Piney Gir
Encyclopedia
Piney Gir is a female American musician and singer, born in Kansas
and now based in London
, England
.
.
Previously a member of the duo Vic 20, she released her debut solo electronica
album, Peakahokahoo, in 2004 on UK label Truck Records
(and licensed to Greyday Records for release in North America). Produced by electro duo A Scholar And A Physician the album featured Simple Kid
, Trademark, The Black Madonnas and the backing singers from Erasure
. Whilst most of the tracks were original compositions it also featured a distortion heavy cover of "My Generation" by The Who
. The album was extensively toured, including a slot supporting Erasure on a month long European tour, and she recorded a session for DJ Mark Radcliffe
on Radio 2
. For a period at this point she was also a member of cult indie girl-group The Schla La Las (now disbanded).
Whilst touring the album she decided to try playing country versions of her songs. This led to the formation of the Piney Gir Country Roadshow, and the release of the country album Hold Yer Horses. The album contains new versions of five songs previously released on Peakahokahoo: Nightsong, Girl, Boston, Que Sera Sera and Greetings, Salutations Goodbye. Hold Yer Horses was selected as one of the top five albums of 2006
by Phill Jupitus
in his music column for the Radio Times
magazine, stating that "the stomp and twang of these songs of love and life are unmissable".
Piney and her songwriting partner Garo Nahoulakian have also produced and/or performed the soundtrack to many notable TV commercials, including campaigns for Pepsi, Peugeot and Muller Light.
Her latest album Geronimo! was recorded in early 2011 in Los Angeles with producer Rob Campanella
and is scheduled for release in October 2011 on London indie label Damaged Goods
.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and now based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Musical career
Encouraged by her parents to learn the piano from the age of four, she wrote her first song at the age of nine. Having earned a degree in music, she moved to England in 1998 to study at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and DesignCentral Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
.
Previously a member of the duo Vic 20, she released her debut solo 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...
album, Peakahokahoo, in 2004 on UK label Truck Records
Truck Records
Truck Records was an independent record label based in Oxford, England. It grew out of the Truck Festival, held annually in Steventon, a small village near Oxford...
(and licensed to Greyday Records for release in North America). Produced by electro duo A Scholar And A Physician the album featured Simple Kid
Simple Kid
Simple Kid, real-name Ciaran McFeely, is an Irish-born solo musical artist. In early 2011 it was announced on the official website that there will be no further music or tours by Simple Kid.-History:...
, Trademark, The Black Madonnas and the backing singers from Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
. Whilst most of the tracks were original compositions it also featured a distortion heavy cover of "My Generation" by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. The album was extensively toured, including a slot supporting Erasure on a month long European tour, and she recorded a session for DJ Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe is an English broadcaster who has worked in various roles for the BBC since the 1980s and remains one of Britain's most recognised DJs. He is currently a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week alongside Stuart Maconie, called...
on Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
. For a period at this point she was also a member of cult indie girl-group The Schla La Las (now disbanded).
Whilst touring the album she decided to try playing country versions of her songs. This led to the formation of the Piney Gir Country Roadshow, and the release of the country album Hold Yer Horses. The album contains new versions of five songs previously released on Peakahokahoo: Nightsong, Girl, Boston, Que Sera Sera and Greetings, Salutations Goodbye. Hold Yer Horses was selected as one of the top five albums of 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
by Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
in his music column for the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
magazine, stating that "the stomp and twang of these songs of love and life are unmissable".
Piney and her songwriting partner Garo Nahoulakian have also produced and/or performed the soundtrack to many notable TV commercials, including campaigns for Pepsi, Peugeot and Muller Light.
Her latest album Geronimo! was recorded in early 2011 in Los Angeles with producer Rob Campanella
Rob Campanella
Rob Campanella is a musician, best known as a Los Angeles producer, engineer, and member of The Quarter After.-Producer, Engineer:Rob has produced and engineered albums for his own band The Quarter After, and for clients including Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Tyde, Beachwood Sparks, Goldrush, ...
and is scheduled for release in October 2011 on London indie label Damaged Goods
Damaged Goods (record label)
Damaged Goods is a British independent record label and online shop.- History :Damaged Goods started in 1988 from a living room in east London.Ian Damaged called it DamagedGoods. The first release was a re-issue of the 1977 single by Slaughter and the Dogs, "Where Have All the Bootboys Gone?"...
.
Albums
- Peakahokahoo (2004)
- Hold Yer Horses (2006)
- The Yearling (2009)
- Jesus Wept (2010)
- Geronimo! (2011)
Singles
- "'Janet Schmanet/Kissing/Sweet" (2004)
- "Creature/Ruth Is Coming to America/Jingle De Lo Marcelo Crivella" (2004)
- "Greetings, Salutations, Goodbye" (2004)
- "Great Divide" (2006)
- "I Don't Know Why I Feel Like Crying But I Do" (2006)
- "Greetings, Salutations, Goodbye" - Country Roadshow Version (2007)
- "Of All The Wonderful Things/My Imaginary Baby" (2009)
- "Say I'm Sorry" (2009)
- "Weeping Bee" (2009)
- "40 Days 'n' Nights" (2009)
- "Oh Lies" (2011)