Juanita Stein

Last updated

Juanita Stein
Juanita Stein Bristol Fleece 2009.jpg
Juanita Stein, Bristol, 2009
Background information
BornMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Indie rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, floor tom
Years active1999–present
Labels Bella Union, Liberation, Independiente, Play It Again Sam, Hostess, Nettwerk, Cooking Vinyl, Birthday Records, Nude Records, Handwritten Records
Website www.juanitastein.com

Juanita Stein is lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist in indie rock band Howling Bells. She has younger twin brothers Joel and Ari. Joel Stein is lead guitarist in Howling Bells.

Contents

Early life and education

Juanita Stein was born in Melbourne and moved to Sydney at an early age. Her father Peter Stein was a songwriter and musician; mother Linda Stein is a former stage and television actress.

Stein attended school in Sydney before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in literature at university in the city, where she also studied Theatre Performance and an electronic music course. Her first time in a music recording studio was when she was five years old and contributed vocals to one of her father's songs. The experience shaped her life as she later said; "From then on, innately I knew that's what I would do." [1] Brother Joel remembers her dedication to learning songs even in childhood: "She would sit in her room and learn old Beatles songs with the door shut until three in the morning. This was when she was about twelve. I would hear her voice at night." [2]

Juanita Stein was brought up listening to all kinds of music but the first song she remembers hearing was Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier". She said; "It's strange out of all the songs in the world that that was the one that I distinctly remember connecting with at a very, very young age. It was a really great moment. I just remember that song sounded different to me than every other song that was playing on the radio." [3] Her own early favourite artists were Nirvana, Juliana Hatfield, Björk, Portishead and Jimi Hendrix.

Her adolescence was different from that of many other teenagers: "There wasn't a lot to rebel against, my parents were cool and listened to cool music. Dad told me about his drug experiences, so I couldn't rebel by doing that." [4]

Waikiki (1999–2003)

Juanita Stein wrote and played music while at university, mainly "[a] kind of folk music, in duets and trios." Then "at one point I really wanted to stop playing other people's music" so, after a brief stint in a group called Dirty Boots, in 1999 she and Joel Stein formed Waikiki, the name chosen by picking a random word out of an encyclopedia. [5] She said, "We’d been playing in different formats for a while, and that was when I felt like it was possible for me to play music with a bunch of people. He's a brilliant guitarist. I feel very lucky to work with him all the time." [6]

They then advertised for a drummer to join them. Their advertisement read: "Original band looking for drummer. Our influences are Mazzy Star, Radiohead and the Beatles." [7] Glenn Moule joined the siblings to record and release a five-track EP Presents in 2000. Juanita Stein used the pseudonym Kikisun on the EP, on which she sang lead vocals and played bass.

The trio were later joined by second guitarist Jimmy (or Jimmeh) Brandon and released an album, I'm Already Home , in 2002. Brandon left the band in 2003 and was replaced by bass player Brendan Picchio, at which time Juanita Stein moved to playing rhythm guitar.

Howling Bells (2004–present)

In early 2004, Waikiki disbanded, the group members moved to London and re-formed as Howling Bells, who have released four albums: Howling Bells in 2006, Radio Wars in 2009, The Loudest Engine in 2011 and Heartstrings in 2014. Juanita Stein said the change of name and relocation was part of a natural musical progression: "Waikiki is almost part of my childhood. I was 16 when I wrote some of the songs. It was time to move on." [8] She added; "At some point you kind of leave school, if that makes sense. I felt like I’d grown up a little bit. The music I was listening to and the music I was writing behind closed doors was so vastly different from [what] I was singing at the time and I just felt like it was to time to take a bit of a risk and make something different.". [9]

When asked if she now considers London as ‘home’, she replied; "Sydney is our sentimental home — it's where we grew up, had our first kiss, first cigarette, first band. However, London feels like our musical birthplace. It inspires art in a way no other city has." [10] She enjoys her returns to Australia: "It's really good. It's really nice and warm and comforting. You know, to come back to a place and it's sunny and it's friendly and your friends and family are all there – it's a really nice combination." [11]

Juanita Stein's songwriting is inspired by many other artists and also by films and dreams. She said, "I have insane dreams, that's very much a part of who I am. The visual realm is very important, as are films, to me and they have inspired a lot of [my] music." [12]

Stein has named Nirvana as "my all-time favourite band" [13] and her musical influences have included Françoise Hardy, Björk, Kate Bush, Air, Siouxsie Sioux, The Slits and Magazine. She cites the films Leon , Frankie and Johnny , Jaws , Edward Scissorhands , Chinatown and Vivre Sa Vie as amongst her inspirations. [14]

In September 2012 she became a mother, with the birth of a daughter, Daisy Jean.

Stein began working on a solo album in March 2012 and began recording in Los Angeles in June 2015. She then toured the UK supporting The White Buffalo in July 2016. She released her first solo album, America, in 2017, and then immediately began work on her second solo album, Until the Lights Fade, which was later released on 31 August 2018.

In March 2009, Gigwise voted Juanita Stein "the sexiest woman in rock." [15] She was also selected in the top ten of Clash magazine's "Top Women of 2009" list. [16]

Other work

Juanita has performed with several other artists. She sang on two songs for Australian group The Givegoods' album, I Want To Kill A Rich Man: the title track and "Black and Blue". [17] She also sang with Australian group On Inc, on a song entitled "Spooky", [18] and performed a duet with brother Ari on a song called, "LA To San Fran", which was played on Ari's Myspace page for a time. She performed backing vocals on two tracks on father Peter's album Tear It Down: "What Would It Take?" and "Still Waters". She also contributed vocals to The Sleepy Jackson's 2006 album, Personality – One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird . [19] In September 2010, she performed a duet with Australian singer and songwriter Steve Smyth live on stage at The Days of Decadence in Shoreditch, London [20] and also contributed backing vocals on the track "Stay Young" on his 2011 debut album entitled Release. Juanita performed backing vocals on "Up With the Birds", which features on Coldplay's fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto . She also sang backing vocals on the track "Angel Tears" on Barrie-James O'Neill's 2016 album Cold Coffee.[ citation needed ]

In August 2013 Stein debuted with a new London band named Albert Albert, formed by former Kaiser Chiefs drummer Nick Hodgson. [21]

In January 2015 Stein played with Brandon Flowers of The Killers at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [22]

In April 2015 Stein opened the Salesforce keynote session in Chicago at the Salesforce World Tour at McCormick Place.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanilla Fudge</span> American rock band

Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On".

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

Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. They were active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1995.

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

Blondie is an American rock band founded 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">Chrissie Hynde</span> American musician (born 1951)

Christine Ellen Hynde is an American-British musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band The Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alongside drummer Martin Chambers. She is the only continuous member of the band, appearing on every studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds</span> Australian post punk/alternative rock band

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band formed in 1983 by vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throughout its career and presently consists of Cave, violinist and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, bassist Martyn P. Casey, guitarist George Vjestica, keyboardist/percussionist Larry Mullins, also known as Toby Dammit, and drummers Thomas Wydler (Switzerland) and Jim Sclavunos. Described as "one of the most original and celebrated bands of the post-punk and alternative rock eras in the '80s and onward", they have released seventeen studio albums and completed numerous international tours.

Green Apple Quick Step, often abbreviated as GAQS, is an American rock band from Seattle. Their sound was described as hard-edged, post-grunge rock. The band began as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys in Tacoma, Washington before becoming Green Apple Quick Step, in Seattle, by 1992. The initial lineup under the new name consisted of lead vocalist Tyler Willman, guitarists Daniel Kempthorne and Steve Ross, singer-bassist Mari Ann Braeden, and drummer Bob 'Mink' Martin.

<i>Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose</i> 2002 studio album by Against Me!

Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose is the debut album by the American punk rock band Against Me!, released on March 5, 2002 under No Idea Records. It was the group's first release as a full band with electric guitars, bass guitar, and drums. The album was produced by Rob McGregor, who would also produce the band's second album Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy (2003). The album's title references Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose, illustrated on the cover.

Spacehog are an alternative rock band formed in 1994 in New York City by four Englishmen who were living in the city. Their music is heavily influenced by David Bowie, Queen, and T. Rex. The band's best-known single is "In the Meantime".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria McKee</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1964)

Maria Luisa McKee is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice, her 1990 song "Show Me Heaven", and her song "If Love Is a Red Dress " from the film Pulp Fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearl Aday</span> American singer

Pearl Aday is an American singer. She is the adopted daughter of vocalist Michael Lee Aday, better known as Meat Loaf, and was a member of his touring band Neverland Express for nine years starting in the mid-1990s. She has appeared on numerous albums and in various tours and television performances with her father, both as backing singer and in duets. She has also been a backing singer for Mötley Crüe. She is currently the lead singer of her own band "Pearl" and has released her debut album on Megaforce/RED/Sony Music on January 19, 2010. Aday also co-organized the hard rock group Motor Sister with her husband Scott Ian, singing backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howling Bells</span> Australian indie rock band

Howling Bells are an Australian indie rock band that formed in London in 2004. The band obtained moderate popularity in the United Kingdom following the release of its 2006 self-titled debut album. The lineup consists of Juanita Stein, Glenn Moule (drums), Juanita's brother Joel Stein, and Gary Daines.

<i>Howling Bells</i> (album) Album of Australian indie rock band Howling Bells

Howling Bells is the self-titled debut album of London-based Australian indie rock band Howling Bells. The album was released through Bella Union in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2006. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Ken Nelson and was recorded at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool, in early 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Cross</span> Rock band

Alberta Cross are an Anglo-Swedish rock band, formed in 2005 in London, England by singer-guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee and bassist Terry Wolfers.

Waikiki were a rock group from Sydney, Australia, consisting of sister and brother Juanita Stein (bass/vocals) and Joel Stein (guitar/vocals), and Glenn Moule (drums) and Jimmy Brandon (guitar). A new bass player Brendan Picchio joined the band in early 2003, replacing Brandon, with Juanita Stein moving from bass to rhythm guitar. In August 2003, Joel Stein explained the impact Picchio had made on the group. He told Radio Adelaide's Hermione Gilchrist that the new bassist was "the missing piece to the puzzle", adding, "he's what we've been looking for since we started."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chickenfoot</span> American rock supergroup

Chickenfoot is an American hard rock supergroup formed in 2008. The group consists of vocalist Sammy Hagar, bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Chad Smith. Due to Smith's consistent recording and touring commitments with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kenny Aronoff joined the group in 2011 as a touring replacement drummer. While the band has not formally announced a breakup, in June 2016 Smith said that he had doubts about its survival due to their busy schedules.

<i>Radio Wars</i> 2009 studio album by Howling Bells

Radio Wars is the second studio album by London-based Australian indie rock band Howling Bells. It was released through Independiente in the United Kingdom on 2 March 2009 to mixed reviews. Recorded at four different studios, it was produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat except one track by Howling Bells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howling Bells discography</span>

The discography of Howling Bells, a London-based Australian indie rock band, consists of four studio albums, three extended plays, twelve singles, and thirteen music videos. Formed in Sydney in 2004, the group consists of Juanita Stein, Glenn Moule (drums), Juanita's brother Joel Stein, and Gary Daines. Original Howling Bells bass guitarist, Brendan Picchio, left the band in December 2011.

Tyler Willman, also known as Ty Willman, is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who lives in Seattle, Washington. He is probably best known for his work with the Seattle-based band Green Apple Quick Step. He briefly fronted the band Devilhead and helped form Calm Down Juanita.

<i>The Loudest Engine</i> 2011 studio album by Howling Bells

The Loudest Engine is the third studio album of London-based Australian indie rock band Howling Bells. The album was released through Cooking Vinyl on 9 September 2011 to mostly positive reviews. It was produced by Mark Stoermer and recorded at Battle Born Studios, in Las Vegas from September to October 2010.

<i>Heartstrings</i> (Howling Bells album) 2014 studio album by Howling Bells

Heartstrings is the fourth studio album of London-based Australian indie rock band Howling Bells. The album was released through Birthday Records on 2 June 2014 to generally favourable reviews. It was co-produced by Catherine J. Marks and Alan Moulder, and recorded at Assault & Battery 2, London, in November 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Juanita Stein comment about her life in music". The Independent. London. 22 September 2006. Archived from the original on 13 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "Joel Stein comment". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Early music influences".
  4. ↑ "Juanita Stein comment about her adolescence". The Independent. London. 22 September 2006. Archived from the original on 13 April 2011.
  5. ↑ "Choice of name Waikiki".
  6. ↑ "Formation of first band".
  7. ↑ "Waikiki advertise for a drummer". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Band name change and relocation". The Age. Melbourne. 3 April 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "TripleJ interview". Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
  10. ↑ "Comparison of Sydney and London". Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Juanita Stein comment about Australia". Archived from the original on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "abc.net.au interview". Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
  13. ↑ "Triple J interview September 2011". Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
  14. ↑ "Music and film inspirations".
  15. ↑ "The 25 Sexiest Women In Rock!". Gigwise. Giant Digital. (17 March 2009). Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Annan, Nick (31 December 2009). "2009 Top Woman, Pt. 4 – Lily Allen/Juanita Stein". Clash . John O'Rourke. Archived from the original on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  17. ↑ "Givegoods". Music Australia. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  18. ↑ "ends in a –y". Poison to the Mind. Automattic. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  19. ↑ James &, Sandra (30 December 2006). "Voters' Choice Poll: Australian Album of 2006". March on Electric Children. Google Inc. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  20. ↑ Andreucci, Shannon (9 September 2010). "Review: Steve Smyth @ The Last Days Of Decadence, London – 1st September 2010". GigJunkie. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  21. ↑ "Albert Albert".
  22. ↑ "An extremely short ten second clip of Brandon Flowers and Juanita Stein performing 'Boom Clap' in Davos has been posted on YouTube" . Retrieved 31 January 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.