaborator Sally Schaefer on violin; or as a band when combined with members TJ Luckman (bass), Jordan Smith (lead guitar), and Josh English (drums). In its many iterations, Stress Dolls has shared stages with such acts as USS, Shonen Knife, We Are Scientists, Dan Andriano and Matt Pryor, Tommy Stinson, and Our Lady Peace, and has toured regionally throughout New York state, the Midwest, and Southern Ontario.
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