Three Artists
Filed under Entertainment
This idea is shamelessly stolen from Nellie, who has decided to destroy mainstream rap, hip hop and R&B by spreading the word about her own favourite bands. I was taken with this idea and so decided to make my own contribution towards the AMGMC movement. So here are three artists that are currently dominating my playlist: one alternative band, the victoriandustrial artist, and an actress/pop singer.
Guano Apes
Guano Apes (yes, laugh at the name) is a female-fronted alternative quartet from Germany, and are one of the country’s most successful rocks bands. They do, however, sing in English, so there’s no need to worry if you do not understand German. What makes the band so unique, in my eyes, is their lead singer, Sandra Nasic. Her voice is very unique, able to sing soft, innocent and lilting, but easily able to shift to heavy and aggressive within the same song. She is a very good roarer/screamer and I have seen some new listeners actually think they’re listening to a man sing. Their songs cover many ranges, from love, abuse, power… and they even did a very unique version on the campfire classic “Kumbaya”. They are no longer together, but did produce a number of albums.
You can read more about them at their official site or at wikipedia.
Recommended Songs
Break the Line
Pretty In Scarlet
Living In A Lie
Gogan
Kumba Yo!
Emilie Autumn
Where do I begin with Emilie Autumn? She has brightly dyed hair, a unique taste in fashion, makeup that borders on artwork, and she lives in “The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls”. Oh, and she has created a whole new genre of music: Victoriandustrial (also known as Violindustrial). Autumn is a performer through and through, writing her own songs, performing poetry and writing books.
She is a very, very unique artist, incorporating the industrial genre, growling vocals, harpsichords and her trademark violin into the genre that is her own: victoriandustrial. Her lyrics are poignent, witty and biting, and although the main theme is the Victorian era, she sings of love, hate, madness, and of course, The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls. Her voice, especially on everything post-Enchant may take a bit of getting used to but she’s well worth it in the end. I suggest you start off on the “fantasy rock” album Enchant before moving on to Opheliac.
You can read more about Autumn (and her backup band, The Bloody Crumpets) at her official site, at wikipedia or at the comprehensive fansite Battered Rose.
Recommended Songs:
Rapunzel
Chambermaid
Rose Red
Opheliac
Swallow
Gothic Lolita
Marry Me
Dead Is The New Alive
Thank God I’m Pretty
Emmy Rossum
I know what you’re thinking. Emmy Rossum? The girl from The Phantom Of The Opera (and not much else)?! Well, she is currently my guilty pleasure, with her debut album Inside Out one of my top-played albums of the moment. It did not start out that way, but after a few listens it really grew on me (unlike Tarja’s debut, which just makes me turn the damn thing off faster).
Emmy has not gone the traditional actress-to-singer route, with a lot of her songs being rather ambient and gentle, not the overpoppy sound we’ve heard from Lindsay, Hillary etc. In some ways the songs remind me of Imogen Heap, but with less electronic additions.
Also, I just have to say two things: I would never have thought Emmy would be playing Bulma from Dragonball in a movie.
And: when did Emmy get bazongas? I distinctly remember there being, well… not much…
You can learn more about Emmy at her wikipedia entry.
Recommended Songs:
Inside Out
Stay
Falling
High
Rainy Days and Mondays
And that is it for now. I have a number of artists to introduce you guys to, the next group containing a German symphonic metal band, a Swedish pop singer and an American indie rock band. Good luck guessing!
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I may also have to pinch this idea for my own blog. =]
I’ve heard so much about Emilie Autumn, but I’ve never actually heard her music. She looks freakin’ awesome anyway and I’m rather fond of aesthetically pleasing bands and artists, even if their music isn’t the greatest.
I’m going to check out Guano Apes too, because they sound like a softer version of Arch Enemy.
The fansite Battered Rose has a few songs up for download, but they’re mainly demos or practice versions. They do have videos up for download as well, and they are live performances so you can see how she does her thing.
And I think you’d like her lyrics: very clever. Thank God I’m Pretty is fantastic in that respect. Try searching on Youtube - they might have some performances.
I don’t know what Arch Enemy is like so I can’t say if they sound like GA, sorry.
I think you have started something, so hopefully you, I and the others who are picking up on this idea intro everyone to new bands. Might have to make a master list or something.
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Sorry for commenting on an older entry - but I have to point out that I absolutely love the Guano Apes. I agree with everything you’ve said. I will check out the songs you’ve listed there, I haven’t got a massive collection but intend on expanding it.
And for the record the Victorian era was very big on love, hate and madness
Just look at the literature from the time without going any further!