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Trixie Whitley

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Trixie Whitley
Whitley in a performance in 2008
Whitley in a performance in 2008
Background information
Born (1987-06-24) June 24, 1987 (age 37)
Ghent, Belgium
GenresAlternative rock, soul, blues rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums, guitar, keyboards
LabelsStrong Blood Music (BMI)
Websitetrixiewhitley.com

Trixie Whitley (born June 24, 1987) is a Belgian American multi-instrumentalist. As the daughter of singer-songwriter Chris Whitley, she began her musical career playing with her father, and recording on several of his albums.[1] Whitley has released three solo EPs, is a member of Black Dub, and was the vocalist on their self-titled debut album.[2]

Early years

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Born in Ghent, Belgium, Trixie Whitley moved to New York with her mother Hélène Gevaert when she was just a year old, where her father, musician Chris Whitley lived. Even as a toddler, she was immersed in music and the arts, spending time in some of the world's most renowned studios including Electric Lady Studios. Her early years were split between Ghent and New York City. Trixie began playing the drums when she was 10. When she was 11, she toured Europe with several theater companies, and at the age of 14 with the dance company, "Les Ballets C de la B," as an actor, singer, dancer, and musician. During this same period, Trixie also became known as the youngest resident DJ in Europe, embraced by Belgium's Museum of Modern Art and spinning at raves, festivals, and parties in Brussels, Paris, New York, and Amsterdam.[3]

After her time with Les Ballets C de la B and other performing arts collectives in Europe, she quit school to move back to New York City at age 17. Working odd jobs in Brooklyn and Queens, she started to perform her own music in clubs throughout the city.[1]

Music

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In 2005 following the death of her father, she continued to write and record her own material. She recorded her first EP, Strong Blood, in the spring of 2008, produced with Meshell Ndegeocello and Dougie Bowne. That summer, she was invited to present two shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. She continued to collaborate with musicians and producers like Marc Ribot, Robert Plant, Stephen Barber, Marianne Faithfull, Joe Henry, Craig Street, and Malcolm Burn among many others.[4]

In late 2008, producer Daniel Lanois contacted Trixie and invited her to the Berklee College of Music, where he was in residence after being invited by Jeanne Ciampa to perform and teach at Berklee for a week. Culminating in a recording with students. Daniel was supposed to produce a song with Jeanne Ciampa but instead brought Trixie Whitley. Their collaboration on Trixie's song "I'd Rather Go Blind" – with drummer Brian Blade – was filmed and provoked a buzz in music circles. Soon, with the addition of bassist Daryl Johnson, a supergroup – Daniel Lanois' Black Dub – was born.[1]

Public press photo of Whitley before her last album; 9 September 2015

In 2010 and 2011 as she toured the world performing with Black Dub, which included Canadian musician and producer Daniel Lanois, she was offered 2 lead roles for independent feature films which she turned down due to the touring schedule. During the Black Dub recording sessions, she also recorded her second EP, The Engine, featuring her own music and began preparing to record her debut as a leader. In late 2011, she released Live at the Rockwood Music Hall, a 5-song EP of her solo performance recorded at Rockwood in New York City.

In early 2012, she returned to the studio to finish her debut album, Fourth Corner, with producer Thomas Bartlett, engineer Pat Dillett, and string arrangements by Rob Moose.[5] In anticipation of Fourth Corner, the summer of 2012 had Trixie taking the stage at festivals like Bonnaroo,[6] SXSW,[7] and Celebrate Brooklyn.[8]

In November and December 2012, she embarked on her first solo tour of the US, and 2013 was filled with European and US tour dates. Her critically acclaimed debut album Fourth Corner was released in the US on January 29, 2013, in Europe on February 11, 2013, and in the UK on March 5, 2013.[9]

Her third solo album, Lacuna, was announced on January 4, 2019 and released on March 29.[10]

Discography

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As Trixie Whitley

  • Strong Blood EP (2008)
  • The Engine – EP (2009)
  • Live at Rockwood Music Hall – EP (2011)
  • Fourth Corner (2013)
  • Like Ivy (2013)
  • Porta Bohemica (2015)
  • Sway (2016) – Includes outtakes and live tracks
  • Lacuna (2019)
  • Lacuna Re-Imagined (2020)

With Black Dub

With Chris Whitley

With Kid Koala

  • Music to Draw To: Io – Featuring Trixie Whitley (2019)

Awards

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In early 2016, Porta Bohemica was nominated for IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Trixie Whitley follows in dad’s musical footsteps" Archived February 2, 2013, at archive.today, The San Francisco Examiner, January 26, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "An Old Hand Plucking At the Heartstrings", The New York Times, November 18, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  3. ^ "Trixie Whitley", The Living Room, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  4. ^ "Trixie Whitley Offers 'A Thousand Thieves' Free Download; Nowness.com video for 'A Thousand Thieves' can be seen here; Recording Full Length Solo Debut with Thomas Bartlett", "Nerdy Frames", April 4, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  5. ^ "Trixie Whitley: Solo Debut, Free Download, Video on JamBase". Jambase.com. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  6. ^ "Bonnaroo: An Afternoon of Smart Female Singers and Songwriters", NY Times, June 9, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013
  7. ^ "Trixie Whitley – SXSW Schedule", "SXSW", 2012. Retrieved January 2013.
  8. ^ "Trixie Whitley: Album Details, Fall Tour, Mixtape, & more on JamBase". Jambase.com. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Trixie Whitley Jan. 31st, 2013 | (le) poisson rouge". Lepoissonrouge.com. January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "TRIXIE WHITLEY announces new album LACUNA and reveals new track TOUCH". January 4, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
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