Kelli Ali

Last updated

Kelli Ali
Birth nameKelli Dayton
Born (1974-06-30) 30 June 1974 (age 49)
Birmingham, England
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1990–present
Labels One Little Independent Records
Website Kelliali.com

Kelli Ali, also known as Kelli Dayton (born 30 June 1974), [1] is a British vocalist, who was formerly the lead singer of the trip hop group Sneaker Pimps before going on to a solo career.

Contents

Career

Early bands (1990–1996)

Before Sneaker Pimps, Ali was part of a group called Psycho Drama, which she joined when she was 16 years old. A few years later, she was asked by Russell Cross of the band The Lumieres to join his band (as their songwriter, singer, and lead guitarist). [2] The Lumieres only had one major single, "Cinder Hearts".

Sneaker Pimps and Becoming X (1996–1997)

With Sneaker Pimps she was featured prominently in both the songs and the music videos for the album Becoming X (the group finding fame following the release of the hit single "6 Underground"). Ali was released from the group in 1998 when Chris Corner, the principal songwriter, decided to do vocals for his own songs. [3]

Tigermouth, Psychic Cat and Rocking Horse (1998–2008)

After leaving Sneaker Pimps, she moved on to a solo career under the name Kelli Ali after her father who had passed away before the release of Becoming X. [4] Her first solo album, Tigermouth , was released in 2003. It includes tracks "Sunlight in the Rain" and "Kids" and features ex-Doors drummer John Densmore. [5] She toured alongside Garbage in April 2002 and released a follow-up album, Psychic Cat , in mid-2004. The second album was more of a return to Ali's rock and roll roots and featured musician-turned-author Tony O'Neill on keyboards. [6]

In April 2006, she travelled to Japan to record and write tracks with Hoshino Hidehiko from Buck-Tick and Cube Juice for the band Dropz. [7] The same year, producer Paul Oakenfold recorded the Kelli Ali penned song "Faster Kill Pussycat" with actress Brittany Murphy. It is Murphy's only single release.

On 24 November 2008, Ali released Rocking Horse , her third solo album. [8] The album was produced by Max Richter (Fat Cat records) in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the first half of 2008. In 2009, she self-released the album Butterfly . [9]

Band of Angels and Ghostdriver (2013–present)

Ali released her 5th album in 2013, entitled Band of Angels. [10] She has collaborated with the UK band Cult With No Name.

On 2 December 2016, on her Instagram feed Kelli Ali announced a new project, Ghostdriver. [11] In her announcement Ali stated "...it will be a joint album & film project. A noir thriller and love letter to London." The project was being crowd-funded via a PledgeMusic campaign. On 30 December 2017, Ali posted an update to the site, stating, "Thanks to you, all the filming for Ghostdriver was completed and the edit is in full swing, all songs written and in the later stages of production." [12]

On 24 November 2018, Ali released "The Fear of London" as the lead single from Ghostdriver. It was distributed as a seven-track digital remix single exclusively to fans who contributed to her PledgeMusic campaign. This was followed by an exclusive PledgeMusic-only digital release of the full 15-track Ghostdriver album on 26 January 2019, with an announcement that a full commercial release of the album and single will follow later in 2019 in conjunction with the release of the final film. [13] In the album release announcement, Ali also revealed that her former Sneaker Pimps bandmate and notable producer and engineer Liam Howe contributed extensively to the mix and additional production of the album, notably marking the first collaboration between two original Sneaker Pimps band members since their disbandment.

As post-production work on the film continued through 2019, Ali released a stand-alone single, "Sadistic". It is a collaboration with producer Satoshi Tomiie, recorded during the Ghostdriver sessions. It features additional mix and production from Liam Howe. Released in December 2019 was a limited edition, deluxe Lipstick USB set and a new music video. The Ghostdriver film's post-production suffered delays in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The soundtrack album was released 26 November 2020, [14] with the film finally expected around summer 2023 after various post-production delays.

In September 2019, Kelli Ali appeared as a main feature in the Visual Collaborative electronic catalogue, in an issue themed Vivencias which translates to "Experiences" in Spanish. She was interviewed alongside 30 people from around the world such as Dakore Akande, Adelaide Damoah and Desdamona. [15] [16] [17]

In 2021, Ali's song "Rocking Horse" appeared on the soundtrack of the six-part Netflix thriller series Behind Her Eyes . [18]

Discography

Collaborations

Albums

Singles

Filmography

Related Research Articles

Sneaker Pimps are an English electronic music band, formed in Hartlepool in 1994. They are best known for their debut album, Becoming X (1996), and its singles "6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar". The band takes its name from an article the Beastie Boys published in their Grand Royal magazine about a man they hired to track down classic sneakers.

Trip hop is a musical genre that originated in the late 1980s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as a psychedelic fusion of hip hop and electronica with slow tempos and an atmospheric sound, often incorporating elements of jazz, soul, funk, reggae, dub, R&B, and other forms of electronic music, as well as sampling from movie soundtracks and other eclectic sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bootsy Collins</span> American bassist

William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American bass guitarist, singer-songwriter, and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6 Underground (song)</span> 1996 single by Sneaker Pimps

"6 Underground" is a song by the English band Sneaker Pimps from their debut studio album Becoming X. First released as a single in the United Kingdom in September 1996, the song reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and had moderate radio airplay in the United States, where it was shipped to modern rock and dance stations in February 1997. After the song was used in the 1997 American film The Saint, radio stations began playing "6 Underground" more frequently. The single was re-released in May 1997, when it peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, the song peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<i>Becoming X</i> 1996 studio album by Sneaker Pimps

Becoming X is the debut studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps. It was first released on 19 August 1996 in the United Kingdom by Clean Up Records and on 25 February 1997 in the United States by Virgin Records. The album marked the only appearance of Kelli Dayton as lead singer before she was asked to leave the band; Chris Corner replaced her for the band's subsequent albums.

<i>Splinter</i> (Sneaker Pimps album) 1999 album by Sneaker Pimps

Splinter is the second studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps, released on 25 October 1999 through record labels Clean Up and Virgin.

<i>Bloodsport</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Sneaker Pimps

Bloodsport is the third studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps. It was released on 22 January 2002, through record label Tommy Boy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IAMX</span> Chris Corner solo musical project

IAMX is the solo musical project of Chris Corner founded in 2002 in London, England after the hiatus of his former band Sneaker Pimps. It is an independent music project with a secondary focus on the experimentation of visual art.

<i>Tigermouth</i> 2003 studio album by Kelli Ali

Tigermouth is the first solo studio album by singer-songwriter Kelli Ali released in 2003.

"Willow's Song" is a ballad by American composer Paul Giovanni for the 1973 film The Wicker Man

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every You Every Me</span> 1999 single by Placebo

"Every You Every Me" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo, released as the third single from their second album, Without You I'm Nothing, on 25 January 1999. It was released as a 2-CD set and on cassette, but promotional copies on 12-inch vinyl exist. The single managed to chart at number 46 in Australia, number 99 in Germany, and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. There are two versions of the video, both filmed live at London's Brixton Academy; one includes clips from the film Cruel Intentions. An alternative video taking place at a casino was filmed in November 1998 but would not be released until 18 years later as part of the promotion for A Place for Us to Dream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Hard Road Out of Hell</span> 1997 single by Marilyn Manson and Sneaker Pimps

"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson and British trip hop band Sneaker Pimps. It was released as a single from the soundtrack to the 1997 motion picture Spawn. An arena rock and gothic rock song, "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was written by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez and produced by Manson and Sean Beavan. Its lyrics are about self-loathing and its title is derived from John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667). After the track was written, the Sneaker Pimps' Kelli Ali was recruited to perform background vocals on it, as the Spawn soundtrack featured collaborations between hard rock artists and electronic music artists. The Sneaker Pimps were dissatisfied with the final track and wanted a remix of it to be released as a single instead; conversely, Manson deemed it a personal favorite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spin Spin Sugar</span> 1997 single by Sneaker Pimps

"Spin Spin Sugar" is a song by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps, released in March 1997 by Clean Up as the fourth single from their debut studio album, Becoming X (1996). The album version is typical of the Sneaker Pimps in both style and format; there is a driving bass line produced by a synthesizer keyboard which is accompanied by a second synthesizer loop playing above it. Kelli Dayton provides the vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desdamona</span> American rapper

Desdamona is a hip-hop and spoken word artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. She has won five Minnesota Music Awards for 'Best Spoken Word Artist' in the years 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. For that reason, and her strong standing in the male-dominated hip-hop scene, she is considered to be the best female spoken word and hip-hop artist in the Midwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coppé</span> Japanese musician

Coppé is a Japanese electronic music singer-songwriter and music producer. She has affectionately gained the title of "The Legendary Godmother of Japanese Electronica". She has released fifteen solo albums on her self-owned Mango + Sweetrice label. She released the most acclaimed album of her career, "8", in 2004.

Liam Coverdale Howe is an English record producer, musician and songwriter. Since co-founding electronic music band Sneaker Pimps in 1996, he has been a producer for Lana Del Rey, Marina and the Diamonds, FKA Twigs, Ellie Goulding, and Tom Vek.

Cult With No Name is a German/ English musical duo from London, comprising Erik Stein and Jon Boux. Influenced largely by electronic music, post-punk, and modern classical music, they refer to themselves "electronic balladeers". Formed in 2004, the band were initially signed by Los Angeles label Trakwerx in 2007, founded by Jackson Del Rey of Californian post-punk band Savage Republic and 17 Pygmies. Now on their own "CWNN Music" label, they are published through Blow Up Songs, founded by Paul Tunkin of the britpop club night Blow Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dakore Egbuson-Akande</span> Nigerian actress

Dakore Egbuson-Akande is a Nigerian actress. She is an ambassador for Amnesty International, Amstel Malta and Oxfam of America.

<i>Open All Night</i> (Marc Almond album) 1999 studio album by Marc Almond

Open All Night is the tenth solo studio album by the British singer-songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Blue Star Music in March 1999.

<i>Squaring the Circle</i> (album) 2021 album by Sneaker Pimps

Squaring the Circle is the fourth studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps, released on 10 September 2021.

References

  1. "Kelli Ali". Kelli Ali. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  2. "Kelli Ali Psychic Cat Times – The Lumieres". Kelliali.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  3. "Kelli Ali". Kelli Ali. 6 January 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  4. "Billboard". 16 June 2001.
  5. "Tigermouth – Kelli Ali | Credits". AllMusic. 4 March 2003. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  6. Joshua Glazer (26 October 2004). "Psychic Cat – Kelli Ali | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  7. "Kelli Ali". Kelli Ali. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  8. Simmy Richman (23 November 2008). "Album: Kelli Ali, Rocking Horse, (One Little Indian) | Reviews | Culture". The Independent . Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  9. "Kelli Ali". Kelli Ali. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  10. "Kelli Ali: New Album – Band of Angels". Pledgemusic.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  11. "kellialiofficial VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT". Instagram.com. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. "'Ghostdriver' New album & Film". PledgeMusic.com. 19 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  13. "'Ghostdriver' Ghostdriver – Album Exclusive". PledgeMusic.com. 26 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  14. "Kelli Ali Ghostdriver Original Soundtrack Album". BandCamp.com. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  15. "Dakore Akande, Swaady Martin, Kelli Ali, Adelaide Damoah and Husani Oakley Feature on Visual Collaborative". theodysseyonline.com. Odyssey (publication). Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  16. "Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Swaady Martin, others catalogued in Vicencias". vanguardngr.com. Vanguard. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  17. "Kelli Ali main feature interview in Visual Collaborative Vivencias". visualcollaborative.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  18. "Behind Her Eyes soundtrack: all the songs in the Netflix thriller". RadioTimes.com. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  19. Kelli Ali's Butterfly Album Release Journal Entry Archived 30 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine