Britta Phillips

Britta Phillips

Phillips performing in New York City in June 2007
Background information
Birth name Alison Britta Phillips
Born June 11, 1963
Boyne City, Michigan, United States
Genres Dream pop, indie rock, folk
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, actor, voice actor
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active 1985–present
Associated acts Dean and Britta, Luna, Ultrababyfat, The Belltower, Galaxie 500, Ben Lee

Britta Phillips (born June 11, 1963, Boyne City, Michigan) is an American musician, songwriter, actress and voice actor.

She is perhaps best known as the singing voice of the title character of the 1980s animated series Jem; and as a member of the bands Luna and as one half of the duo Dean and Britta, both with her husband Dean Wareham. Her acting credits include the 1988 film Satisfaction.

Early life

Phillips was born in Boyne City, Michigan to a musical family, but grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[1] Her father, Peter Phillips, was a musician, songwriter, jingle composer, and former music teacher of Paul Simon.[2] He has also worked on several Broadway plays. At the age of 19, Phillips moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue a career in music. In 1985, through his musical contacts, Phillips father secured an audition for her for the role of "Jem". Phillips was hired on the strength of her demo for the show's theme song, and that version was the one used in the opening credits.[3]

Music career

Phillips was a member of the bands The Belltower and Ultrababyfat in the 1990s and Luna from 2001 to 2005. Since then, Phillips has released albums with fellow Luna bandmate (and second husband) Dean Wareham. Wareham, a former member of the band Galaxie 500, toured with Phillips in 2010 performing the band's back catalog.[4][5] Phillips has also toured with Ben Lee.[6] Phillips and Wareham have also written score pieces for the Noah Baumbach film The Squid and the Whale and the Morgan J. Freeman film Just Like the Son. Their song "Knives From Bavaria" (Sonic Souvenirs) appears in the Olivier Assayas film, Clean, (starring Maggie Cheung). Their song "Your baby" appears in the Italian movie "A/R Andata e Ritorno" directed by Marco Ponti. In 2001, Phillips provided vocals on the Anika Moa album Thinking Room.[7] In 2007, Britta produced and recorded a cover of Neil Young's "I Am A Child" for the benefit CD Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young For Charity. In 2010, Phillips performed vocals on the MGMT single "It's Working" from their album Congratulations.[8]

Acting career

Britta's first acting job was as the singing voice of the lead character in the animated series Jem, alongside actress and singer Samantha Newark, who provided Jem's speaking voice.[9] The series ran from 1985 to 1988. During this time, she featured role in a 1986 episode of the cult TV show Crime Story, in which she played a former homecoming queen turned high-class escort in Las Vegas.

In 1988 she co-starred in the teen rock band movie Satisfaction, starring Justine Bateman, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Trini Alvarado and Scott Coffey. Phillips performed several songs during the movie and is featured on the soundtrack album. Also in 1988, she had a starring role as a nurse in the pilot episode of the short-lived TV series Nightingales.[10][11] From 2005 to 2008, she voiced various characters for the Adult Swim series Moral Orel, most notably as Bloberta Puppington. In 2006, she featured as herself in the Luna band documentary Tell Me Do You Miss Me. Since 2010, Phillips has voiced various characters in Mary Shelley's Frankenhole, most noticeably Elizabeth Frankenstein. Both Moral Orel and Mary Shelley's Frankenhole were created by Dino Stamatopoulos. In 2010, Phillips appeared alongside Wareham on Yo Gabba Gabba in the episode titled "Ride". [12]

References

  1. ↑ Name * (2009-02-17). "From the Vault: Britta Phillips interview « NewBeats". Newbeats.com. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  2. ↑ "Simon & Garfunkel Central Park Tribute - dedication to Peter Phillips". Contactmusic.com. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  3. ↑ "Drew Ullrich Interviews Britta Phillips | Smalldoggies Interviews: Britta Phillips". Smalldoggies Magazine. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  4. ↑ "Britta Phillips of Belltower interview". Whenthesunhitsblog.blogspot.com. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  5. ↑ "Dean & Britta tour schedule". Deanandbritta.com. 2012-01-03. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  6. ↑ "Drew Ullrich interviews Britta Phillips". Smalldoggiesmagazine.com. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  7. ↑ "Thinking Room personnel". Cduniverse.com. 2002-03-05. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  8. ↑ "MGMT official website "Congratulations" personnel". Whoismgmt.com. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  9. ↑ "Cartoon Character Puts Singer Into Spotlight". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  10. ↑ "Britta Phillips Interview and acting career details". Newbeats.com. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  11. ↑ "Rock Jem Britta Phillips interview". Rockjem.com. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  12. ↑ "Yo Gabba Gabba Dean & Britta details". Stereogum.com. 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2012-03-05.

External links