Astrid Williamson
Encyclopedia
Astrid Williamson is a Shetland born musician
and songwriter
.
In the 1990s, Williamson obtained her degree in music from the Royal Scottish Academy
and co-founded a band known as Goya Dress which consisted of Williamson, Terry de Castro, and Simon Pearson. Goya Dress dissolved in 1996, after which Willamson went on to release solo material with UK independent record label
One Little Indian Records
and founded her own record label, Incarnation Records. Pearson and de Castro went on to join Cinerama
alongside David Gedge
, frontman of The Wedding Present
.
In addition to her solo career Williamson also worked in collaboration with various groups including Oskar and the experimental band, The Bilderberg Groop. Drawing on her expertise as a classically trained pianist she has also worked with Canadian Singer/Songwriter Tara Maclean
and provided Vocals for The Hope Blister
and 1990s supergroup
Electronic
.
In May 2010, Astrid took to the road with Brendan Perry
to play keyboards and sing backing vocals on stage 2 of his Ark
tour.
Most recently, Williamson has collaborated with many people including guitarist/ambient expert Leo Abrahams, who himself has worked with Brian Eno, Paul Simon and Jarvis Cocker. They met when Williamson saw Abrahams perform at Brian Eno's Pure Scenius project at the 2010 Brighton Festival. After seeing him play she sent him dozens of demos, which resulted them working together on her album Pulse, released in August 2011.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
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...
.
In the 1990s, Williamson obtained her degree in music from the Royal Scottish Academy
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
and co-founded a band known as Goya Dress which consisted of Williamson, Terry de Castro, and Simon Pearson. Goya Dress dissolved in 1996, after which Willamson went on to release solo material with UK independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
and founded her own record label, Incarnation Records. Pearson and de Castro went on to join Cinerama
Cinerama (band)
Cinerama were a UK indie pop band, headed up by David Gedge, the frontman for The Wedding Present.-Career:Originally formed in 1998 while on a break from The Wedding Present, Cinerama started as a duo of Gedge and his then-girlfriend Sally Murrell...
alongside David Gedge
David Gedge
David Gedge is an English musician and songwriter. He is the main songwriter and vocalist in the bands The Wedding Present and Cinerama...
, frontman of 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...
.
In addition to her solo career Williamson also worked in collaboration with various groups including Oskar and the experimental band, The Bilderberg Groop. Drawing on her expertise as a classically trained pianist she has also worked with Canadian Singer/Songwriter Tara Maclean
Tara MacLean
Tara MacLean is a Canadian singer and songwriter...
and provided Vocals for The Hope Blister
The Hope Blister
The Hope Blister was an ambient band founded by Ivo Watts-Russell, head of the 4AD Records label. The band was something of a continuation of the This Mortal Coil project, but with a fixed line-up on ...smile's OK and focusing on cover versions...
and 1990s supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Electronic
Electronic (band)
-Albums:-Singles:-Music videos:-External links:* *...
.
In May 2010, Astrid took to the road with Brendan Perry
Brendan Perry
Brendan Michael Perry is a singer and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as the male half of the duo Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerrard.-Early life:...
to play keyboards and sing backing vocals on stage 2 of his Ark
Ark (Brendan Perry album)
-Personnel:Musical* Brendan Perry – writer, composer, performerTechnical* Mastered by Aidan Foley at MasterlabsGraphical* Sleeve design by Graham Wood* Photography by * Photography by Sophia Wood- Charts :-External links:...
tour.
Most recently, Williamson has collaborated with many people including guitarist/ambient expert Leo Abrahams, who himself has worked with Brian Eno, Paul Simon and Jarvis Cocker. They met when Williamson saw Abrahams perform at Brian Eno's Pure Scenius project at the 2010 Brighton Festival. After seeing him play she sent him dozens of demos, which resulted them working together on her album Pulse, released in August 2011.
Solo albums
- Boy For You (First Album) (1998)
- Astrid Williamson (2003)
- Day Of The Lone Wolf (2006)
- Here Come The Vikings (2009)
- Pulse (2011)
External links
- Official website of Astrid Williamson
- Astrid Williamson at Allmusic
- Goya Dress biography provided by VH1
- Adair, David. Interview with Astrid Williamson, Contact Music.
- Simpson, Dave. Day of the Lone Wolf review, The Guardian.
- Edwards, Mark. "Pop: Hungry like the wolf", The Times UK.