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Little Boots

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This article is about the musician. For the Roman emperor with this nickname, see Caligula.
Little Boots

Victoria Christina Hesketh (born 4 May 1984),[1] also known by her stage name Little Boots, is an English electropop musician.[3] She auditioned for the ITV Talent competition Pop Idol at the age of sixteen, afterwards going on tour in Europe with a jazz trio and later becoming the lead singer for the dance-pop band Dead Disco before eventually embarking on a solo career.[4]

Taking her stage name from the film Caligula (meaning Little Boots in Latin), from which she was nicknamed by a friend, she has become linked to a wave of recent breakthrough female artists in their 20’s including Lady Gaga, Ladyhawke, Florence and the Machine and La Roux,[5] in particular her win in BBC Sound of Music 2009 poll and a BRIT critics choice award nomination have brought her mainstream media attention.[6][7]

Her debut album, Hands, released on the 8th of June 2009, peaked at #5 in the UK album charts and to date has produced her highest charting single New in Town. As a musician Little Boots sings and plays the keyboard, piano, stylophone and a Japanese electronic instrument, called a Tenori-on. [8]

Biography

Early life

Hesketh was born in Blackpool, Lancashire[9] to English parents, her father a car dealer and her mother an author of children's books. The oldest sibling with three brothers,[1] she was raised in the area of Thornton, between Blackpool and Fleetwood, Lancashire.[10]

From the age of 5 Hesketh had begged her parents for a piano and with her uncle obtaining one from a local pub,[11] she began learning to play, eventually winning a scholarship at a local music school. During this time she was taught how to play the flute and harp as well as given singing lessons and by the age of 13 Hesketh was writing her own songs.[11]

Hesketh attended the fee paying Rossall School in Fleetwood[12] and then the state funded Blackpool Sixth Form College; it was during this time that Hesketh entered the ITV talent competition search Pop Idol aged 16. Reaching the third round, she was eliminated by the producers of the show[13] and did not reach the panel of judges. Looking back, she claims that her elimination helped her career. "It gave me a thicker skin and it made me realise that it wasn't a short cut to getting where I wanted to be.”[14]

After performing with a jazz trio for some time Hesketh decided to prioritise her education and studied Cultural studies at the University of Leeds, attaining a first-class honours degree. It was during her time at the University of Leeds that Hesketh, along with two of her fellow students, formed the all girl band Dead Disco, Hesketh herself eventually becoming the lead singer.[15]

Dead Disco - 2005 to 2008

Dead Disco at the Carling Leeds Festival 2006

While studying at the University of Leeds, Hesketh answered an online advertisement posted by Lucy Catherwood and Marie France looking for a lead singer in order to start a band.[16] Sharing an interest and love of The Killers, Ladytron, Rapture and Siouxsie and The Banshees, they formed the Electro/Indie Pop band Dead Disco in August 2005,[17]. The band got their name through randomly picking words from a hat.[18]. With Dead Disco Hesketh sang lead vocals and played synth, with Catherwood on guitar, and France providing bass and backing vocals.

With only a few songs written, Dead Disco began playing gigs around the north of England; their live gig in the headline slot at the “In The City” event in Manchester gained them enough recognition to get a recording stint with James Ford. Working with Ford in his London attic studio, the band issued a limited release of their debut single “The Treatment” in April 2006 on the record label High Voltage.[16] Their second release “City Place” was a digital only release through Playlouder Records.

With the success of several sell out gigs and an appearance at the Carling Leeds Festival, the band moved to LA to begin recording their debut album with Greg Kurstin. However, it was around this time that Hesketh herself began to write songs not in keeping with the band’s “indie” style. Choosing a new musical direction, Hesketh left Dead Disco; they officially revealed their disbandment on their Myspace blog in December 2008.[19] In an interview with The Times online, Hesketh spoke about her gradual shift away from the band - “All the time I'd been hiding my own songs and finally I had to make the sort of music I actually wanted to listen to…..Before I used to always think, ‘What would a jazz performer do?' or ‘What would the band do?' - Now it's so easy because it's ‘What would I do?' It's just me.”[20]

Hands

With her departure from Dead Disco in August 2007, Hesketh decided to begin a new solo career in pop. Returning to her parent’s house Hesketh began to record various covers of pop songs by artists as diverse as Girls Aloud, Wham and Miley Cyrus and posted them on social networking websites Youtube and Myspace.[21]

Within a year she had narrowed down a list of her songs to create an album and by getting in touch with Greg Kurstin,[22] with whom she had previously worked with while at Dead Disco, Hesketh started production on Hands.

In early 2008 now using the stage name Little Boots she began recording her debut album in LA with Greg Kurstin and Joe Goddard,[23][24] and by January 2009 she had begun to compile the album’s track listings. During this period Hesketh topped the BBC Sound of Music 2009 poll ahead of the likes of Whites Lies, Florence and the Machine and Empire of the Sun, leading to surge of media attention regarding her then yet to be released album.[25]

The album Hands was released on the 8th of June 2009, a limited edition 12-inch vinyl of the album was also released on the 10th June, which was limited to 1000 copies. Hands peaked at #5 on the UK album charts and has produced the top 20 hit New In Town.

Critical response to the album is generally favourable, generating a score of 70 on Metacritic.[26] In a review for MusicOMH.com, Michael Cragg called it "a well-crafted, glorious pop record."[27] ClashMusic.com reviewer Joe Zadeh disagreed, writing that the album "falls victim to attempts to reach beyond more boundaries than necessary, and thus ironically loses the concentration of the more earnest listener."[28] David Renshaw of Gigwise.com described Hands as "a big pop album" that "rival[s] Lady Gaga, Girls Aloud or Lily Allen."[29] Ben Thompson of The Guardian wrote that the album's production was "diverse" and called the song "Symmetry", a duet with Philip Oakey, a "joyous cross-generational head-to-head."[30] NME reviewer Emily Mackay wrote that "Little Boots gives us an inspiring story of self-realization" and called the album "brilliant."[31] Pete Paphides of The Times named "Stuck on Repeat" the album's "best moment" due to its "exquisite vulnerability."[32] Hesketh was also nominated for BRIT critics choice in 2009.[7] Little Boots was on Esquire Magazine's list of 60 "Brilliant Brits 2009."[33]

Illuminations

On 9 June, 2009 Little Boots released the EP entitled Illuminations in the United States and Canada. It includes "Stuck on Repeat", New in Town, "Magical", "Love Kills" (a cover of Freddie Mercury's) and "Not Now" (which is only available on the US edition). [34][35]. The EP is designed to help relaunch Elektra Records. Little Boots will attempt to break through in America in 2010, when Hands is nationally released. [36]

Touring and performances

To promote the album, Little Boots did several performances worldwide. Her first televised appearance was on Later... with Jools Holland on 7 November 2008. She was invited to perform on the show after posting songs on the social networking website MySpace.[37] On 4 March 2009, Little Boots appeared on late night television show Last Call with Carson Daly in the United States. She was interviewed by Daly and several clips from a Los Angeles nightclub performance were shown.[38] Little Boots performed "Stuck on Repeat" using the tenori-on on the 11 May 2009 edition of BBC Breakfast.[39] Little Boots returned to Later... with Jools Holland on 15 May 2009, becoming the only artist to perform on the show twice prior to having an album released.[37] This was followed by an appearance on the BBC Radio 4 programme Woman's Hour on 27 May 2009.[40] Also in 2009, the song "Meddle" was featured in an advertisement for Victoria's Secret.[41] On 5 June 2009, she appeared on Bebo music show Beat, performing New In Town live in the studio.[42] On 3 July 2009 she closed out Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.[43]

Little Boots is on tour that will see her play a scheduled 33 festivals in 2009. Hesketh in a column for The Times wrote that she is playing "some extended rave edits of some of the songs, with some ridiculous, epic breakdowns". She is basing her live set on David Bowie's Glass Spider Tour and Kate Bush's The Tour of Life.[44].

On the 11th of July 2009, Little Boots performed at the Oxegen 2009 Music Festival. This was Little Boots first performance in Ireland. She performed on the Hot Press New Bands Stage[45]

On 19 July 2009 , Little Boots Performed At T4 on the beach On The 4Music Stage

In September 2009 Little Boots is scheduled to embark on a 5-city North American tour to support Illuminations.[35]

Other pursuits

Little Boots' music will be used in the soundtrack for the upcoming American horror film Jennifer's Body.[46] Hesketh confirmed she will be working with Joe Goddard of Hot Chip on a song to be used in an unnamed film.[47]

Discography

Main article: Little Boots discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Aidan (2009-02-15 26 years old). "Little boots in a big bad world". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 2009-02-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Little Boots". MTV. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  3. ^ "BBC Sound of 2009: Little Boots". BBC News. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  4. ^ "Info on Little Boots - MTV". Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  5. ^ Day, Elizabeth (2009-04-19). "Pop's new wave: quirky, stylish girls fashioned from the 80s". The Observer. Retrieved 2009-04-20. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Little Boots tops music tips list". BBC News. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  7. ^ a b "Critics' Choice". The Brits. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  8. ^ "Little Boots: the Tenori-On, the video and the interview". The Guardian. 2009-01-11. Retrieved 2009-04-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Dutton, Caroline (2009) "Interview: Little Boots", This is Lancashire, 3 July 2009
  10. ^ http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Fylde-singing-star-tipped-as.4853890.jp
  11. ^ a b "Interview with Little Boots – The Times". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  12. ^ http://www.isc.co.uk/school_RossallSchool_Fleetwood.htm
  13. ^ Alexis, Petridis (2009-01-10). "'I've done so much embarrassing stuff it's untrue'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Interview with Little Boots – The Herald". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  15. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Little Boots - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  16. ^ a b "Dead Disco – About Us". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  17. ^ "Dead Disco – Biography". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  18. ^ "Dead Disco – Interview with Leeds Music Scene". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  19. ^ "Dead Disco Disbands". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  20. ^ "Dead Disco - Interview". Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  21. ^ "Little Boots Youtube Page - Covers". Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  22. ^ "Victoria Hesketh Interview with accessallareas.net". Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  23. ^ Jones, Damian. "Little Boots lives out her dreams". BBC. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  24. ^ Balls, Dave. "Interview: Little Boots". Digital Spy. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  25. ^ "Little Boots Tops BBC Sound of Music Poll 2009". Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  26. ^ "Metacritic Rating For Hands= 2009-06-17".
  27. ^ Cragg, Michael. "Albums Reviews: Little Boots - Hands". MusicOMH.com. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  28. ^ Zadeh, Joe. "Little Boots - Hand: Debut Album from Tipped Popster...". ClashMusic.com. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  29. ^ Renshaw, David. "Albums Reviews: Little Boots - 'Hands' (679) Released 08/06/09". Gigwise.com. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  30. ^ Thompson, Ben. "Pop review: Little Boots, Hands". The Guardian. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  31. ^ Mackay, Emily. "Album review: Little Boots - 'Hands'". NME. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  32. ^ Paphides, Pete. "Little Boots: Hands". The Times. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  33. ^ Lily Allen crowned brilliant Brit Western Daily Press 4 June, 2009
  34. ^ Little Boots Deserves Her Dance Party Chicagoist
  35. ^ a b c Little Boots Releases "ILLUMINATIONS" EP Out Today on Elektra Records; British Dance-Pop Sensation Announces North American Tour Dates Kicking Off September 14th in Toronto Marketwire Press Release 9 June, 2009
  36. ^ a b Little Boots 'wants to break America Digital Spy 10 June, 2009
  37. ^ a b Swift, Jacqui (28 May 2009). "'Pop Idol snub made me tough'". The Sun. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  38. ^ "Little Boots Interview". NBC. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  39. ^ Naylor, Tony. "Little Boots and La Roux don't speak for synth pop". The Guardian. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  40. ^ "Music Archive: Little Boots". BBC Radio 4. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  41. ^ McLean, Craig (30 May 2009). "Little Boots was made for stardom". The Times. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  42. ^ "Little Boots - New In Town LIVE! 05 June, 2009".
  43. ^ "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Series 16 Episode 22". BBC. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  44. ^ "Little Boots on her 'tour' of 33 festivals". The Times. 17 May, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ http://www.oxegen.ie/2009/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=58
  46. ^ Little Boots was made for stardom The Times 30 May, 2009
  47. ^ Little Boots to collaborate with Hot Chip NME 13 July, 2009
  48. ^ Ganz, Caryn (2009-03-25). "Breaking: Little Boots". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2009-04-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ "Madonna Plans Another Greatest Hits Plus Beastie Boys, Little Boots and Florence and the Machine". albumvote.co.uk. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  50. ^ Hesketh, Victoria (2009-03-09). "Hi from the sky". Little Boots (Mailing list). Retrieved 2009-03-11. {{cite mailing list}}: Unknown parameter |mailinglist= ignored (|mailing-list= suggested) (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Little Boots.

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