Louise Distras

Louise Distras is an alternative rock singer-songwriter from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. She has received media attention from BBC Radio 1, Radio X, Rodney on the ROQ, Kerrang,[1] Louder Than War,[2][3] The Independent and The Guardian.[4][5]

Career

Louise Distras released her first download single 'The Hand You Hold' on International Women's Day 2012, picking up media attention from BBC Radio 1, Rodney on the ROQ, The Independent and The Guardian after being vocal in the campaign to release Pussy Riot.

In 2013, Distras played the Leftfield stage at Glastonbury Festival under the invitation of Billy Bragg, and self released her debut full-length album 'Dreams from the Factory Floor' to critical acclaim. Produced by Steve Whale of The Business and featuring Mick Talbot of Style Council the album balances propulsive, old-school punk anthems and assertive, socially-aware folk-punk. Music journalist John Robb called her "the most important protest singer we have" in an article on the Louder Than War website. Immediately after the release, she embarked on a Canadian and European tour. On the anniversary of Joe Strummer's birthday, she returned to the UK to perform alongside Mick Jones (The Clash) and Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) at London's Coronet Theatre to raise funds for the London Fire Brigade in Joe Strummer's memory

In 2015, 'Dreams from the Factory Floor' was officially released worldwide via the American independent label Pirates Press Records. She auctioned the test pressings on eBay and donated the funds to California non profit human rights organisation Justice Now. In the summer of 2015, she then embarked on a UK, EU and USA tour and support the Buzzcocks and The Damned on their UK tours.

Following the release of her debut LP, Distras released hard-hitting new single 'Aileen' as an appetite-whetter for her forthcoming sophomore album. Driven by Distras’s hooky guitar melody and heated, hoarse-throated howl, 'Aileen' blends a 60s British Invasion girl-group sound with more contemporary, crunchy Power pop. The track received airplay on BBC Radio 1 Radio X and KROQ. The track also featured on the Hugs for Chelsea online benefit album for whistleblower Chelsea Manning. The compilation premiered on Rolling Stone, it also included tracks from Tom Morello, Thurston Moore and Against Me.

In 2017 Distras performed at Glastonbury Festival and announced that she had started recording on her sophomore album with plans to release new music in 2018.

Artistry

Influences

Distras' biggest musical influences include grunge band Nirvana, citing their 1989 debut record Bleach as her favourite album.

Controversy

Regarding her perceived status as a protest singer, Distras stated "My songs are just a reflection of the things I see, hear and feel, but for some reason the music industry gatekeepers have tried to call me a protest singer. It's a label that I don’t understand because I’m just passing on my human experience. You have to wonder why someone saying what they think is considered a protest nowadays."

Discography

Albums

  • Dreams from the Factory Floor, Street Revolution Records, CD/DD, 2013
  • Dreams from the Factory Floor, Pirates Press Records, LP, 2015

Singles/EPs

  • The Hand You Hold, DD, 2012
  • Shades of Hate, DD, 2012
  • Stand Strong Together, DD, 2013
  • Love Me the Way I Am/Bullets, 7", DD, 2014
  • Bullets, DD, 2015
  • Aileen, CD, DD, 2016
  • Outside of You, CD, DD, 2017

Compilation Appearances

  • "Aileen" on Hugs for Chelsea, DD, 2016

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kerrang.com/the-news/louise-distras-premieres-new-single-aileen
  2. ↑ "Louise Distras comments on the Pussy Riot verdict..." 18 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Louise Distras 'Songs From The Factory Floor' : album review - Louder Than War". 29 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Snapes, Laura (21 August 2012). "Have Pussy Riot sparked a new wave of grrl power?".
  5. ↑ Bragg, Billy (13 June 2013). "Glastonbury festival still has political fire in its belly - Billy Bragg".

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] http://teamrock.com/feature/2017-05-11/louise-distras-punk-rock-saved-my-life https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-thurston-moore-contribute-to-chelsea-manning-comp-w482462 https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7800099/chelsea-manning-benefit-album-screaming-females-ted-leo https://pitchfork.com/news/73565-thurston-moore-tom-morello-against-me-priests-more-featured-on-new-chelsea-manning-benefit-compilation-listen

  1. ↑ "VIDEO: Louise Distras – Shades of Hate". 7 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Digital, Pretty Good. "Glastonbury Festival - Left Field – mixing pop and politics".
  3. ↑ "Firefighter Benefit 2013 - in memory of Joe Strummer - Fire Brigades Union".
  4. ↑ skinbackalley (10 July 2014). "Louise Distras announces Shepherd's Bush Empire show".
  5. ↑ "Louise Distras Joins Forces with Pirates Press Records for US Album Release".
  6. ↑ E, Gaz. "LOUISE DISTRAS partners with human rights organization, Justice Now".
  7. ↑ "The Red Paintings / Yuma Sun / Louise Distras – The Attic, Glasgow 24th April 2016". 1 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Ashestoangels / The Red Paintings / Louise Distras / In Dante's Eclipse – Rainbow Courtyard, Birmingham 28/04/2016 - MaximumVolumeMusic". 2 May 2016.
  9. ↑ "5 acts to catch at Punk Rock Bowling Las Vegas 2016".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.