Amazonica

Last updated

Amazonica
Harry resized.JPG
Background information
Birth nameVictoria Harrison
Also known asHarry, Dirty Harry
Born (1982-05-10) 10 May 1982 (age 41)
London, England
Genres Alternative rock, pop rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, DJ
Website Twitter

Victoria Harrison (born 10 May 1982) is a British rock singer and DJ who performs under the stage name Amazonica (and formerly Harry and Dirty Harry). [1]

Contents

Biography

Early life

Harry spent her early life living in Singapore and New York City as well as in the United Kingdom, and was raised under strict conservative family values – a vicar grandfather and mother in charge of a local Sunday school.

Harry connected with singers such as Patti Smith and Janis Joplin – influences in both her youth and musical stylings. [2]

As she grew up, Harry became involved in the London music and social scene. She first experienced the London nightlife in her teens – earning her ‘Dirty’ tag along the way, and building a reputation for herself on the underground music scene before launching a music career of her own.

The Trouble with... Harry

Originally recording as "Dirty Harry", Harry recorded two singles (the limited release industrial pop track "Eye", and "Nothing Really Matters") on her own record label, Dirty World Records, as well as an early version of her debut album, The Trouble with... Harry . However, the album's release was not an easy process and complications ensued, resulting in a legal battle leading to Harry dropping her 'Dirty' tag and rebranding herself simply as Harry.

The album was re-recorded and edited under this new name. Years after its inception, it was released in April 2003, through Telstar Records along with the album's supporting singles – "So Real", "Imagination" and "Follow Me". In 2003, Rimmel used "Imagination" – Harry's cover of Belouis Some's hit – to front a TV advertising campaign. The song was also the lead track on Harry's Under the Covers EP which also featured the video for the song.

Collaborations

Press coverage

In November 2006, Mick Rock photographed Harry for her own article in Playboy . In July 2008, Harry was interviewed alongside Courtney Love for Nylon magazine.

Television appearances

In 2003, she appeared in an episode of the UK Channel 4 television programme, Faking it , where she was to help transform a choir girl into a "rock chick". [3] Controversy arose when the participant, Laura-Jane Foley, claimed she had been misrepresented by the show. However, the episode in question had already run into trouble before it aired, with regular sponsors Smirnoff refusing to be associated with its scenes of "irresponsible drinking", in which Harry appeared hungover after a night out.

Her filmwork also includes a role as Sophie Johnstone in the 1992 TV series Homeward Bound, and a small role as a lady of the night, Maria, alongside Jonny Lee Miller in the 1999 British film, Plunkett & Macleane .

In May 2003 Harry appeared on the BBC's Re:covered programme, where she performed both "Imagination", and a cover of Blondie's hit "One Way or Another".

In late 2006, Harry was chosen as the face and voice of buy.com's $30 million national US marketing campaign, recording a song for, and appearing in the television advertisement for the company.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macy Gray</span> American singer (born 1967)

Natalie Renée McIntyre, known by her stage name Macy Gray, is an American R&B and soul singer and actress. She is known for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday.

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

Blondie is an American rock band formed in 1974 in New York City by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the American new wave scene of the mid-1970s in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cradle of Filth</span> English extreme metal band

Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily influenced by Gothic literature, poetry, mythology and horror films. The band consists of its founding member, vocalist Dani Filth, drummer Martin 'Marthus' Škaroupka, bassist Daniel Firth, guitarists Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda and Donny Burbage, and keyboardist Zoe Marie Federoff.

<i>Issues</i> (Korn album) Fourth studio album by Korn

Issues is the fourth studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on November 16, 1999, through Immortal Records. The album was promoted throughout 2000 by the band's highly successful Sick and Twisted Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beautiful South</span> English pop group

The Beautiful South were an English pop rock group formed in 1988 by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway, two former members of the Hull group the Housemartins, both of whom performed lead and backing vocals. Other members throughout the band's existence were former Housemartins roadie Sean Welch (bass), Dave Stead (drums), and Dave Rotheray (guitar). The band's original material was written by Heaton and Rotheray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martina Topley-Bird</span> English vocalist and musician

Martina Gillian Topley-Bird is an English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye (1995). She also worked with him on his subsequent albums, Nearly God and Pre-Millennium Tension. In 2003, Topley-Bird released her debut solo album, Quixotic, which was critically praised and earned her a Mercury Prize nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasmin Wagner</span> German singer

Jasmin Wagner, better known as Blümchen, is a German pop and dance music singer. Although she releases her English albums under the name Blossom, her German stage name Blümchen actually translates to "floret" or "small flower".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deni Hines</span> Australian singer (born 1970)

Dohnyale Sharon "Deni" Hines is an Australian singer who has been releasing music since the early 1990s, with chart success in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe. She is the daughter of American-born Australian singer Marcia Hines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda Jackson</span> American singer, songwriter, and musician

Wanda LaVonne Jackson is an American singer and songwriter. Since the 1950s, she has recorded and released music in the genres of rock, country and gospel. She was among the first women to have a career in rock and roll, recording a series of 1950s singles that helped give her the nickname "The Queen of Rockabilly". She is also counted among the first female stars in the genre of country music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bringin' On the Heartbreak</span> 1981 single by Def Leppard

"Bringin' On the Heartbreak" is a song by English rock band Def Leppard. A power ballad, it was the second single from their 1981 album High 'n' Dry. The song was written by three of the band's members, Steve Clark, Pete Willis and Joe Elliott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keri Kelli</span> American guitarist

Keri Kelli is an American guitarist who has played with artists and groups including Alice Cooper, Slash, Jani Lane, Vince Neil and John Waite. In March 2013 he formed Project Rock together with James Kottak from the Scorpions. Project Rock consisted of Keri Kelli, James Kottak, Tim 'Ripper' Owens, Rudy Sarzo & Teddy Zig-Zag. Kelli is currently in the band Night Ranger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nana Kitade</span> Japanese singer-songwriter and musician (born 1987)

Nana Kitade is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to being the lead singer of the rock band The Teenage Kissers, she has success as a solo artist, model, actress, and fashion designer. Kitade is particularly known for her songs appearing in various anime, TV shows, doramas and movie opening and endings. Kitade was featured on the cover of the Gothic & Lolita Bible, as well as featured in Neo and Kera magazines. She has toured Asia, Europe, and North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keisha Buchanan</span> British singer (born 1984)

Keisha Buchanan is an English singer and a founding member of the girl group Sugababes alongside Mutya Buena and Siobhán Donaghy. With the Sugababes, she had six number one singles and two number one studio albums, making them one of the most successful British pop acts of the 21st century. Buchanan was sacked to leave the group in September 2009 and was replaced by Jade Ewen. Buchanan returned to the group in 2012 with the original lineup.

<i>Thornography</i> 2006 studio album by Cradle of Filth

Thornography is the seventh studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 17 October 2006, by record label Roadrunner. It was produced by former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, engineered by Dan Turner and mixed by Andy Sneap, and once again features narration by Doug Bradley. It is Cradle of Filth's second album as a five-piece, as keyboardist Martin Powell left the band in 2005. This would also be the band's final album to feature drummer Adrian Erlandsson, and the only full-length to feature guitarist Charles Hedger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1975 song by Fleetwood Mac

"Landslide" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, written and performed by singer Stevie Nicks. The song was first featured on the band's self-titled album Fleetwood Mac (1975). The original recording also appears on the compilation albums 25 Years – The Chain (1992), The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (2002) and 50 Years – Don't Stop (2018), while a live version was released as a single 23 years later from the live reunion album The Dance (1997). "Landslide" reached No. 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Landslide" was certified gold in October 2009 for sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States. According to Nielsen Soundscan, "Landslide" sold 2,093,186 copies in the United States as of 2017.

<i>The Trouble with... Harry</i> 2003 studio album by Harry

The Trouble with... Harry was the debut album by British musician Harry. It was released on 21 April 2003 but failed to reach the UK album top 75.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutya Buena</span> British singer (born 1985)

Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena is an English singer and songwriter who rose to fame as a member of girl group the Sugababes. With the Sugababes, Buena had four UK number one singles, an additional six top-ten hits and three multi-platinum albums. After leaving the group in December 2005, she released her debut solo album, Real Girl in June 2007. Buena returned to Sugababes with the original lineup in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debbie Harry</span> American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1945)

Deborah Ann Harry is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached No.1 on the US charts between 1979 and 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juliet Simms</span> American singer-songwriter

Juliet Nicole Simms, also known as Lilith Czar, is an American singer and songwriter.

<i>Rockabilly Fever</i> 1984 studio album by Wanda Jackson

Rockabilly Fever is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in 1984 via Tab Records for the Scandinavian market in Europe. It was then re-released to other markets, including Jackson's home country in 1986 and was re-titled Rock and Roll Away Your Blues.

References

  1. "Read All About It | The Amazonica". the girls are. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. "ON THE WAY UP - DIRTY HARRY CHECKS IN WITH MUDKISS". MUDKISS FANZINE. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. "BBC America - Faking It Rock Chick". BBC America . 2006. Archived from the original on 21 October 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  4. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 245. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  5. "Premiere: Amazonica - 'High On You'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  6. "Amazonica Channels The Dark Heart Of Hallowe'en On 'Don't Fear The Reaper'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 23 December 2020.