| Beth Orton | |
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Beth Orton performs live in Seattle, 2002
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Elizabeth Caroline Orton |
| Born | December 14, 1970 East Dereham, Norfolk, England |
| Origin | Norwich, England |
| Genre(s) | Folk, Electronica |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Acoustic guitar |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Label(s) | Heavenly (1996–2005) EMI-UK (2005–present) Astralwerks (2003-present) |
| Associated acts | The Chemical Brothers, William Orbit |
| Website | BethOrton.Astralwerks.com |
Elizabeth Caroline Orton,[1] commonly known as Beth Orton, (born December 14, 1970), is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dereham, also known historically as East Dereham, is a Town and Civil parish in the English County of Norfolk. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland History Roman The Romans had their regional capital at Venta Icenorum on the river to the south which is near modern-day Caistor St Edmund England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary Electronic music designed for a wide range Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. A steel-string acoustic guitar, is a modern form of Guitar descended from the Classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter louder sound In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Astralwerks is a New York based Record label that releases primarily Electronic music. The Chemical Brothers are an English Grammy Award winning Electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical William Orbit (born on 15 December 1956 as William Mark Wainwright in Shoreditch, Hackney) is an English Musician Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry 's annual pop music awards England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics Known for her "folktronica" sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica, she was initially recognized for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s—but these were not Orton's first recordings. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary Electronic music designed for a wide range William Orbit (born on 15 December 1956 as William Mark Wainwright in Shoreditch, Hackney) is an English Musician The Chemical Brothers are an English Grammy Award winning Electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical She released a solo album, Superpinkymandy, in 1993. SuperPinkyMandy is the debut of British singer Beth Orton. Largely in the style of Electronica, and produced closely with then boyfriend William Since the album was only released in Japan, it went largely unnoticed by international audiences. Her second solo album, Trailer Park, garnered much critical acclaim in 1996. Trailer Park is the solo debut of British singer Beth Orton. Combining folk, Electronica, and Trip-hop elements it earned Orton With the release of the albums Central Reservation (1999) and the 2002 UK top 10 album Daybreaker, Beth developed a devoted fan base. The second proper album of Beth Orton, Central Reservation helped Orton build on the success of her debut Trailer Park. For the song by the Electric Light Orchestra see Ma-Ma-Ma Belle, the single's A-side On her 2006 release, Comfort of Strangers, she has moved towards a more folk-based sound and away from the electronic sound of past albums. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For the Ian McEwan book see The Comfort of Strangers. Comfort of Strangers is English Singer-songwriter
American movies and TV shows such as Felicity, How to Deal, Charmed, Dawson's Creek, and Vanilla Sky have featured her music and provided her with exposure to an American mainstream audience. Felicity is a Golden Globe -winning American Primetime television Drama produced by Touchstone Television How to Deal is a 2003 Film directed by Clare Kilner. It is based on two novels by Sarah Dessen, That Summer Dawson's Creek was an American Primetime Television Drama which initially aired from January 20, 1998 Vanilla Sky is a 2001 American Psychological thriller Film, which has been variously characterized by published film critics as "an odd
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Orton was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, then raised on a pig farm in Norwich, before moving to East London at age fourteen. Dereham, also known historically as East Dereham, is a Town and Civil parish in the English County of Norfolk. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. History Roman The Romans had their regional capital at Venta Icenorum on the river to the south which is near modern-day Caistor St Edmund East London is the name commonly given to the north eastern part of London, England on the north side of the River Thames. Her father, an architectural draftsman, left her mother when Beth was eleven, and she lived with her mother, an artist and political activist, and her two brothers, her father dying shortly afterwards. [2][3] Her mother died from cancer in 1989, when Beth was aged 19,[4], which led to her travelling to Thailand for a short period, residing with Buddhist nuns. Orton found success as a musician relatively late, having first worked at menial jobs such as waitressing at Pizza Hut and even owning her own catering company. [5] She was also more interested in acting during her early career, having enrolled at the Anna Scher Theatre School, and she spent some time touring Une Saison en Enfer with a fringe theatre company throughout the UK, Russia and Ukraine, playing Rimbaud's lover. The Young Actors Theatre is a community theatre school for children and young adults in Islington, London run on a Non-profit sustainable-funding basis [6]
Her first contribution in music came when she met William Orbit at a London nightclub, when he tried to borrow a cigarette from her. William Orbit (born on 15 December 1956 as William Mark Wainwright in Shoreditch, Hackney) is an English Musician They began a relationship shortly after, and before long he invited her to do some spoken word for his current Strange Cargo project, but she drunkenly decided to sing also. Strange Cargo may refer to Strange Cargo (1929 film Strange Cargo (1936 film Strange Cargo (1940 film, starring Possibly the best-known work from that time is "Water from a Vine Leaf", which she co-wrote and which was released as a limited-edition single. It was also at this time that Orbit and Orton covered John Martyn's "Don't Wanna Know 'Bout Evil", which was not only the first song that they recorded together, but also the first release as a duet called Spill in Japan, which was also re-released in 1997 in the UK. John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy on 11 September 1948 in New Malden, Surrey, England) is a British Spill were a dance duo whose members were William Orbit and Beth Orton.
Shortly after, Orton and Orbit began experimenting to pull an L. P. together. "Don't Wanna Know 'Bout Evil" was the first track on that album, called SuperPinkyMandy, named after a rag doll which she bought at a jumble sale at the age of six. SuperPinkyMandy is the debut of British singer Beth Orton. Largely in the style of Electronica, and produced closely with then boyfriend William A Jumble sale or rummage sale is a event at which Second hand goods are sold usually by an Institution such as a local Scout Group [7] This rare album was released in Japan alone, in extremely limited numbers (popularly quoted as between 1000 and 5000 copies pressed). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The sound is very much Orbit's, but several songs were co-written, and some tracks were later recycled, in very different versions). "She Cries Your Name" later appeared on what she now considers her debut album (Trailer Park). "Yesterday's Gone" became "Montok Point" for the fourth Strange Cargo release Hinterland in 1995. Strange Cargo Hinterland is the fifth album by electronic instrumentalist William Orbit. That album featured Beth on several tracks as vocalist, and also included an alternative version of "She Cries Your Name".
It was roughly at this time that she met Ed and Tom of the Chemical Brothers in a pub, and began the first in a series of collaborations, supplying vocals to the track "Alive Alone" on 1995's Exit Planet Dust. The Chemical Brothers are an English Grammy Award winning Electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical Exit Planet Dust is the debut album by British Electronica duo The Chemical Brothers, released in the UK on June 26 1995
Her first solo release, a cover of The Ronettes' "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine" was released, again in extremely limited numbers, in mid 1996, and was followed by "She Cries Your Name", shortly before the release of what she herself considers to be her debut L. The Ronettes were a Girl group of the 1960s from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. P. Trailer Park, released on Heavenly Records on 19th October 1996. Trailer Park is the solo debut of British singer Beth Orton. Combining folk, Electronica, and Trip-hop elements it earned Orton Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London -based Record label, distributed by EMI. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) This release earned her nominations for two BRIT Awards (best British newcomer, best British female), and the Mercury Music Prize in 1997, was well received by critics, and sold modestly well, shifting 300,000 copies and peaking at #68 in the UK. The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry 's annual pop music awards The Mercury Prize, formerly the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Nationwide Mercury Prize for Sponsorship reasons is an annual music prize The album was produced by Andrew Weatherall, whom she selected based on his production of one of her favourite records at the time, Primal Scream's Screamadelica. Andrew Weatherall (born 6 April 1963, Windsor, England) is a DJ, producer, and Remixer. The album was far removed from her previous work, with a lot more pop/folk tunes present, although there were more than a few hints of her electronic roots. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous She began to tour this record, first supporting acts such as The Beautiful South, and appearing with Ron Sexsmith, before breaking out on her own. The Beautiful South were an English Pop group formed at the end of the 1980s by former members of Hull group The Housemartins - Paul Heaton Ronald Eldon Sexsmith (born 8 January 1964) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter from St In June 1997, she had her first UK Top 40 hit single, with a reissue of "She Cries Your Name". The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC on behalf of the British record industry
She toured that summer with Lilith Fair, as well as releasing the Best Bit EP, improving on her previous best chart position, reaching #38 in the UK. Lilith Fair was a Concert tour and traveling Music festival, founded by musician Sarah McLachlan, that consisted solely of female solo artists and female-led Best Bit was released by Beth Orton, prior to her 1999 release Central Reservation. Central Reservation, her second album (proper), helped Orton build on the success of her debut. The second proper album of Beth Orton, Central Reservation helped Orton build on the success of her debut Trailer Park. An album or record album is a collection of related audio or Music tracks distributed to the public Although retaining the electronic edge of the former, this record showed a notably more acoustic side with several tracks consisting purely of Beth's vocal accompanied by a solitary acoustic guitar, with subject matters becoming more introspective, including "Pass in Time", a song about the death of her mother. A steel-string acoustic guitar, is a modern form of Guitar descended from the Classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter louder sound Despite this style, the album still provided more polished moments such as lead single "Stolen Car" and the electro melancholy of "Stars All Seem to Weep", or the jazz-and-strings-tinged "Sweetest Decline", songs which cut a much deeper mark than the more glossy feel of her debut. The album also featured notable contributions from folk musician Terry Callier, Dr. Robert and Ben Harper. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Terry Callier (born 24 May 1945) is an American Jazz, soul and folk Guitarist singer-songwriter from Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American Musician. Two tracks were also produced by Ben Watt of Everything But The Girl. Ben Watt (born 6 December 1962, Barnes, London) is a UK Musician, DJ, and Record producer, best known Everything but the Girl ( EBTG) are a two-person English band formed in Hull in 1982, consisting of lead singer and sometime- Guitarist
The album earned Orton a second Mercury Music Prize nomination and the Best Female Artist award at the 2000 BRIT Awards. The Mercury Prize, formerly the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Nationwide Mercury Prize for Sponsorship reasons is an annual music prize The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry 's annual pop music awards
In July 2002 she released the album Daybreaker, which again blended the early electronica style, with up tempo pop songs and acoustic ballads. For the song by the Electric Light Orchestra see Ma-Ma-Ma Belle, the single's A-side Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure It featured guest appearances from musicians such as The Chemical Brothers, Emmylou Harris, whom she met at Lilith Fair, Ryan Adams and Four Tet. The Chemical Brothers are an English Grammy Award winning Electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical Emmylou Harris (born April 2 1947) is an American country, folk, alternative rock, and Alternative country David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American alt-country / rock Singer-songwriter from Jacksonville Kieran Hebden (born 1980 in Putney, London, England, United Kingdom) is a Post-rock and electronic musician It was a great commercial success, reaching the top 8 of the UK album chart, but received largely positive from the press, ranging from "Her best work yet" from Mojo magazine,[8] the NME (8/10),[9]Rolling Stone[10] and The Guardian, but receiving a more lukewarm reception from Q[11] (Despite this she was nominated for the Q award for best album). The UK Albums Chart is a list of Albums ranked by sales in the United Kingdom. Mojo is a popular Music Magazine published by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a Popular music Magazine in the United Kingdom which has been Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. Q is a Music Magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom, with a circulation of 130179 as of June 2007 This was followed in 2003 by an U. S. only release on American label Astralwerks, The Other Side of Daybreak, an album consisting mainly of b-sides and remixes of songs from Daybreaker, created by artists such as Roots Manuva. The Other Side of Daybreak is an compilation released in 2003 by Beth Orton. She also contributed a song to the War Child charity, for their Hope compilation album that year. For other uses see War Child (disambiguation War Child is a non-governmental organization founded by British filmmakers Bill Leeson
A "best of" double album, entitled Pass In Time, was released in 2003. It represented Orton's extensive and diverse musical career through previously unreleased songs, b-sides, and rarities (such as "Where Do You Go" from Superpinkymandy), as well as collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers. William Orbit (born on 15 December 1956 as William Mark Wainwright in Shoreditch, Hackney) is an English Musician The Chemical Brothers are an English Grammy Award winning Electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical The highlight of her career arguably came on 31 March 2003, when she played to a packed Royal Albert Hall in London on the last date of her worldwide Daybreaker tour. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known In addition, she played a tribute concert to Elliott Smith in November. Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith (August 6 1969 – October 21 2003 was an American Singer-songwriter and Musician.
Orton's fourth studio album Comfort of Strangers was released in February 2006. For the Ian McEwan book see The Comfort of Strangers. Comfort of Strangers is English Singer-songwriter The North American release was through Astralwerks, and the UK release was through EMI-UK. Astralwerks is a New York based Record label that releases primarily Electronic music. The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in The release saw her move away from the electronica element that she is usually associated with, to a more stripped down traditional alt-folk album. This album followed an extended absence since her previous release, partially a result of several failed production attempts, and the parting of ways between her and Heavenly. Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London -based Record label, distributed by EMI. [12] The album was produced by the musician Jim O'Rourke. Jim O'Rourke (born January 18, 1969) is an American musician and producer
Her consistent band since 1999's Central Reservation has been guitarist Ted Barnes, keyboardist Sean Read, ex-Sandals drummer Will Blanchard and former Red Snapper member Ali Friend on bass. Ted Brett Barnes is a guitarist best known for his work with Beth Orton. Red Snapper are a British instrumental band founded in London in 1993 by Ali Friend ( bass) Richard Thair ( Drums, and David Alastair Bruce Friend (known as Ali Friend) is a British Musician, Composer and Record producer. However, this has changed, as Ali and Ted have moved on to form their own band Clayhill, and in addition Ted has pursued his own projects, with Beth guesting on his solo debut album, Short Scenes. Clayhill are a British 3-piece folk band comprising long-time Beth Orton collaborators Ali Friend and Ted Barnes, and vocalist Gavin Only Sean remains in her current live band, although Clayhill have played as the support act on both her UK and US tours to promote Comfort of Strangers. Clayhill are a British 3-piece folk band comprising long-time Beth Orton collaborators Ali Friend and Ted Barnes, and vocalist Gavin Her current band consists of Leroy Bach, drummer Matt Johnson and upcoming guitarist Emmett Kelly. LeRoy Bach was involved in the recording of Wilco 's 1999 album Summerteeth, and was named an official member of the group before the release of 2002's Yankee
Annie Lennox joined forces with Beth Orton and 22 other female artists to raise awareness of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to unborn children in Africa. Annie Lennox (born 25 December 1954 is a Scottish born British Musician, Vocalist and Academy Award -winning Songwriter Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome The single "Sing" was first released on World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007, in conjunction with Annie Lennox's appearance at the Nelson Mandela 46664 concert in South Africa. " Sing " is a song by Annie Lennox, released as the second single from her fourth solo studio album Songs of Mass Destruction (2007 World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (xolíɬaɬa mandéːla born 18 July 1918 is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa [1] [2]
Beth is currently in pre production of her follow up album to "Comfort Of Strangers", the album is expected to be released in the Winter of 2008.
Orton has been romantically linked with a number of high profile musicians, including William Orbit and Ryan Adams. William Orbit (born on 15 December 1956 as William Mark Wainwright in Shoreditch, Hackney) is an English Musician David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American alt-country / rock Singer-songwriter from Jacksonville [13] Adams' songs "English Girls Approximately", "You Will Always Be The Same" & "Friends/For Beth" were written about her.
Orton gave birth to a daughter in mid-December 2006. [14]. She cancelled her September 2006 UK tour because of her pregnancy. [15]
She is a well known opponent of the War on Terror, and played at the One Big No concert in March 2003 at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, organised by Emily Eavis. Emily Eavis (born 1979 is the youngest daughter of Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis, and his second wife Jean. [16]
In the Telegraph interview she revealed that in the past she had shunned several opportunities to raise her public profile, on ethical grounds. Such opportunities included becoming the face of Calvin Klein, representing the Gap (which, according to some sources, use sweatshops to manufacture their clothes), and promoting the sales of her records at Starbucks coffee outlets. Starbucks Corporation ( is an international Coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle Washington. While she is a supporter of Fairtrade, she has subsequently relented on this last stance. Fairtrade (one word redirects here For the more general article on the fair trade movement see Fair trade (two words
All of her recent releases are "carbon neutral", whereby a tree is planted in a poor area of Mexico for every certain amount of units produced to offset the emissions generated when pressing the CDs, and other marketing paraphernalia. Being carbon neutral, or carbon neutrality, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered [17]
She has also been offered the opportunity to return to her first love, acting. Having played the lead female in the independent film Southlander, she was offered to audition for the role of John Cusack's girlfriend in the film High Fidelity, but didn't accept the invitation (the part went to Iben Hjejle). Southlander ( 2001 in film) is an American Independent film by Steve Hanft and Ross Harris. High Fidelity is a 2000 film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack. Iben Hjejle (born March 22, 1971 in Copenhagen) is a Danish actress notable for starring in High Fidelity (2000 Beth also wrote music for the Erin Brockovich soundtrack. Erin Brockovich is a 2000 Drama film which dramatizes the story of Erin Brockovich 's first fight against the American West Coast She does state that she would act, if an appropriate part came up for her.
Orton is a well-known sufferer from Crohn's Disease. Crohn's disease is a Disease of the Digestive system which may affect any part of the Gastrointestinal tract from Mouth to Anus [18]
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