Lou Rhodes
is an English singer and songwriter from Manchester, now living in Wiltshire. In addition to providing vocals and lyrics for the band Lamb, Rhodes has released two solo albums: Beloved One
and Bloom
. Rhodes has collaborated with 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, Funkstorung, Pale 3, Sugizo, Plump DJs, Sheila Chandra, Eliza Carthy, AON, and The Cinematic Orchestra on Ma Fleur
and the soundtrack to Les Ailes Pourpres.
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LOU RHODES TICKETS
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Solo career
Rhodes started her own
record label, Infinite Bloom, at the beginning of 2006, to issue her debut solo album
Beloved One
which was shortlisted for the
Nationwide Mercury Music Prize the same year. This album explores the folk side of Rhodes's music, which was previously undisplayed while performing in
Lamb, although songs such as "Fortress" are reminiscent of her times playing in Lamb.
In May
2007, Rhodes had to cancel her UK tour after the sudden death of her sister. Rhodes performed at
Glastonbury Festival in
2005 and in
2007 on the new stage at "The Park", which had been organized by
Emily Eavis.
Rhodes' second album
Bloom
was released through A&G Records/Infinite Bloom on
September 1,
2007. It was given three (out of five) stars by
Q
magazine. On 24 September 2007 she released the first single from
Bloom
, called "
The Rain". In October 2007 Lou Rhodes began a tour to promote the album.
Rhodes issued a new blog on her myspace page in July about her upcoming third solo album. Although Lamb reunited for a tour in 2009, she has found time to record the album which is due for release later this year. The new album is entitled "One Good Thing".
Musical style
Although
Lamb are famous for blending
trip hop with
jazz and elements of
drum and bass, Rhodes's solo work is more organic and rooted in
folk music. Besides, Rhodes expressed a doubt that she will ever return to electronica.
[1] She combines finely tuned acoustic guitars—the essence of almost every arrangement—with
violin,
double bass, and rich
percussion. Lyrically, her songs can be described as extremely romantic, soulful and very personal,
[2] this is how Rhodes explains the last album's lyrics:
[3]
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| Sometimes I think, "My God, I keep writing all these love songs," and I really struggle with that. I think I'm a bit of an emotional junkie, you know? It seems to be what consumes me. The heart never ceases to provide me with subject matter. I don't know why that is. Someone asked me the other day, "Are you in love with being in love?" And I couldn't really answer that question.
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Personal life
Lou Rhodes has two sons, Reuben and Solomon. She lives in countryside
Wiltshire,
England.
[4]
Discography
Albums
- 2006 Beloved One
- 2007 Bloom
(A&G Records)
- 2009 One Good Thing
Singles
- 2006 Tremble
- 2007 The Rain
(A&G Records)