Holly Throsby
| Holly Throsby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Holly Sarah Throsby |
| Born | 28 December 1978 |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | Folk, indie folk, indie pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | guitar, piano. |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Spunk Records |
| Associated acts | Seeker Lover Keeper, Hayden (musician), Will Oldham, Machine Translations, Tiny Ruins, Darren Hanlon, Tony Dupe, Jim White (drummer), Jack Ladder. |
| Website | hollythrosby.com |
Holly Throsby (born 28 December 1978) is a musician 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] In 2011, she was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for 'Best Children's Album' for her alternative kid's album, See!; as well as a nomination as part of her band, Seeker Lover Keeper, with Sally Seltmann and Sarah Blasko.
Career
Holly Throsby was raised in Sydney, Australia and began studying guitar at the age of 8. She is the daughter of ABC Classic FM radio presenter Margaret Throsby. Her uncle is cultural economist, David Throsby, and her grandmother was a cellist in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. 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 at an art house video store for several years 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 in Australia with the likes of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Joanna Newsom, Bill Callahan/ Smog, M. Ward, Devendra Banhart, Jose Gonzales, Low and The Eels. She toured in the US, attending SXSW in 2005 and returning for a support tour with David Pajo (Slint, Interpol, Papa M). Throsby also toured the UK & Europe with Micah P. Hinson.
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 (including the UK press with 4 star reviews in Uncut & Mojo and 8/10 from Drowned In Sound) 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".
Throsby toured extensively in Australia, as well as tours in the UK & Europe with Paul Kelly, The Handsome Family and The Tallest Man On Earth who has covered Throsby's song 'To Begin With' at his subsequent live shows. Throsby also played several consecutive years at St Jeromes Laneway and Splendour In The Grass festivals
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. Throsby and her band, The Hello Tigers, have performed the album as a live show for Sydney Festival, Darwin Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Arts Centre, Adelaide Festival Centre and Perth's Awesome Festival.
In 2011, Throsby released "Team". Recorded in a 19th Century church in Wildes Meadow NSW 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 and achieved Gold accreditation. Seeker Lover Keeper completed two national sold-out tours 2011 & 2012.
Other projects
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 has appeared on albums by Josh Pyke, The Sleepy Jackson, Hayden, TZU and Jack Ladder.
Interests
- On her official website, Throsby lists her interests outside of songwriting as contemporary literature, political intrigue, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.
- Throsby contributed a t-shirt design for The Yellow Bird Project to raise money for Amnesty International.[4]
- Throsby sits on the council of Voiceless, the animal protection institute an independent non-profit think-tank dedicated to alleviating the suffering of animals in Australia. "I've always had a deep respect and empathy for animals. When they are exploited, I feel compelled to speak out."[5]
In popular culture
- 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 Australian Open coverage in the U.S. in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
- Throsby's song 'To Begin With' has been covered live by The Tallest Man On Earth. Her song 'Under The Town' was recorded by rock band Kisschasy. It was also remixed by Machine Translations and Mountains In The Sky. Sarah Blasko has covered 'We're Good People But Why Don't We Show It?'.
Personal life
In an article written for the Sydney Morning Herald, Holly revealed that she is in a same sex relationship: "I would like to be able to get married" but "Australian law says my partner and I aren't allowed".[6]
Throsby discussed her cocaine use in a book called 'Talking Smack' by Andrew McMillen. The book features 'Honest conversations about drugs' with Australian musicians, including Paul Kelly (Australian musician), Goyte, Mick Harvey and Phil Jamieson.
Throsby is featured in the book 'Motherhood and Creativity' by Rachel Power, alongside Claudia Karvan, Rachel Griffiths, Clare Bowditch and Del Kathryn Barton, and others.
Discography
Albums
- On Night (2004)
- Under the Town (2006)
- A Loud Call (2008)
- See! (2010)
- Team (2011)
- Seeker Lover Keeper (2011) - with Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann
Singles/EPs
- Things Between People (2004)
- Everything Sings Out [UK tour EP] (2006)
- One of You For Me (2007)
Compilations
- She Will Have Her Way - cover of "Not the Girl You Think You Are" by Crowded House (2005)
- Like a Version: Volume 2 - cover of "Mistress" by Red House Painters (2006)
- Like a Version: Volume 5 - cover of "Berlin Chair" by You Am I (2009)
References
Notes
- ↑ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2006: 20th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 5 December 2009.
- ↑ "Australia 2006 ARIA Awards". ALLdownunder.com. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
- ↑ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2008: 22nd Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 5 December 2009.
- ↑ http://www.yellowbirdproject.com
- ↑ "Voiceless, the animal protection institute".
- ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sing-out-loud-marriage-equality-is-in-tune-with-the-times-20131206-2ywk1.html
External links
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