Lou Rhodes
Lou Rhodes | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Louise Ann Rhodes[1] |
Origin | Manchester, England |
Genres | Acoustic, folk, experimental |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, cello |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | Infinite Bloom, A&G Records, Ninjatune Records |
Website | lourhodes |
Lou Rhodes is an English singer and songwriter from
Career
Originally from Manchester, Rhodes was born to a folk-singer mother Annie Burton.[3][4][5] She grew up around the English folk scene and worked as a photographer in the early 1990s.[6] Rhodes met engineer Andy Barlow through a friend and recorded a demo tape together, forming the band Lamb.[6] It resulted in a six-album deal with Mercury Records in 1995.[7] In 2004, Rhodes and Lamb collaborator Barlow split and both began to pursue solo ventures.[6]
Rhodes started her own
In April 2007, her debut was re-released in the US through Cooking Vinyl Records, adding three bonus tracks.[13] Rhodes' second album Bloom was released through A&G Records on 1 September 2007. It featured Emre Ramazanoglu (drums) and Stephen Junior (guitar).[14] On 24 September 2007, she released the first single from Bloom, called "The Rain". In October 2007, Rhodes began a tour to promote the album, however the tour was cut short after the death of her sister.[14]
In 2009, Lamb reunited for a tour. followed by the album 5. in 2010.
In anticipation of her fourth album release, Rhodes released the singles "All The Birds" in April,[2] and "All I Need" in June 2016.[19] A month later, the album theyesandeye was released through Nude Records.[20] Part financed through Pledge Music, the 11 songs were co-produced by Simon Byrt.[21] It includes a cover of the song "Angels" originally performed by The xx.[22] Other contributors include Ian Kellet (guitars), Nikolaj Bjerre (drums), Danny Keane (strings) and Tom Moth (harp).[2]
Musical style
Although Lamb is famous for blending electronica with jazz and elements of drum and bass, Rhodes's solo work is more organic and rooted in folk music. Rhodes expressed a doubt that she will ever return to electronica.[23] She combines finely tuned acoustic guitars—the essence of almost every arrangement—with violin, double bass, and rich percussion. Lyrically, her songs can be described as extremely romantic, soulful and very personal,[24] this is how Rhodes explains the last album's lyrics:[25]
Sometimes I think, "My God, I keep writing all these love songs," and I really struggle with that. I think I'm a bit of an emotional junkie, you know? It seems to be what consumes me. The heart never ceases to provide me with subject matter. I don't know why that is. Someone asked me the other day, "Are you in love with being in love?" And I couldn't really answer that question.
Author
Lou Rhodes is also a published author. Her children's picture book, The Phlunk
Collaborations
Besides her solo work, Rhodes has provided vocals for a number of other artists. In 1996, she featured on the track "Azura" on the 808 State album Don Solaris.[33] Released as a single, it reached no. 79.[34] In 1997, she provided a vocal for the song "Kanon" on the album Truth? by the Japanese guitarist Sugizo.[35][36] She also co-wrote and featured on the song "Humanity" on the A Guy Called Gerald album Essence, released in 2000.[37] The same year, she also featured on the soundtrack for the film The Princess and the Warrior, performing the song "Escape (Afraid of No One)".[38] In 2004, she featured on the album Disconnected by Funkstörung,[39]
Personal life
Lou Rhodes was married to Crispin Robinson and has two sons.[6] She lives in rural Wiltshire, England.[40]
Discography
Albums
- 2006 Beloved One (Infinite Bloom Recordings)
- 2007 Bloom (A&G Records)
- 2010 One Good Thing (Motion Audio, distributed by Ninja Tune)
- 2016 theyesandeye (Nude Records) UK number 100
Singles
- 2006 "Tremble"
- 2007 "The Rain" (A&G Records)
- 2010 "There for the Taking" (Motion Audio)
Books
- 2013 The Phlunk (ISBN 9780957369016)
- 2014 The Phlunk's Worldwide Symphony (ISBN 9780957369023)
References
- ^ "Works written by: Rhodes Louise Ann". ACE Title Search. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ a b c Gallacher, Alex (13 April 2016). "Premiere: Lou Rhodes - 'All The Birds' from forthcoming album 'theyesandeye'". Folkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Loundras, Alexia (29 August 2006). "Lou Rhodes: Not so sheepish". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Aon". SoundCloud. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Sethi, Rounik (17 May 2012). "Artist Interview: Lamb". ask.audio. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Kezya, Regina (6 July 2015). "LAMB: Lou Rhodes gives BLXS an insight into her life". BLXS. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Costa, Maddy (11 March 2010). "Lou Rhodes: One Good Thing". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Daughters of Albion". barbican.org.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "BBC - Press Office - Folk Britannia". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Beloved One [Bonus Tracks] - Lou Rhodes". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ a b Rooney, Siobhan (2008). "Lou Rhodes [Lamb]: Time to Bloom". siobhanrooney.com. Liberation Frequency. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Warburton, Mike (8 June 2015). "The Sand That Makes The Oyster Pearl - an interview with Lou Rhodes". skiddle.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Mikala (10 January 2011). "Lamb Exclusive Interview With Lou Rhodes About New Album '5′". The Backstage Rider. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Lou Rhodes". Ninja Tune. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Lou Rhodes* - One Good Thing". Discogs. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Brennan, Collin (21 June 2016). "Lou Rhodes (of UK duo Lamb) celebrates the simple things on solo single "All I Need"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Fish, Bob (31 July 2016). "Lou Rhodes – theyesandeye". For Folk's Sake. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Lou Rhodes: theyesandeye". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Wyse, Pascal (3 March 2006). "We're jammin': Lou Rhodes | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Jurek, Thom (30 January 2006). "Beloved One - Lou Rhodes | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived 5 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Buy 'The Phlunk' (Lou Rhodes/Tori Elliott) picture book in paperback". Strata Books. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Lou Rhodes: Books, Biogs, Audiobooks, Discussions". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Tori Elliott". Tori Elliott. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Kids Book Club March 2013 | Reviews". Kids Confidential. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "The Phlunk | Chicken and Frog Bookshop". Chickenandfrog.com. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Maintenance". Lamb.stratashop.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "The First Time I Heard The Smiths eBook: Scott Heim, Anna-Lynne Williams, Caroline Leavitt, Miki Berenyi, Vestal McIntyre, Craig Wedren, Andrew Kenny, Simon Scott, Lou Rhodes: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ Doran, John (2 October 2008). "Reviews - 808 State album reissues". thequietus.com. The Quietus. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "azura | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Lou Rhodes on Twitter". Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Sugizo - Truth?". Discogs. 19 November 1997. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Cooper, Paul (25 August 2000). "A Guy Called Gerald: Essence Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Pale 3 - Original Soundtrack: The Princess + The Warrior". Discogs. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Smith, Jack. "BBC - Music - Review of Funkstorung - Disconnected". Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Greenstreet, Rosanna (24 October 2007). "Country and western: Lou Rhodes' communal gothic manor house". Money.independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2015.