ARTIST/BAND: Penny Broadhurst
BASED IN: Bramley
BAND MEMBERS: Penny Broadhurst produced by Hightone Productions
BEEN GOING SINCE: August 2006 (as a music thing, September 1998 for spoken word)
BIOGRAPHY: Penny Broadhurst started out in the less than fashionable world of spoken word. She quickly ditched the poetry and spoken word circuit for gigs supporting bands and comedians, released an album of spoken word with music which despite its poetic genre got radio play on BBC 6 Music amongst others, played a load of festivals, put a book out of lyrics and poems.
Then she realised she could write choruses after all and started writing pop songs and recording them in Kirkstall with producers Ed Heaton and Si McGrath. Early unfinished versions of these new songs have already attracted attention from The Guardian, NME and BBC2.
STYLE OF MUSIC: Literary, witty, eclectic pop. The new album, 'A Little More Sonic' takes in stripped-down blues, 50s rock'n'roll, 70s rock, 80s electro, 90s rave, baggy, 30s jazz, grimey pop, dub...it's all about what best serves the lyric and sounds great.
INFLUENCES: Kate Bush, Dolly Parton, The KLF, Prince, Patrick Wolf, Billy Bragg, Morrissey, Pulp, Sarah Slean, Bjork, Brian Wilson, Jeff Lynne, Kirsty MacColl, Saul Williams, Ian Dury...
FAVOURITE SONG: "Levi Stubbs' Tears" by Billy Bragg - for everything the lyric doesn't say and everything it does, coupled with a great tune and heartbreaking performance. Also, "The Wedding List" by Kate Bush - cracked brilliance.
BEST MOMENT SO FAR: Getting played on the Breakfast Show on 6 Music, being featured in The Guardian as one to watch, being played on FM4 in Austria (their Radio 1) and being able to listen in via the internet. Playing Latitude festival to over 500 people in a packed tent, supporting Patrick Wolf, Glastonbury...there are many.
OTHER INFO: New album 'A Little More Sonic' is being recorded right now and will launch in some form at Ladyfest Leeds in April. Single 'LJaded'/'London (Jeff Lynne Superstar)' is coming out as a free download on Killer Disc on Monday 29 January 2007. There will be both spoken word and music gigs on the cards for 2007, plus a remix by ace London band 586. Everything else, as always, is dependent on funds but never limited by imagination. |
