Isobel Campbell

Last updated

Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell.jpg
Campbell in 2007
Background information
Born (1976-04-27) 27 April 1976 (age 47)
Glasgow, Scotland
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • cello
  • piano
  • guitar
Years active1996–present
Labels
Website isobelcampbell.com

Isobel Campbell (born 27 April 1976) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and cellist. She rose to prominence at age nineteen as a member of the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, but left the group to pursue a solo career, first as The Gentle Waves, and later under her own name. She later collaborated with singer Mark Lanegan on three albums. Her latest studio album, There Is No Other, was released in 2020.

Contents

Campbell's music has been described as either indie pop, chamber pop or singer-songwriter. Regardless of genre, Campbell makes gentle and sombre music, often using classical instruments.

Biography

1996–2002: Belle & Sebastian

Belle & Sebastian was formed in 1996 by Stuart Murdoch and Stuart David; Campbell had met Murdoch at a New Year's Eve party at age nineteen, and then participated in a recording session with Murdoch and David sponsored by Stow College's Music Business Administration curriculum. They named themselves Belle & Sebastian after a children's book of the same name. [1] Murdoch was the lead singer on the first two albums, with Campbell playing cello, percussion and singing backing vocals. A classically trained cellist, [1] Campbell also played keyboards. She also took lead vocals on a few songs from the band, and co-wrote their top-20 UK single "Legal Man".

Their follow-up was The Boy with the Arab Strap which contained the track "Is It Wicked Not to Care?" where for the first time Campbell sang lead vocals. The band's next album was Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant . The album introduced many stylistic changes, such as a larger string section and more of the members singing lead vocals; Campbell sings on "Family Tree", and performs a duet with Stevie Jackson on "Beyond the Sunrise".

Most of 2002 was spent on touring and recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling by Todd Solondz). Campbell left the band in spring of 2002, in the middle of their North American tour.

1998: Collaboration with Snow Patrol

On Snow Patrol's 1998 debut album Songs for Polarbears , Campbell provides vocals on the song "NYC". [2]

2003–2006: Solo work

In 1999, Campbell released her first solo album, The Green Fields of Foreverland , on the same label as Belle & Sebastian, Jeepster Records, under the name The Gentle Waves. The follow-up to The Green Fields of Foreverland would become Swansong for You released on 6 November 2000. This album would be the last release by Campbell as The Gentle Waves. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells on Ghost of Yesterday , a collection of Billie Holiday songs released by Creeping Bent. In 2003 she released a new album Amorino under her own name. Bill Wells was featured here again, along with other jazz musicians. [3] Her next album, 2006's Ballad of the Broken Seas , was a collaboration with former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan and was well received by critics.

Her fourth studio album was released on 23 October 2006 entitled Milkwhite Sheets . It brings traditional songs from United Kingdom and songs written by Campbell. Campbell has stated that album was inspired by the works of Jean Ritchie, Anne Briggs and Shirley Collins.

2007–2013: Collaboration with Mark Lanegan

Campbell performing in 2008 Isobel Campbell 2008 03 12.jpg
Campbell performing in 2008
Campbell performing with Mark Lanegan in Barcelona, 2010 Isobel Campbell with Mark Lanegan.jpg
Campbell performing with Mark Lanegan in Barcelona, 2010

In April 2004, Campbell released an EP with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan, titled Time Is Just the Same . [1] They would later release a single entitled "Ramblin' Man" for their collaboration album Ballad of the Broken Seas . Campbell wrote and recorded the majority of the album's tracks in Glasgow, with Lanegan adding vocals in Los Angeles. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Prize. [4] Lanegan and Campbell played four UK concerts in January 2007, with the London date being moved to a larger venue as a result of high demand for tickets.

In 2007, the duo recorded a second album together, entitled Sunday at Devil Dirt , which was released on 5 May 2008. Three singles from the album were released: "Who Built the Road"(7"), "Come On Over (Turn Me On)" (7") and "Keep me in mind sweetheart"(Cd, 12"). The five new tracks of the "Keep me in mind sweetheart" EP were later added as bonus tracks to Sunday at Devil Dirt .

A third collaborative album with Lanegan was released on 16 August 2010 entitled Hawk . [1] The pair toured to promote the album, including a set at All Tomorrow's Parties, 10–12 December 2010 (Bowlie 2) curated by Belle & Sebastian. [5] In July 2013, it was announced that Campbell and Lanegan had officially ended their musical partnership. [6] [7]

In February 2020, Isobel released her most recent solo studio album, There Is No Other, which was named Rough Trade's album of the week, via new label Cooking Vinyl.

2022: Collaboration with Son Parapluie

In June 2022, Campbell sings in French on an EP called Son Parapluie with Jérôme Didelot, leader of the band Orwell. This EP includes remixes by Jah Wobble (Public Image Ltd) and Martin Carr (The Boo Radleys).

Selected discography

Studio albums

Studio albums With Mark Lanegan

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belle and Sebastian</span> Scottish indie pop band

Belle & Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1996. Led by Stuart Murdoch, the band has released twelve studio albums. They are often compared with acts such as the Smiths and Nick Drake. The name "Belle & Sebastian" comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1966 children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry adapted from a television series of the same name. Though consistently lauded by critics, Belle & Sebastian's "wistful pop" has enjoyed only limited commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeepster Records</span>

Jeepster Records is an English, London-based independent record label, founded in 1995, and specializing in British indie and alternative bands, particularly Glasgow-based acts. It is most notable for its signing of Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Screaming Trees</span> American rock band

Screaming Trees were an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1984 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bassist Van Conner, and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel was replaced by Barrett Martin in 1991. Screaming Trees became known as one of the pioneers of grunge along with Melvins, Mudhoney, U-Men, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, Green River, and Malfunkshun, among others. Although widely associated with grunge, the band's sound incorporated hard rock and psychedelic elements.

<i>Tigermilk</i> 1996 studio album by Belle and Sebastian

Tigermilk is the 1996 debut album from Scottish pop group Belle and Sebastian. Originally given a limited release by Electric Honey, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Lanegan</span> American singer (1964–2022)

Mark William Lanegan was an American singer, songwriter, and poet. First becoming prominent as the lead singer for the early grunge band Screaming Trees, he was also known as a member of Queens of the Stone Age and The Gutter Twins. He released 12 solo studio albums, as well as three collaboration albums with Isobel Campbell and two with Duke Garwood. He was known for his baritone voice, which was described as being "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather" and has been compared to Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Cave.

<i>Songs for Polarbears</i> 1998 studio album by Snow Patrol

Songs for Polarbears is the debut album by the Scottish-Northern Irish indie rock group Snow Patrol, released on 31 August 1998 in the UK and 12 October in the US.

Electric Honey was founded in 1992 and is Glasgow Kelvin College's in-house record label run by Ken McCluskey, Douglas MacIntyre and formerly Alan Rankine along with students from the HNC/D Music Business course. The label celebrated its 25th year in 2017 with many events including the release of the debut album "Any Joy" from Scottish six-piece indie rock band; "Pronto Mama."

<i>The Boy with the Arab Strap</i> 1998 studio album by Belle & Sebastian

The Boy with the Arab Strap is the third studio album by Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, released in 1998 through Jeepster Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene Kelly</span> Musical artist

Eugene Kelly is a Scottish musician who is a member of the group The Vaselines, a founding member of the now disbanded Eugenius and has had a number of solo releases.

<i>The Green Fields of Foreverland</i> 1999 studio album by The Gentle Waves

The Green Fields of Foreverland is the first studio album by Isobel Campbell's solo project, The Gentle Waves. It was originally released through Jeepster Records on 5 April 1999.

<i>Swansong for You</i> 2000 studio album by The Gentle Waves

Swansong for You is the second studio album by Isobel Campbell's solo project, The Gentle Waves. It was originally released through Jeepster Records on 6 November 2000. It peaked at number 13 on the CMJ Radio 200 chart.

<i>Amorino</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Isobel Campbell

Amorino is the first solo album released by Isobel Campbell following her departure from Belle & Sebastian. The album was released on 7 October 2003.

<i>Ballad of the Broken Seas</i> 2006 studio album by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Ballad of the Broken Seas is an album by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, their first collaboration. It made the shortlist for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize and was one of NME's top one hundred albums of the decade.

<i>Milkwhite Sheets</i> 2006 studio album by Isobel Campbell

Milkwhite Sheets is the fourth solo album released by former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell. The album was released on 23 October 2006. It brings traditional songs from United Kingdom and songs written by Campbell. She said the album was inspired by the works of Jean Ritchie, Anne Briggs and Shirley Collins.

<i>Time Is Just the Same</i> 2004 EP by Isobel Campbell

"Time Is Just The Same" is an EP released by former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell, featuring contributions by Mark Lanegan. The album was released in April 2004.

<i>Ghost of Yesterday</i> 2002 EP by Bill Wells & Isobel Campbell

Ghost Of Yesterday is an EP released by Scottish pianist Bill Wells and former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell, under the name of The Gentle Waves. It covers songs by Billie Holiday. The album was released in July 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Lanegan discography</span>

The discography of Mark Lanegan consists of eleven studio albums and two EPs as a solo artist, and many other releases from collaborations with other artists.

<i>Sunday at Devil Dirt</i> 2008 studio album by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Sunday at Devil Dirt is the second collaborative studio album by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, released 13 May 2008, through V2 Records. The album follows 2006's Ballad of the Broken Seas. Unlike the previous album, Lanegan flew over to Glasgow to record his vocal parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isobel Campbell discography</span>

Scottish musician and vocalist Isobel Campbell has released four solo studio albums, seven singles, a studio album in collaboration with Bill Wells and three with Mark Lanegan as well as several cameos on other artists' records. Isobel Campbell debuted in 1996 as cellist and sometime vocalist of indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. Despite limited commercial success, Belle & Sebastian have been hailed as the greatest Scottish band ever.

<i>Blues Funeral</i> 2012 studio album by Mark Lanegan

Blues Funeral is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock musician Mark Lanegan, released on February 6, 2012 on 4AD. The album was recorded with producer Alain Johannes throughout early 2011 and Johannes, as well as other musicians including Greg Dulli, David Catching and Jack Irons, contributed to the recording process. Blues Funeral was announced for release on November 7, 2011 through Lanegan's official website and less than a month later, the album's lead single, "The Gravedigger's Song," was released as a digital download on iTunes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ankeny, Jason. "Isobel Campbell – Biography". Billboard. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Snow Patrol – Songs For Polarbears". Discogs .
  3. ↑ Morris, William (14 January 2004). "Isobel Campbell: Amorino". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys win Mercury prize". BBC News. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  5. ↑ Breihan, Tom (11 August 2010). "Isobel Campbell Talks Mark Lanegan, New Album, Belle and Sebastian". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Kneitz, Paul (27 July 2013). "Mark Lanegan Ends Musical Partnership With Isobel Campbell". Alternative Nation. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Interview: Isobel Campbell". Transatlantic Modern. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
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