Lou Rhodes

Lou Rhodes

Lou Rhodes in London, March 2006
Background information
Birth name Louise Ann Rhodes[1]
Origin Manchester, England
Genres acoustic, folk
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, cello
Years active 1996–present
Labels Infinite Bloom,
A&G Records
Associated acts Lamb
Website lourhodes.com

Lou Rhodes is an English singer and songwriter from Manchester, now living in Wiltshire. In addition to providing vocals and lyrics for the band Lamb, Rhodes has released three solo albums: Beloved One, Bloom and One Good Thing. Rhodes has collaborated with 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, Funkstörung, Pale 3, Sugizo, Plump DJs, Sheila Chandra, Eliza Carthy, Art of Noise, and The Cinematic Orchestra on Ma Fleur and the soundtrack to The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos.

Solo career

Louise Ann Rhodes started her own record label, Infinite Bloom, at the beginning of 2006, to issue her debut solo album Beloved One which was shortlisted for the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize the same year. This album explores the folk side of Rhodes's music, which was previously undisplayed while performing in Lamb, although songs such as "Fortress" are reminiscent of her times playing in Lamb. She has been described as following a Nick Drake path as a singer-songwriter.[2]

Rhodes performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2005 and in 2007 on the new stage at "The Park", which had been organised by Emily Eavis. In May 2007, Rhodes had to cancel her UK tour after the sudden death of her sister.

Rhodes' second album Bloom was released through A&G Records/Infinite Bloom on 1 September 2007. It was given three (out of five) stars by Q magazine. On 24 September 2007 she released the first single from Bloom, called "The Rain". In October 2007 Lou Rhodes began a tour to promote the album.

In 2009, Lamb reunited for a tour. During this same period, Rhodes recorded her third album, One Good Thing, which was released in early 2010. Her fourth solo album is scheduled for release 2016 according to her website. On 6 January 2014, Rhodes' shared with fans her cover of The xx track 'Angels' stating that it would be an extra track on the forthcoming album entitled 'theyesandeye'.[3][4] The track was released exclusively in Australia on 14 February 2014[5]

Musical style

Although Lamb are famous for blending trip hop 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.[6] 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,[7] this is how Rhodes explains the last album's lyrics:[8]

“ 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'[9][10] (Lou Rhodes/Tori Elliott[11]), published by Strata Books in 2012, received good reviews.[12][13] Follow-up The Phlunk's Worldwide Symphony is available now .[14] In 2012 Rhodes also contributed an essay to 'The First Time I Heard The Smiths',[15] part of an ongoing series where musicians/writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band.

Personal life

Lou Rhodes has two sons. She lives in rural Wiltshire, England.[16]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Books

References

  1. ↑ "Works written by: RHODES LOUISE ANN". ACE Title Search. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  2. ↑ Maddy Costa. "Lou Rhodes: One Good Thing | CD review | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  3. ↑ "Angels - Lou Rhodes (Audio)". YouTube. 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Official Lou Rhodes". Facebook. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  5. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Angels - Single by Lou Rhodes". Itunes.apple.com. 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  6. ↑ Pascal Wyse. "We're jammin': Lou Rhodes | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  7. ↑ Thom Jurek (2006-01-30). "Beloved One - Lou Rhodes | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  8. ↑ Archived 5 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Buy 'The Phlunk' (Lou Rhodes/Tori Elliott) picture book in paperback.". Strata Books. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  10. ↑ "Lou Rhodes: Books, Biogs, Audiobooks, Discussions". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  11. ↑ "Tori Elliott". Tori Elliott. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  12. ↑ "Kids Book Club March 2013 | Reviews". Kids Confidential. 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  13. ↑ "The Phlunk | Chicken and Frog Bookshop". Chickenandfrog.com. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  14. ↑ "Maintenance". Lamb.stratashop.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  15. ↑ "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 2015-03-06.
  16. ↑ "Country and western: Lou Rhodes' communal gothic manor house - House & Home - Property - Interview by Rosanna Greenstreet". Money.independent.co.uk. 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2015-03-06.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lou Rhodes.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.