| Nellie McKay | |
|---|---|
Nellie McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City on May 14, 2011 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nell Marie McKay |
| Born | April 13, 1982 London, England |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA |
| Genres | Rock, pop, jazz, reggae |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, Actor |
| Instruments | vocals, piano, ukulele, cello, xylophone, glockenspiel |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Columbia Records 2002-2006 Vanguard Records2006-2009 Verve Records2009-present |
| Website | nelliemckay.com |
Nellie McKay (born Nell Marie McKay), is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and former stand-up comedienne, noted for her critically acclaimed albums, and for her Broadway debut in The Threepenny Opera (2006), for which she won a Theatre World Award. Her music has showcased different genres, from jazz to rap and disco to funk.
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Nellie McKay was born in London[1] to writer-director Malcolm McKay and actress Robin Pappas. While growing up, she lived with her mother in Harlem, Olympia, WA, and rural Pennsylvania.[2]
McKay studied jazz voice at the Manhattan School of Music, but did not graduate.
Her performances at various New York City music venues, including the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub, drew attention from record labels.[1] She signed with Columbia Records.
The recording sessions for McKay's debut album Get Away from Me took place in August 2003 with Geoff Emerick as producer. Emerick was known for working as The Beatles' engineer on such albums as Revolver and Abbey Road.[3] The title is a play on Norah Jones' Come Away with Me.[2] McKay is said to be the first woman to release a double album as her first release. Originally, her contract with Columbia called for 13 songs, but McKay aggressively lobbied her label for a double album, including bottles of wine, a PowerPoint slideshow, and a mock photo of her threatening Emerick with a gun. (Allmusic).
Get Away from Me was released in February 2004. Jon Pareles of The New York Times called the album "a tour de force from a sly, articulate musician who sounds comfortable in any era."[4] The album was included on several "Best of 2004" lists.[5]
McKay was one of the major breakout artists from the 2004 SXSW Festival and was a finalist in the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize. She toured amphitheaters across the northern United States in July 2004 as an opening act on the first half of the Au Naturale tour co-headlined by Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies.
McKay wrote and recorded several songs for the motion picture Rumor Has It.... The songs were released on the iTunes Store on 27 December 2005.
Pretty Little Head was released in the United States on 31 October 2006 on McKay's own label, Hungry Mouse, and was marketed by SpinART Records.[6] The album was divided into two discs and included a 44-page color booklet. The album included the intended 23 tracks as originally planned. Release of the album in other countries, including Canada, was delayed until 21 November 2006.
After SpinART declared bankruptcy in 2007, Pretty Little Head was released by Sony.
McKay made her Broadway debut as Polly Peachum in the Roundabout Theatre Company's limited-run production of The Threepenny Opera, co-starring with Alan Cumming, Jim Dale, Cyndi Lauper, and Brian Charles Rooney. The role earned her a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance.[7]
McKay's third full-length studio release debuted on 25 September 2007. With both of her previous albums lasting over 60 minutes and spanning two discs each, Obligatory Villagers, with only nine tracks (ten if purchased from iTunes), totalling just about 30 minutes was her shortest release to date.[8] The album was produced on Nellie's own label, Hungry Mouse, and released by Vanguard Records.
The album was recorded at Red Rock Recording Studio, in the Pocono Mountains, where Nellie went to high school. She chose the studio because many of her heroes and teachers record there, and used many of them on the recording.
On October 13, 2009, she released her fourth studio album, Normal as Blueberry Pie - A Tribute to Doris Day on Verve Records. The album contains twelve covers of songs made famous by Day, as well as one original tune. Barnes and Noble booksellers featured an exclusive edition, packaged with the bonus track "I Want To Be Happy." iTunes also featured an exclusive edition with a different bonus track, "I'll Never Smile Again."
On September 28, 2010, Nellie and Verve Records released her fifth album. Home Sweet Mobile Home includes original tracks. It was produced by Nellie and her mother, Robin Pappas, with artistic input from David Byrne.
On February 1, 2007, McKay joined Laurie Anderson, Joan Osborne, Suzanne Vega and the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra for Four Scored, a single performance of reworked songs at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.[9]
McKay played the role of Ciara in P.S. I Love You, a 2007 film directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler.
She has written two Christmas-themed songs, "A Christmas Dirge" and "Take Me Away," both of which are available on her web site.
McKay is featured in the song "How Are You?" on David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's collaborative concept album Here Lies Love. The album, which also features such vocalists as Cyndi Lauper, Santigold, Roisin Murphy, Natalie Merchant, and Tori Amos, chronicles the life of Imelda Marcos, the widow of former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos. The album was released on April 6, 2010.
Nellie, along with violinist Philippe Quint, starred in and contributed music to an independent film called Downtown Express, directed by David Grubin.[10]
Her musical show "I Want to Live!" is based on the life of murderess Barbara Graham, who also inspired a 1958 film with the same name.[11]
McKay is a vocal feminist, and wrote a satirical song relating to feminist issues called "Mother of Pearl".[12] McKay also "is a proud member of PETA" (album notes); her song "Columbia Is Bleeding" dealt with the issue of Columbia University's cruelty to animals. She also wrote a 2004 song ("John John") about her feelings in favor of political candidate Ralph Nader.[13]
She has performed at events for the progressive radio station WBAI, Planned Parenthood, Farm Sanctuary,[14] and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, among many groups.
McKay was one of several musicians to write a song in support of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis.[15]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | P.S. I Love You | Ciara Reilly |
| 2010 | Downtown Express | Ramona |