Amelia Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Amelia Fletcher is a British singer, songwriter
, guitarist
, and economist
. She has been the frontwoman of an evolving series of pop groups from the 1980s to the present. Her bands included Talulah Gosh
, Heavenly
and Marine Research
, and she is currently fronting Tender Trap
.
She also sang backing vocals for The Wedding Present
early in their career and on the Hefner
album We Love the City
. She toured with, was guest vocalist for, The Pooh Sticks on their albums Orgasm, Million Seller and The Great White Wonder
, and in 1988 released a single under her own name, "Can You Keep a Secret?" She has also appeared as a guest vocalist for The 6ths
on the song Looking For Love (In the Hall Of Mirrors), on both Bugbear
recordings, a single by The Hit Parade, "Why do you have to go out with him when you could go out with me?" single by The Brilliant Corners
, and the 2000 album Trend by Oxford
band The Relationships. Since 2002 she has been keyboardist for Sportique
. Amelia Fletcher was also an early promoter of Scottish act Bis
who Heavenly performed alongside and whose lead singer, Manda Rin, repeatedly cited Amelia as one of her inspirations/influences.
Fletcher's many bands helped to define the evolving twee pop movement. Though their sound ranged from lo-fi
to power pop
with forays into electronica
, Fletcher's wry lyrics and simple, girlish vocal style gave these bands a unified tone and formed the basis of a small but devoted cult following.
In addition to her music, Fletcher is the Chief Economist and Senior Director of Mergers for the UK's Office of Fair Trading. In 1993, she completed a D.Phil. in economics at the University of Oxford
titled 'Theories of Self-Regulation'. In 2001, she was appointed chief economist at the Office of Fair Trading
and in 2008 took on the additional role of head of mergers. Fletcher has two children with her partner Rob Pursey, also a member of Heavenly, Talulah Gosh, Marine Research, and Tender Trap. She is the daughter of Jean and Winston Fletcher.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
. She has been the frontwoman of an evolving series of pop groups from the 1980s to the present. Her bands included Talulah Gosh
Talulah Gosh
Talulah Gosh were a guitar-pop group from Oxford, England and one of the leading bands of the twee pop movement, taking their name from the headline of an NME interview with Clare Grogan. They supposedly formed when Amelia Fletcher and Elizabeth Price, both wearing Pastels badges, met at a club in...
, Heavenly
Heavenly (British band)
Heavenly were a 1990s twee pop band, originally forming in Oxford, England in 1989. Amelia Fletcher , Mathew Fletcher , Peter Momtchiloff and Robert Pursey had all been members of Talulah Gosh, a key member of the C86 scene.-History:Heavenly debuted with the 7" single "I Fell in Love Last...
and Marine Research
Marine Research
Marine Research was an indie rock/twee pop band, based in Oxford/London , formed in 1997 by four of the five members of Heavenly , following the suicide of Heavenly drummer Mathew Fletcher...
, and she is currently fronting Tender Trap
Tender Trap
Tender Trap is an indie rock/twee pop band, based in London , formed in 2001 by three of the five members of Marine Research - Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey, and John Downfall....
.
She also sang backing vocals for The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
early in their career and on the Hefner
Hefner (band)
Hefner were a British indie rock and "urban folk" band formed in east London in 1995. They were active from about 1996 until 2002; since then they have played together only once, for a tribute to the DJ John Peel, who was a strong supporter of theirs....
album We Love the City
We Love the City
We Love the City is the third album by British indie rock band Hefner. It was released by Too Pure in two formats in 2000, the standard version and a second version with a disc featuring videos for "I Took Her Love for Granted" and "Good Fruit," as well as a John Peel session. The entire John...
. She toured with, was guest vocalist for, The Pooh Sticks on their albums Orgasm, Million Seller and The Great White Wonder
The Great White Wonder
The Great White Wonder is the second full-length album by the Welsh band The Pooh Sticks. The album was released in June 1991 and is the band's final album release on an independent label before signing to RCA Records in 1992...
, and in 1988 released a single under her own name, "Can You Keep a Secret?" She has also appeared as a guest vocalist for The 6ths
The 6ths
The 6ths is a band created by Stephin Merritt, also the prime mover behind The Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies and Future Bible Heroes.One story has it that the band was conceived when Merritt, observing that there was no tribute album dedicated to him, decided to make one himself...
on the song Looking For Love (In the Hall Of Mirrors), on both Bugbear
Bugbear
A bugbear is a legendary creature or type of hobgoblin comparable to the bogeyman, bogey, bugaboo, and other creatures of folklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children. Its name is derived from an old Celtic word bug for evil spirit or goblin...
recordings, a single by The Hit Parade, "Why do you have to go out with him when you could go out with me?" single by The Brilliant Corners
The Brilliant Corners
The Brilliant Corners, a British indie pop band from Bristol, England, recorded throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The group formed in 1983, taking their name from a Thelonious Monk jazz album. The line-up included Davey Woodward The Brilliant Corners, a British indie pop band from...
, and the 2000 album Trend by Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
band The Relationships. Since 2002 she has been keyboardist for Sportique
Sportique
Sportique is a British indiepop band formed in 1997 by Gregory Webster, formerly of the Razorcuts, with Mark Flunder of the Television Personalities and Rob Pursey of Heavenly...
. Amelia Fletcher was also an early promoter of Scottish act Bis
Bis (band)
Bis are a Scottish indie pop band composed of Steven Clark , John Clark , and Amanda MacKinnon . Formed in 1994, the band broke up in 2003, but reformed briefly in 2007 for a series of concerts.-History:...
who Heavenly performed alongside and whose lead singer, Manda Rin, repeatedly cited Amelia as one of her inspirations/influences.
Fletcher's many bands helped to define the evolving twee pop movement. Though their sound ranged from lo-fi
Lo-fi music
Lo-fi is lower quality of sound recordings than the usual standard for music. The qualities of lo-fi are usually achieved by either degrading the quality of the recorded audio, or using certain equipment. Recent uses of the phrase have led to it becoming a genre, although it still remains as an...
to power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
with forays into electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, Fletcher's wry lyrics and simple, girlish vocal style gave these bands a unified tone and formed the basis of a small but devoted cult following.
In addition to her music, Fletcher is the Chief Economist and Senior Director of Mergers for the UK's Office of Fair Trading. In 1993, she completed a D.Phil. in economics at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
titled 'Theories of Self-Regulation'. In 2001, she was appointed chief economist at the Office of Fair Trading
Office of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
and in 2008 took on the additional role of head of mergers. Fletcher has two children with her partner Rob Pursey, also a member of Heavenly, Talulah Gosh, Marine Research, and Tender Trap. She is the daughter of Jean and Winston Fletcher.
External links
- http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=3956 - Interview, part 1
- http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=3982 - Interview, part 2
- http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=3999 - Interview, part 3