Serafina Steer
Encyclopedia
Serafina Steer is an English
harp
ist, pianist
, singer and songwriter
.
band Tunng
, some tracks were recorded with Kristian Robinson aka Capitol K. The album opens with a cover version
of Brian Eno
's "By This River" but all other songs are her own.
In 2010 'change is good change is good' was released, again on Static Caravan. Described by Jarvis Cocker
as one of his favourite albums of the year and well 'worth a listen', this album had struggled into existence as Serafina's harp was stolen whilst having been left, irresponsibly, in her clapped out old Toyota overnight. With some recordings made before the theft, Benge aka 'the synth king', offered up his unique collection of analogue synthesizers to fill in the harp shaped holes. Patrick Wolf described the album in Guardian.co.uk
as if 'Stereolab and Shirley Collins made an album together about the trials of 21st-century romance.'
In 2011, Serafina recorded 'Bloody Hell' EP with Paul Jones of Stolen Recordings. The EP features two songs from CIGCIG and two new songs and includes the art work of Polly Huggett and RWM Hunt. These totally exposed 'live' harp and voice recordings were intended as a watermark, after months without an instrument and then with a new make of harp.
A live recording of her playing songs from her album and an interview discussing comparisons to Joanna Newsom
can be seen on the BBC
website.http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A25087601
Serafina studied Classical Harp, at Chetham's School of Music with Eira Lynn Jones and went on to study with Imogen Barford and Gabriella Dall'Olio, gaining a First Class Honours degree in Music from Trinity College of Music
, London, where she was awarded the String Faculty Silver Medal.
During this time Serafina began developing her song writing and this has become her primary interest.
, Capitol K
, Cibelle
, The Memory Band
, Balearic Folk Orchestra, James Yorkston
, Adem
, Chrome Hoof
, Leafcutter John
, Simon Bookish
, Seb Rochford
and Shimmy Rivers and and Canal
. She has also worked with Jarvis Cocker
and Bat for Lashes
She has also been known to perform with her brother Sam Steer who did the animation for amongst others, the music video
to her song "Tiger" in his room in Camberwell
. Branchage Film Festival, Jersey recently commissioned Serafina to compose a live soundtrack to a film of her choosing. The result with help of PRS 'Women Make Music' funding will be Serafina and Sam's psychedelic harp and stop motion animationed response to Kenneth Anger's 'Rabbit's Moon'called 'Postman's Familiar'.
In 2010 and 2011 she joined John Foxx
And The Maths for several single live concerts in London playing analogue synthesizers and bass guitar.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, singer 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...
.
Career
In 2007 Serafina released a 7" single and an album entitled Cheap Demo Bad Science on Static Caravan records. Some were recorded and produced in collaboration with Mike Lindsay of folktronicaFolktronica
Folktronica or electrofolk is a genre of music comprising various elements of folk music and electronica, often featuring samplings of acoustic instruments—especially stringed instruments—and incorporating hip hop rhythms...
band Tunng
Tunng
Tunng are an experimental folk band from the United Kingdom.The band is often associated with the folktronica genre due to the electronic influences evident in some of their work.-Biography:...
, some tracks were recorded with Kristian Robinson aka Capitol K. The album opens with a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
's "By This River" but all other songs are her own.
In 2010 'change is good change is good' was released, again on Static Caravan. Described by Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
as one of his favourite albums of the year and well 'worth a listen', this album had struggled into existence as Serafina's harp was stolen whilst having been left, irresponsibly, in her clapped out old Toyota overnight. With some recordings made before the theft, Benge aka 'the synth king', offered up his unique collection of analogue synthesizers to fill in the harp shaped holes. Patrick Wolf described the album in Guardian.co.uk
Guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
as if 'Stereolab and Shirley Collins made an album together about the trials of 21st-century romance.'
In 2011, Serafina recorded 'Bloody Hell' EP with Paul Jones of Stolen Recordings. The EP features two songs from CIGCIG and two new songs and includes the art work of Polly Huggett and RWM Hunt. These totally exposed 'live' harp and voice recordings were intended as a watermark, after months without an instrument and then with a new make of harp.
A live recording of her playing songs from her album and an interview discussing comparisons to Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom is an American harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California.- Early life :Newsom grew up in the small town of Nevada City, California...
can be seen on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
website.http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A25087601
Serafina studied Classical Harp, at Chetham's School of Music with Eira Lynn Jones and went on to study with Imogen Barford and Gabriella Dall'Olio, gaining a First Class Honours degree in Music from Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
, London, where she was awarded the String Faculty Silver Medal.
During this time Serafina began developing her song writing and this has become her primary interest.
Collaborations
Serafina has also appeared both live and on record with other musicians including Patrick Wolf, TunngTunng
Tunng are an experimental folk band from the United Kingdom.The band is often associated with the folktronica genre due to the electronic influences evident in some of their work.-Biography:...
, Capitol K
Capitol K
Capitol K is the name under which Kristian Craig Robinson works as a musician combining electronica, found sounds and indie-pop. Born in Malta and raised in Dubai, Brunei and England, and now based in London, Capitol K is best known for the single Pillow which scraped into the top 100 UK Singles...
, Cibelle
Cibelle
Cibelle is a multi-media performance artist, singer-songwriter and music producer. Cibelle’s music is difficult to classify; she has been called a self-styled purveyor of “Tropical Punk”.-Biography:...
, The Memory Band
The Memory Band
The Memory Band is an English folk group founded by Stephen Cracknell. The Memory Band has a rolling cast of collaborators from across the musical spectrum...
, Balearic Folk Orchestra, James Yorkston
James Yorkston
-Music career:A native of Fife, James Yorkston was an integral early member of the Fence Collective whose reach across contemporary music continues to lengthen: King Creosote, The Aliens, KT Tunstall, The Beta Band...
, Adem
Adem
Adem Ilhan is an English musician of Turkish descent from South London, he is currently the bass guitarist in the post-rock band Fridge, alongside Kieran Hebden, and is part of the electronic duo Silver Columns, with Johnny Lynch....
, Chrome Hoof
Chrome Hoof
Chrome Hoof are an experimental orchestra based in London, England. The group was formed in 2000 by Cathedral bassist Leo Smee and his brother Milo Smee. Initially performing as a duo, their music was mostly electronic. Since the start, however, the group have continuously recruited new members...
, Leafcutter John
Leafcutter John
Leafcutter John is the recording name of John Burton, a UK-based musician and artist. He makes frequent use of Max/MSP in his compositions. Much of Burton's style is based in computer music and use of samples of everyday sounds. However, he also has roots as a folk musician, and this influence...
, Simon Bookish
Simon Bookish
Simon Bookish is the stage name of Leo Chadburn, an experimental musician and classical composer from Coalville, Leicestershire. He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1997 to 2001....
, Seb Rochford
Seb Rochford
Sebastian "Seb" Rochford is a British drummer who spans many musical genres.He comes from Aberdeen and has a large family of 2 brothers and 7 sisters...
and Shimmy Rivers and and Canal
Shimmy Rivers and and Canal
Shimmy Rivers and and Canal was a UK beat combo that was formed in Dalston, London in 2003.In 2005 Resonance FM released a collection of demo recordings...
. She has also worked with Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
and Bat for Lashes
Bat for Lashes
Natasha Khan , also known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English musician. She sings and plays the piano, bass, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp....
She has also been known to perform with her brother Sam Steer who did the animation for amongst others, the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
to her song "Tiger" in his room in Camberwell
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
. Branchage Film Festival, Jersey recently commissioned Serafina to compose a live soundtrack to a film of her choosing. The result with help of PRS 'Women Make Music' funding will be Serafina and Sam's psychedelic harp and stop motion animationed response to Kenneth Anger's 'Rabbit's Moon'called 'Postman's Familiar'.
In 2010 and 2011 she joined John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
And The Maths for several single live concerts in London playing analogue synthesizers and bass guitar.
Albums
- Cheap Demo Bad Science, 2007, Static Caravan
- "Change Is Good, Change Is Good", 2010, Static Caravan
Compilations
- The Ground Bellow Me (Capitol K version of "Seven Bridge"), 2006 from Utrophia 03 Utrophia
- Cheap Demo Bad Science ("They Came From The Stars, I Saw Them" version) 2007, 93 Free CDs
- Uncomfortable (Capitol K version), 2007, Stolen Comp, Stolen Recordings