Britta Phillips
Britta Phillips | |
|---|---|
 Phillips performing in New York City in June 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Dream pop, indie rock, folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, actor, voice actor |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Britta Phillips (born June 11, 1963, Boyne City, Michigan) is an American musician, songwriter, actress and voice actor. She is best known as the singing voice of the title character of Jem and as one half of the duo Dean and Britta, with her husband Dean Wareham. Her acting credits include the 1988 film Satisfaction.
Early life
Phillips was born in Boyne City, Michigan to a musical family, but grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[1] Her father, Peter Phillips is a musician, songwriter, jingle composer and former music teacher of Paul Simon.[2] He has also worked on several Broadway plays. At the age of 19, Phillips moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue a career in music. In 1985, through his musical contacts, Phillips father secured an audition for her for the role of "Jem". Phillips was hired on the strength of her demo for the show's theme song, and that version was the one used in the opening credits.[3]
Music career
Phillips was a member of the bands The Belltower and Ultrababyfat in the 1990s and Luna from 2001 to 2005. Since then, Phillips has released albums with fellow Luna bandmate (and husband) Dean Wareham. Wareham, a former member of the band Galaxie 500, toured with Phillips in 2010 performing the band's back catalog.[4][5] Phillips has also toured with Ben Lee.[6] Phillips and Wareham have also written score pieces for the Noah Baumbach film The Squid and the Whale and the Morgan J. Freeman film Just Like the Son. Their song "Knives From Bavaria" (Sonic Souvenirs) appears in the Olivier Assayas film, Clean, (starring Maggie Cheung). Their song "Your baby" appears in the Italian movie "A/R Andata e Ritorno" directed by Marco Ponti. In 2001, Phillips provided vocals on the Anika Moa album Thinking Room.[7] In 2007, Britta produced and recorded a cover of Neil Young's "I Am A Child" for the benefit CD Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young For Charity. In 2010, Phillips performed vocals on the MGMT single "It's Working" from their album Congratulations.[8]
Acting career
Britta's first acting job was as the singing voice of the lead character in the animated series Jem, alongside actress and singer Samantha Newark, who provided Jem's speaking voice.[9] The series ran from 1985 to 1988. During this time, she featured role in a 1986 episode of the cult TV show Crime Story, in which she played a former homecoming queen turned high-class escort in Las Vegas.
In 1988 she co-starred in the teen rock band movie Satisfaction, starring Justine Bateman, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Debbie Harry and Scott Coffey. Phillips performed several songs during the movie and is featured on the soundtrack album. Also in 1988, she had a starring role as a nurse in the pilot episode of the short-lived TV series Nightingales.[10][11] From 2005 to 2008, she voiced various characters for the Adult Swim series Moral Orel, most notably as Bloberta Puppington. In 2006, she featured as herself in the Luna band documentary Tell Me Do You Miss Me. Since 2010, Phillips has voiced various characters in Mary Shelley's Frankenhole, most noticeably Elizabeth Frankenstein. Both Moral Orel and Mary Shelley's Frankenhole were created by Dino Stamatopoulos.
References
- ^ Name * (2009-02-17). "From the Vault: Britta Phillips interview « NewBeats". Newbeats.com. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Simon & Garfunkel Central Park Tribute - dedication to Peter Phillips
- ^ "Drew Ullrich Interviews Britta Phillips | Smalldoggies Interviews: Britta Phillips". Smalldoggies Magazine. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Britta Phillips of Belltower interview
- ^ Dean & Britta tour schedule
- ^ Drew Ullrich interviews Britta Phillips
- ^ Thinking Room personnel
- ^ MGMT official website "Congratulations" personnel
- ^ "Cartoon Character Puts Singer Into Spotlight". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ Britta Phillips Interview and acting career details
- ^ Rock Jem Britta Phillips interview