Charlotte Hatherley | |
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Background information | |
Born | 20 June 1979 |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1997–present |
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Charlotte Franklin Hatherley (born 20 June 1979) is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and soundtrack composer. She initially came to prominence as guitarist and backing vocalist for alternative rock band Ash.
Since leaving Ash in 2006, she has worked as a solo artist and acted as a touring musician for Bryan Ferry, KT Tunstall, Bat for Lashes, Cold Specks, Rosie Lowe and Birdy. Hatherley has also been a touring member of NZCA Lines and was the Musical Director for South African artist Nakhane.
Born in London, Hatherley's music career began at the age of 15, when she joined British punk band Nightnurse. [1] Two years later, with Ash looking for a guitarist to add to their live sound, Hatherley was hired after frontman Tim Wheeler saw her play at a Nightnurse gig. [2] Hatherley's Ash debut was at Belfast's Limelight on 10 August 1997, [3] and the following week the new lineup played the 1997 V Festival in front of 50,000 people. Her recording career with the band began later that year on the single "A Life Less Ordinary" and continued on the album Nu-Clear Sounds in 1998.
Hatherley was a full-time member of Ash for eight years, playing on three studio albums, and wrote a handful of the band's songs, most notably "Grey Will Fade", on the B-side of the single "There's a Star". The song was a cult favourite among fans, and eventually became the title track of Hatherley's debut solo album. On 20 January 2006 it was announced that Hatherley would be leaving Ash in an amicable breakup. [4]
She reunited with the band in 2022 for a UK tour to support the 21st anniversary of Free All Angels . [5]
While recording the album Meltdown with Ash, Hatherley began to record her own album Grey Will Fade . From the album she released the singles "Bastardo", "Summer" (both videos directed by Edgar Wright), and "Kim Wilde", which all received high praise from critics. [6] [7] [8]
Hatherley's second album The Deep Blue was released on 5 March 2007. It was preceded by two singles; "Behave", in December, and "I Want You To Know" along with an accompanying UK and Ireland tour. For Nokia Online, David Bowie reviewed "Behave", writing, 'Behave is proof that Charlotte made the right decision to go solo. The guitar part is an instant hook, that has a kind of Eno-esque quirkiness about it... Impossibly catchy, you'll find this popping into your head when you least expect it'. [9] Two more singles were released to promote the album, "Siberia" and "Again". In 2007, Hatherley opened for Blondie on their UK tour. [10]
Hatherley's third solo album New Worlds was released in October 2009. Pitchfork gave the album 8.0, writing, 'Hatherley is a meticulous artist, and her songs are carefully constructed things designed for a powerful dynamic impact without sacrificing elegance and grace. She's the best sort of craft-driven writer, consistently avoiding ostentatious displays of technical ingenuity while subtly exerting her skill in ways that call attention to, rather than distract from, her melodies.' [11] The album was also The Sunday Times ' record of the week: 'These are sensational songs, from an artist who remains bafflingly overlooked, but continues to dive into that tiny pool and come up bearing pearls.' [12]
In February 2012, Hatherley began performing under the name of Sylver Tongue. She released the Something Big EP in November 2012. Sylver Tongue supported Bat for Lashes on their October/November 2012 UK tour. [13]
In 2017, Hatherley pre-released a solo album via PledgeMusic called True Love. Inspired by her love of science fiction, the album tells the story of Traveller, a heartbroken alien searching for love. It received a 4/5 star review in The Evening Standard . [14] Their critic wrote, 'Vangelis's Blade Runner soundtrack is the obvious inspiration behind these ethereal soundscapes, although this is much more than derivative, fangirl fare. "A Sign" and "Hook You Up" are glorious pop songs in their own right, while Hatherley's yearning vocals ensure that even the most robotic moments retain a compelling human core.' The album was officially released in June 2018. Electronic Sound magazine wrote: 'This is an album easy to fall in love with, from the yearning 'A Sign' to the gorgeous 'You Said Goodbye' its electronic teardrops and emotional nakedness could soundtrack any broken love affair'. [15]
Three singles were released from the record, "A Sign", "Night Vision" and "Hook You Up". The five-track Night Vision EP contained cover versions of songs from cinema, including the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love", the video for which was made in collaboration with the European Space Agency. [16]
Hatherley wrote the score for director Gavin Rothery's sci-fi short film The Last Man. [17] The film premiered at the FrightFest festival in London in 2014. [18] Hatherley performed the score at the British Film Institute as part of their major three-month focus on sci-fi on screen, 'Days of Fear and Wonder'. [19] In 2014 Hatherley also composed the music for Stella Feehily's play This May Hurt A Bit, directed by Max Stafford-Clark. [20]
In 2019, Hatherley composed the score for the film Imogen [21] which was due to premiere at Oscar qualifying film festival AMDOCS in Palm Springs, on 27 March 2020, as part of the Official Selection (postponed due to Covid-19). [22] Produced by Margo Mars and Alma Har'el, the film is directed by Lola Young and Matt Shea and supported by the BFI Doc Society and LUSH film fund. The soundtrack was released in May 2020. [23]
In 2021 she played guitars on composer Frank Ilfman's score for the film Gunpowder Milkshake . [24]
In 2022 she contributed to the score for director Peter Strickland's film Flux Gourmet . [25]
In 2007, Hatherley was a touring guitarist for Bryan Ferry, [26] and in 2009 joined Bat for Lashes as a live member of the band. [27]
In 2010, Hatherley joined KT Tunstall's band, playing lead guitar. The 2010/11 tour coincided with the release of Tunstall's Tiger Suit album. In an interview with the Galway Advertiser , Tunstall said that Hatherley had helped her 'to find the voice that she had always been searching for.' "Charlotte has just blown us all away. She's an exceptionally talented musician and very visceral. It's just pure emotion when she plays." [28] Hatherley has subsequently recorded guitar on Tunstall's albums Kin and Wax and played guitar on her 2018 tour. [29]
During 2015/2016, Hatherley was a performing member of Cold Specks [30] and NZCA Lines, [31] and throughout 2016/2017 toured as guitarist/keyboardist for Birdy [32] coinciding with the release of Birdy's Beautiful Lies album. In 2019 Hatherley played for Frank Turner, [33] and played on Fred Deakin's album The Lasters. [34]
From 2017 to 2020, Hatherley was musical director, guitarist, and keyboardist for South African artist Nakhane. [35]
In 2021 Hatherley played on Imelda May's album 11 Past the Hour [36] and Natalie Imbruglia's Firebird . [37] During 2023 she played as part of Birdy's live band for the Portraits tour. [38]
Across Summer 2024 she played in Bat For Lashes' live band for the Dream Of Delphi tour in the UK and Europe. [39]
Hatherley's mother, Patricia Franklin, is an actress. Her father, Frank Hatherley, is an Australian playwright and critic. [40] [41]
Year | Album | UK [42] [43] |
---|---|---|
2004 | Grey Will Fade
| 51 |
2007 | The Deep Blue
| 109 |
2009 | New Worlds
| – |
2017 | True Love
| – |
Year | Title | Album | UK [42] [43] | B-sides |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | "Kim Wilde" (Download-only) | Grey Will Fade | — | |
2004 | "Summer" | 31 | Commodore; SMUT | |
2005 | "Bastardo" | 31 | 3 Minutes; I Am a Kamera | |
2006 | "Behave" | The Deep Blue | 168 | Mr. Ed; Cousteau (Extended Version); Behave (Luke Smith Clor Remix) |
2007 | "I Want You to Know" | 108 | Sister Universe; Suspiria | |
2007 | "Siberia" | — | Last Night; This Is Pop; I Don't Need Anyone | |
2007 | "Again" | — | Again (acoustic) | |
2007 | "CH V FD (Deep Blue remixes)" | Non-album single | — | Dawn Treader (Fredmix); It Isn't Over (Fredmix) |
2009 | "White" | New Worlds | — | White (Squarepusher Remix); White (Adem Remix); White (Heartbeat Remix) |
2009 | "Alexander" | — | Alexander (Radio Edit); Alexander (Blacknred Remix) |
Title | Year | Director | Notes |
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"Summer" | 2004 | Edgar Wright | [44] |
"Bastardo" | 2005 | [45] | |
"Behave" | 2006 | Oscar Wright | [46] |
"I Want You to Know" | 2007 | Joe Cornish | [47] |
"Siberia" | Shelly Love | [48] | |
"White" | 2009 | Elliot Manches | [49] |
"Alexander" | [50] | ||
"A Sign" | 2017 | Gavin Rothery | [51] |
"Night Vision" | John Minton | lyrics video [52] | |
"How Deep Is Your Love" | 2018 | Mike Keelin | in collaboration with ESA [53] |
"Hook You Up" | Rik Moran | [54] |
Ash are a Northern Irish rock band formed in Downpatrick, County Down in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray. As a three-piece, they released mini-album Trailer in 1994 and full-length album 1977 in 1996. This 1996 release was named by NME as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. After the success of their full debut the band recruited Charlotte Hatherley as a guitarist and vocalist, releasing their second record Nu-Clear Sounds in 1998. After narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, the band released Free All Angels in 2001 and a string of successful singles.
Meltdown is the fourth studio album to be recorded by the Northern Irish rock band Ash. The album was released on 17 May 2004 through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Following the success of their third studio album Free All Angels (2001), Ash debuted several new songs while touring throughout 2003. By October that year, they had travelled to Los Angeles, California, to record a follow-up album, which was co-produced by Nick Raskulinecz and the band. Recording sessions were held at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys and at Chalice Studios, Hollywood. Meltdown, which is described as a hard rock album, drew comparisons to the work of The Smashing Pumpkins and critics said the guitar work resembles that of Black Sabbath and Metallica.
Del Amitri are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1980. Best known for their 1990 single "Nothing Ever Happens" which reached No. 11 in the UK and their 1995 single "Roll to Me", which was a top 10 hit in Canada and the United States, they have released seven studio albums, five of which have reached the UK top 10. They have sold over six million albums worldwide.
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Her work has been considered pioneering in pop and electropop music.
Free All Angels is the third studio album to be recorded by Northern Irish rock band Ash. It was released on 23 April 2001 through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Due to the mixed reaction to the band's second studio album Nu-Clear Sounds (1998), frontman Tim Wheeler suffered from depression. He went to his parents' house in Northern Ireland to write material for the band's next album. Free All Angels was co-produced by the band and Owen Morris, and recording sessions were held at El Cortijo in Puerto Banús, Spain, then moved to The Wool Hall in Beckington and RAK Studios in London. The album was described as pop punk, power pop and punk rock, and drew comparisons to the works of China Drum, Compulsion, Hüsker Dü, and the Replacements.
Nu-Clear Sounds is the second studio album by Northern Irish rock band Ash. It was released on 5 October 1998, through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Following the release of the band's debut studio album, 1977 (1996), guitarist Charlotte Hatherley became a member. They wrote new material at a farmhouse, before going to Wales to record their next album at Rockfield Studios. With additional sessions held at the Astoria in London, Ash produced the proceedings alongside Chris Kimsey and Owen Morris. A garage rock record, the New York Dolls, the Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground inspired the album.
Grey Will Fade is the debut studio album by English musician Charlotte Hatherley, the guitarist for Ash, released by Double Dragon Music on 16 August 2004. Spurred on by the positive response to "Grey Will Fade", which appeared as a B-side to Ash's single "There's a Star" (2001), Hatherley set about recording her solo album. Enlisting the help of Eric Drew Feldman, the sessions for the album were happening concurrently in Los Angeles, California, at Wild Hamster, while Ash was recording their album Meltdown (2004). Described as a pop punk and power pop record, Hatherley's vocals on Grey Will Fade earned her comparisons to Björk, Tanya Donelly, and PJ Harvey.
"A Life Less Ordinary" was a non-album single released by the band Ash on 13 October 1997. It was the title track of the film of the same name, A Life Less Ordinary, starring Cameron Diaz and Ewan McGregor, and also appeared on the film's soundtrack. The single was released in three formats: CD, 7-inch vinyl, and cassette. The limited-edition 7-inch was printed on blue vinyl. The song peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart.
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The Deep Blue is the second studio album by English musician Charlotte Hatherley, released on 5 March 2007 under Hatherley's own label Little Sister Records. She left Ash in January 2006; she visited Australia, where she stayed for two months, and wrote 17 new songs. After contacting Eric Drew Feldman, recording sessions were held at The Red House Studio in Senigallia, Italy, and Miloco Studios in London, with Feldman, Rob Ellis and Hatherley acting as producers. Described as a post-punk and power pop album, The Deep Blue saw Hatherley's guitarwork being sidestepped, allowing more of an emphasis on other instruments, such as bass, strings, and piano.
Twilight of the Innocents is the fifth studio album by Northern Irish rock band Ash. It was released on 2 July 2007, through Infectious Records. Following the departure of guitarist Charlotte Hatherley in early 2006, the band began recording their next album in New York City at Bang Studios, which they had leased from a friend of a friend. Frontman Tim Wheeler produced the recordings, with bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer McMurray acting as associate producers. Described as a pop and power pop album, Twilight of the Innocents placed emphasis on Hamilton's bass parts.
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Nightnurse was an English indie rock band from London, England, who had some success in the late 1990s. They released three singles, with their second "Skirt" reaching no.11 in the UK Independent Singles Chart in February 1998. They were the first band to ever release an MP3 single 'IDF/Big Sleep' and were recognised by the Guinness Book of Records for doing so. Their debut album was recorded at Blackwing studios, but never released as the label Better Records folded in 2000.
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