Vikki Thorn
Encyclopedia
Vikki Thorn is an Australia
n harmonica
player, guitarist
, vocalist, and songwriter and one-third of the Australian folk rock
band The Waifs
. Her sister Donna Simpson also plays guitar and sings in the band. Vikki has released six albums with The Waifs, and wrote the band's latest single "Sun Dirt Water".
, Thorn described the lifestyle of a fisherman's daughter:
songs and harmonizing Everly Brothers songs with her sister. On Thorn's last day of high school, Vikki was picked up by her sister in a yellow Kombi
and asked her to travel with her: When Vikki and Donna met Josh Cunningham
in the early nineties, they had been touring all throughout greater Western Australia
, and playing the blues in certain bars based on what the town's tourist bureau described as the music scene for that area. After less than an hour's time the sisters spent with Cunningham, Donna asked him to tour with them. Just like that, The Waifs
were formed.
The Waifs toured Western Australia
from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, they decided to move to the east coast of Australia and make The Waifs a serious music career. In May 1996, their self titled debut was released, three months after it was recorded. It featured three songs from Thorn: "Circles", "I Believe", and "Company". After touring more throughout the mid-nineties, the band released Shelter Me
in 1998, and Sink or Swim in 2000. Sink or Swim was released, and more touring commenced. The Waifs were now becoming an international concern, and popularity increased when Up All Night was released. Shortly after its release, the album was certified 2x platinum in Australia and two successful singles followed: "London Still
" and "Lighthouse", written by Thorn's sister Donna and Josh Cunningham, respectively.
Thorn's song "Bridal Train
" was released as a single in 2004, and the song won the USA Songwriting Competition in 2006. The Waifs' latest album, Sun, Dirt, Water has a lead single of the same name, which was written by Thorn.
. She met her husband a few years ago, and she wrote The Waifs song "Sun Dirt Water" for him. Thorn and bandmate Josh Cunningham
had a romantic relationship at one point that, according to Thorn "broke down". She also said that "Through all those years of touring, there was that dynamic going on."
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player, 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...
, vocalist, and songwriter and one-third of the Australian folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band The Waifs
The Waifs
The Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by Josh Cunningham , and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson...
. Her sister Donna Simpson also plays guitar and sings in the band. Vikki has released six albums with The Waifs, and wrote the band's latest single "Sun Dirt Water".
Early life
Thorn and her sister Donna grew up in Albany, Western Australia, and spent their young lives as fisherman's daughters. The girls' father, Jimmy, fished salmon year round. In an interview with Andrew DentonAndrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
, Thorn described the lifestyle of a fisherman's daughter:
Career
Thorn received her first guitar when she was a teenager, and she started playing Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
songs and harmonizing Everly Brothers songs with her sister. On Thorn's last day of high school, Vikki was picked up by her sister in a yellow Kombi
Kombi
Combi aircraft can be used for both passenger and cargo duties.Kombi or Combi may also refer to:-Kombi:* Battle of Kombi, a 1647 battle between Ndongo-Matamba and the Portuguese...
and asked her to travel with her: When Vikki and Donna met Josh Cunningham
Josh Cunningham
Joshua "Josh" Hayden Cunningham is an Australian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who is one-third of folk rock band The Waifs. His involvement with The Waifs has resulted in a total of four Australian Recording Industry Association Award wins, all in 2003 for Up All Night and ten further...
in the early nineties, they had been touring all throughout greater Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and playing the blues in certain bars based on what the town's tourist bureau described as the music scene for that area. After less than an hour's time the sisters spent with Cunningham, Donna asked him to tour with them. Just like that, The Waifs
The Waifs
The Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by Josh Cunningham , and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson...
were formed.
The Waifs toured Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, they decided to move to the east coast of Australia and make The Waifs a serious music career. In May 1996, their self titled debut was released, three months after it was recorded. It featured three songs from Thorn: "Circles", "I Believe", and "Company". After touring more throughout the mid-nineties, the band released Shelter Me
Shelter Me
Shelter Me is the second album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in March 1998.-Track listing:#"Heart Lies" – 2:43#"People Who Think They Can" – 3:15#"Shelter Me" – 3:05...
in 1998, and Sink or Swim in 2000. Sink or Swim was released, and more touring commenced. The Waifs were now becoming an international concern, and popularity increased when Up All Night was released. Shortly after its release, the album was certified 2x platinum in Australia and two successful singles followed: "London Still
London Still
"London Still" is the name of a single by the Australian folk-rock band The Waifs, coming from their album Up All Night. "London Still" was written by Donna Simpson. The single was nominated for several ARIA awards, including Breakthrough Artist - Single, and Best Independent Release...
" and "Lighthouse", written by Thorn's sister Donna and Josh Cunningham, respectively.
Thorn's song "Bridal Train
Bridal Train
"Bridal Train" is the name of a single by the Australian folk-rock band The Waifs, coming from their album A Brief History.... Bridal Train was written by Vikki Thorn.In Australia, the song was ranked #54 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.-Synopsis:...
" was released as a single in 2004, and the song won the USA Songwriting Competition in 2006. The Waifs' latest album, Sun, Dirt, Water has a lead single of the same name, which was written by Thorn.
Personal life
Thorn has two sons, Noah and Eli, and brings them along when she tours with The Waifs. Although she was born and raised in Western Australia, Thorn currently resides in UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. She met her husband a few years ago, and she wrote The Waifs song "Sun Dirt Water" for him. Thorn and bandmate Josh Cunningham
Josh Cunningham
Joshua "Josh" Hayden Cunningham is an Australian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who is one-third of folk rock band The Waifs. His involvement with The Waifs has resulted in a total of four Australian Recording Industry Association Award wins, all in 2003 for Up All Night and ten further...
had a romantic relationship at one point that, according to Thorn "broke down". She also said that "Through all those years of touring, there was that dynamic going on."
The Waifs
- The WaifsThe Waifs (album)The Waifs is the self-titled debut album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released in May 1996.-Release and re-release:The Waifs was originally released on Outside Music in 1996...
(1996) - Shelter MeShelter MeShelter Me is the second album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in March 1998.-Track listing:#"Heart Lies" – 2:43#"People Who Think They Can" – 3:15#"Shelter Me" – 3:05...
(1998) - Sink or Swim (2000)
- Lighthouse EP (2003)
- Up All NightUp All Night (The Waifs album)Up All Night is the fourth album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in January 2003.Critics reacted more favourably to this release and it has been the band's biggest album to date....
(2003) - A Brief History...A Brief History...A Brief History... is the fifth album and first live album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in 2004.-Disk one:#"Lighthouse" – 4:17#"London Still" – 4:29#"Take It In" – 3:40#"Love Serenade" – 3:11...
(2004) - Sun Dirt WaterSun Dirt WaterSun Dirt Water is the sixth album and fifth studio album by Australian folk rock band The Waifs. It was released by Jarrah Records on 1 September 2007...
(2007) - Live From The Union Of Soul (2009)
- Temptation (2011)
Guest appearances and collaborations
- John Dee Holeman & the Waifs Band (John Dee HolemanJohn Dee HolemanJohn Dee Holeman is an American Piedmont blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His music includes elements of Texas blues, R&B and jazz. In his younger days he was also known for his proficiency as a 'buckdancer'.-Biography:...
& The Waifs Band) (2007)