| Holly Throsby | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Holly Sarah Throsby |
| Born | 28 December 1978 |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | Folk, indie folk, indie pop |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | guitar, piano. |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Spunk Records |
| Website | hollythrosby.com |
Holly Throsby (born 28 December 1978) is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and pianist from Sydney, Australia. Throsby was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) 'Best Female Artist' Award in 2006 for Under the Town[1][2] and in the same category in 2008 for A Loud Call.[3]
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Holly Throsby was raised in Sydney, Australia and began studying guitar at the age of 8. She is the daughter of the renowned ABC Classic FM radio presenter Margaret Throsby. Her uncle is the noted cultural economist, David Throsby, and her grandmother was a cellist in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. As a child, Throsby was encouraged in her musical pursuits. She studied classical guitar techniques and began composing from the age of 11. After earning a B.A. degree (majoring in English) from the University of Sydney, Throsby worked in an art house video store and travelled extensively before recording her debut LP, On Night.
Recorded with experimental producer Tony Dupe at his cottage on Saddleback Mountain on the NSW south coast in 2003, On Night was noted for its lyrical sophistication, emotional resonance and bare, unadorned production (native bird calls, frogs and barking dogs can be heard throughout). It was released by the influential indie label Spunk Records in 2004 and received critical praise in Australia and abroad. Throsby soon found herself touring with the likes of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Joanna Newsom, Smog, M. Ward and Devendra Banhart.
In 2006, Throsby released her second LP, Under the Town, again produced by Dupe and featuring a larger group of accompanying musicians. Retaining the literate warmth of the debut, Under the Town was again lauded by critics and Throsby was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist.
Throsby's third album, "A Loud Call", was recorded in Nashville by Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Andrew Bird) with string and horn arrangements recorded in the Kangaroo Valley, NSW, by Dupe. Featuring guest vocals by Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and guest musicians from Lambchop and Silver Jews, "A Loud Call" was hailed by the Australian and the British press as Throsby's strongest work. On 10 September she was nominated for the second time for ARIA Award's "Best Female Artist".
In October 2010 Throsby released an album of original children's songs called "See!". Billed as an alternative "black sheep" children's album, "See!" features special guest cameos by Darren Hanlon, J. Walker, Jack Ladder & Margaret Throsby. It was released through ABC Music.
In 2011, Throsby released her fifth album, "Team". Recorded in a 19th Century church with Dupe, "Team" received a slew of four star reviews in the Australian & British press (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Times) and was lauded as Throsby's most experimental album, eschewing traditional song structure for layered, intersecting vocals expressing varying points of view around the subject of a relationship breakdown.
In June 2011, the debut album by Seeker Lover Keeper was released - a band comprising Throsby, Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann. The album, which was recorded in New York with engineer Victor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey, Nick Cave) and Dirty Three drummer Jim White, debuted at #3 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Seeker Lover Keeper completed a national sold-out tour in July, 2011.
In addition to recording, Throsby has written and illustrated two comic books which act as companion pieces to her albums.
Throsby, along with Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann is a member of the band Seeker Lover Keeper.
Throsby's song "A Heart Divided" is featured on an international TV and cinema campaign for Tourism Victoria, filmed in Australia and Finland. The ad was directed by Mike Daly and aired during the 2011 Australian Open coverage in the US.
Throsby contributed a t-shirt design for The Yellow Bird Project to raise money for Amnesty International.
Throsby is a member of the Voiceless Council. Voiceless: The Animal Protection Institute is an independent non-profit think tank dedicated to alleviating the suffering of animals in Australia.
On her official website, Throsby lists her interests outside of songwriting as contemporary literature, political intrigue, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.