Justine Frischmann

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Justine Frischmann
JFrischmannGuitar.tiff
Frischmann performing in August 1995
Background information
Birth nameJustine Elinor Frischmann
Born (1969-09-16) 16 September 1969 (age 54)
Twickenham, London, England
Genres Alternative rock, Britpop
Occupation(s)Musician, painter artist
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1989–2002 (musician)
1999–present (painter, artist)
Partner(s) Damon Albarn (1991–1998)
Website justinefrischmann.net

Justine Elinor Frischmann (born 16 September 1969) [1] is an English artist and retired musician. She was the lead singer of the Britpop band Elastica after forming Suede, before retiring from the music industry and pursuing a career as an artist.

Contents

Early years

Frischmann was born on 16 September 1969 in Twickenham, London, the daughter of Wilem Frischmann, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who is the former chairman of the Pell Frischmann company of consulting engineers, and a Russian mother. [2] [3] [4] Her parents are both Jewish. She grew up in Twickenham, Greater London, [5] and attended St Paul's Girls School, [2] before studying at the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London from 1989 to 1993. [6]

Career

Music

Frischmann began writing and studying music at age 11. [2]

She was a founding member of the band Suede with Brett Anderson, whom she met at UCL in 1988. She left the band in October 1991. [2] In the 2018 documentary The Insatiable Ones, Anderson cites her as a highly significant influence on the band's first album. [7]

Frischmann later founded and fronted her own band, Elastica. In 1994, Elastica were voted Best New Band by NME readers at the Brit awards. They were signed to Deceptive Records in the UK, and later with Geffen Records in Europe and the US. Their first album, Elastica , released in 1995, became the fastest-selling debut album in UK history. In 1995, Elastica were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for Elastica. The album went on to sell over a million copies worldwide. In 2001 the band announced an amicable breakup, citing, in part, burnout from a grueling touring schedule.

Frischmann spent the next few years developing artist M.I.A., whom she discovered. M.I.A. was Frischmann's friend and flatmate. Frischmann co-wrote and produced M.I.A.'s demos for her first album, Arular , most notably its 2003 single "Galang".

In 2017, Rough Trade Records released a remastered version of Elastica. In 2019, Rough Trade released a limited edition Elastica BBC sessions album on UK Record Store Day.

Television

In 2003, Frischmann co-presented a series called Dreamspaces for the BBC Television about modern architecture. In 2004, she presented The South Bank Show and was a judge for the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture.

Art

In 2005, Frischmann moved to Boulder, Colorado, to enroll in a masters program in visual arts at Naropa University, a small, Buddhist-inspired liberal arts college, [8] and "become a nobody". In 2012 her work was shortlisted for the UK's Marmite Prize for painting, and she has been included in The Amsterdam List of 1000 Living Painters. [9]

In a 2016 interview regarding her art career, Frischmann stated, "I don't really have any desire to make music, to be honest." [10]

Frischmann has said, "The themes and ideas I am working with are in direct relation to an ongoing personal narrative; the big questions are reflected in the choices I make in my art ... [including] my ever-evolving relationship with my spiritual faith. I think my approach and aesthetics reveal internal struggles and speak to my family origins and history." [11]

Personal life

Frischmann previously dated her Suede bandmate Brett Anderson. [12] She then dated Blur lead singer Damon Albarn from 1991 until the couple broke up in 1998, which served as inspiration for Blur's 1999 singles "No Distance Left to Run" and "Tender". She married a meteorologist, Ian Faloona [13] in 2008, and lives and works in the United States. [14] [11]

Related Research Articles

Britpop was a mid-1990s British-based music culture movement that emphasised Britishness. It produced brighter, catchier alternative rock, partly in reaction to the popularity of the darker lyrical themes and soundscapes of the US-led grunge music and to the UK's own shoegaze music scene. The movement brought British alternative rock into the mainstream and formed the larger British popular cultural movement, Cool Britannia, which evoked the Swinging Sixties and the British guitar pop of that decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suede (band)</span> English rock band

Suede are an English rock band formed in London in 1989 by singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Justine Frischmann, and bass player Mat Osman. Drawing inspiration from glam rock and post-punk, Suede were dubbed "The Best New Band in Britain" by Melody Maker in 1992, and attracted much attention from the British music press. The following year their debut album Suede went to the top of the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in almost ten years. It won the Mercury Music Prize and helped foster 'Britpop' as a musical movement, though the band distanced themselves from the term.

<i>13</i> (Blur album) 1999 studio album by Blur

13 is the sixth studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released on 15 March 1999. Continuing the stylistic shift away from the Britpop sound of the band's early career, 13 explores experimental, psychedelic and electronic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Anderson</span> English singer

Brett Lewis Anderson is an English singer best known as the lead singer and primary lyricist of the band Suede. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he fronted The Tears with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler in 2004–2006, and released four solo albums on which he also played guitar and keyboards. Suede re-formed in 2010; they continue to record and tour.

<i>Suede</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Suede

Suede is the debut album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in March 1993 on Nude Records. It was recorded in London at Master Rock studios late 1992 and early 1993 and was produced by Ed Buller. At the time the fastest-selling debut album in British history in almost a decade, Suede debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart, won the 1993 Mercury Music Prize, and is often cited as one of the first Britpop records. Displaying a sound of Britishness and glam rock, its music and lyrical content has been compared to The Smiths and early David Bowie.

<i>Dog Man Star</i> 1994 studio album by Suede

Dog Man Star is the second album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in October 1994 on Nude Records. The album was recorded in London at Master Rock studios in early 1994, and was produced by Ed Buller. It was the last Suede album to feature guitarist Bernard Butler; growing tensions between him and singer Brett Anderson ended with Butler leaving the band before recording was complete. As a result, some tracks on the album had to be finished with the assistance of session musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stutter (Elastica song)</span> 1993 single by Elastica

"Stutter" is the debut single by the Britpop group Elastica and was written by lead singer Justine Frischmann. It was originally released as a single in the UK in November 1993 and in the US in September 1994. The song was later included on the band's 1995 self-titled debut album. The single, which received positive reviews from critics, charted in the US and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tender (song)</span> 1999 single by Blur

"Tender" is a song by English rock band Blur from their sixth studio album, 13 (1999). Written by the four band members about Blur frontman Damon Albarn's breakup with musician turned painter Justine Frischmann, the song was released in Japan on 17 February 1999 and in the United Kingdom on 22 February as the album's lead single. "Tender" became Blur's 11th top-10 hit on the UK Singles Chart, debuting and peaking at number two the week after its release. It also reached the top 20 in Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and Spain.

<i>Sci-Fi Lullabies</i> 1997 compilation album by Suede

Sci-Fi Lullabies is a two-disc compilation album by English alternative rock band Suede released by Nude Records on 6 October 1997, consisting of B-sides from the singles that were released from the group's first three albums. It reached no. 9 on the UK Albums Chart, and received universal acclaim on release. In subsequent years, the record has been hailed as one of the finest B-side compilations in popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galang (song)</span> 2003 single by M.I.A.

"Galang" is the debut single by British musician M.I.A. from her debut album Arular. It was released in 2003 on Showbiz Records which pressed 500 vinyl copies, gaining immediate international recognition via radio airplay, fashion shows, club rotations and internet filesharing. "Galang" was re-released on 1 November 2004 via XL Recordings as the second single from the album released by the label and was released for a third time as "Galang '05" on 11 October 2005 by the label and in the US by Interscope Records. It is written by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, Justine Frischmann, Ross Orton and Steve Mackey. It first appeared on M.I.A.'s six song demo tape in 2003, then on her official Myspace account on 9 June 2004 and was later reworked slightly by Orton and Mackey who received production credit for the song. "Galang" was the second song M.I.A. wrote on her Roland MC-505, intending for the piece to be performed by Frischmann's band Elastica. Inspired by her experiences and observations of life in London, M.I.A. wrote the song to encourage her friends in the band to continue to make music. However, after cowriting the song, Frischmann convinced M.I.A. to record "Galang" herself, complimenting the piece's lyrical narrative and music direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Drowners</span> 1992 single by Suede

"The Drowners" is the debut single of English rock band Suede, released on 11 May 1992 on Nude Records. It was later included on the band's debut album, Suede (1993). "The Drowners" charted at number 49 on the UK Singles Chart.

Justin Steven Welch is an English musician, best known as the drummer in Elastica, Suede, and later the drummer in Lush. Welch is currently the drummer of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elastica</span> British rock band

Elastica were an English rock band formed in London in 1992 by ex-Suede members Justine Frischmann and Justin Welch. The band was stylistically influenced by punk rock, post-punk and new wave music. The band's members changed several times, with Frischmann and Welch being the only members who remained in Elastica from its formation to its dissolution.

Donna Lorraine Matthews is a Welsh musician who was the lead guitarist of the Britpop band Elastica.

<i>The Menace</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Elastica

The Menace is the second and final studio album by English rock band Elastica, released in the UK via Deceptive Records on April 3, 2000, and internationally on August 22, 2000 through Atlantic Records.

Simon Gilbert is an English drummer and member of the English band Suede, one of the 'Big Four' Britpop bands of the 1990s, along with Oasis, Blur and Pulp. Gilbert is the third-longest serving member of Suede, and along with founders Brett Anderson and Mat Osman appears on every Suede album.

<i>The Radio One Sessions</i> (Elastica album) 2001 compilation album by Elastica

The Radio One Sessions is a compilation of BBC Radio One sessions recorded by Britpop group Elastica. The album is notable for the appearance of several songs not included on any other Elastica release.

<i>Love and Poison</i> (book)

Love and Poison is the official biography of the English alternative rock band Suede. The book, written by long-time band associate David Barnett, reveals the real stories behind singer Brett Anderson's battle with drugs, his relationship with Elastica's Justine Frischmann and the subsequent feud with Blur after she started stepping out with Damon Albarn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Savidge</span> British writer

Jane Savidge is a British writer and public relations agent.

References

  1. ↑ Jews Who Rock (2016) ISBN   978-1-250-13869-9
  2. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Andrew (2 March 2002). "Elastica limits". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "The after-life... musicians who decided to go and get a day job". independent.ie. 13 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Smith, Andrew (10 March 2002). "Interview: Justine Frischmann". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "Justine Frischmann". Somethingjewish.co.uk. 22 December 2003. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Architecture's best‑known drop-outs". Architects' Journal. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Justine Frischmann in Suede's The Insatiable Ones' Documentary (2018)" – via www.youtube.com.
  8. ↑ "Interview: Justine Frischmann | New Linear Perspectives". Newlinearperspectives.wordpress.com. June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Willigendael, Leon (19 June 2014). "Justine Frischmann (2017.09.13)". The Amsterdam List. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  10. ↑ Needham, Alex (14 March 2016). "Justine Frischmann: waking up from Elastica to art in America". the Guardian.
  11. 1 2 "Justine Frischmann | In The Make | Studio visits with West Coast artists". In The Make. 29 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (26 February 2018). "Suede's Brett Anderson opens up about his relationship with Elastica's Justine Frischmann". NME. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Wilson, MacKenzie (October 2010). "Justine Frischmann Finds a Peaceful 'Connection' in the US". BBC America. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  14. ↑ DeVille, Chris (23 April 2014). "Stars of Britpop: Where Are They Now?". Stereogum.
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