Isobel Campbell

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Isobel Campbell

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Isobel Campbell
Alias = Belle, Bel
Born = Birth date and age|1976|4|27|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Glasgow, Scotland
Instrument = Vocals, cello
Genre = Indie pop, alternative rock, Twee Pop
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician, vocalist
Years_active = 1996 — present
Label = V2 Records, Jeepster Records
Associated_acts = Belle & Sebastian
Mark Lanegan
The Gentle Waves
URL = [http://www.isobelcampbell.com Official Site]

Isobel Campbell (born on April 27, 1976 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.

Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang backing vocals. She also took lead vocals on a few songs from the band, and co-wrote their top-20 UK single "Legal Man".

Her band The Gentle Waves released its first album on Jeepster Records, titled "The Green Fields of Foreverland", in 1999. The second Gentle Waves record, "Swansong For You" came out one year later. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells on a collection of Billie Holiday songs, released by Creeping Bent.

In 2003, Campbell released "Amorino", her first solo album under her own name, to very good reviews. Bill Wells was featured here again, along with other jazz musicians.

Her next LP, "Ballad of the Broken Seas", a collaborative album with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan, was released in March 2006. For this record she received a Mercury Music Prize nomination. She toured the UK, United States and Canada to promote the album. Her third solo album, Milkwhite Sheets, was released in November 2006 and continued the folk-based approach of "Ballad of the Broken Seas."

A follow-up to "Ballad of the Broken Seas" with Mark Lanegan entitled "Sunday at Devil Dirt" was released in May 2008.

Musical career

Belle & Sebastian

Belle & Sebastian was formed in 1996 by Stuart Murdoch and Stuart David. The band signed to Electric Honey in 1997. "Tigermilk" was their debut and was limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. Upon its release, the band's sophomore album, "If You're Feeling Sinister", is their best-selling album and is often seen as Belle & Sebastian's career high point.

Their follow up was "The Boy with the Arab Strap" which contained the track "Is It Wicked Not To Care?" where for the first time Campbell sang lead vocals. You could also hear lead vocals by Stevie Jackson and Stuart David.

The band's next album was "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant". The album introduced many stylistic changes, such as a larger string section and more of the members singing lead vocals; Sarah Martin sings on "Waiting for the Moon to Rise", Isobel Campbell sings on "Family Tree", and performs a duet with Stevie Jackson on "Beyond the Sunrise".

Most of 2002 was spent on touring and recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling by Todd Solondz), a movie which the New York Times has called one of the best 1,000 movies ever made. Isobel left the band in spring of 2002, in the middle of the band's North American tour, right after the Chicago show.

olo and side projects

In 1999, Campbell released her first solo album, "The Green Fields of Foreverland", on the little known label Jeepster Records. Campbell realesed the album under the pseudonym of The Gentle Waves.

The follow up to "The Green Fields of Foreverland" would become "Swansong for You" released on November 6, 2000. This album would be the last release by Campbell under the pseudonym of The Gentle Waves. Her next album was "Amorino" which would be the third album in a row to not chart. Her next album was "Ballad of the Broken Seas" with former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan and would become Campbell's major breakthrough.

Her fourth studio album was released on October 23, 2006 entitled "Milkwhite Sheets". It brings traditional songs from United Kingdom and songs written by Campbell. Campbell has stated that album was inspired by the works of Jean Ritchie, Anne Briggs and Shirley Collins.

Collaboration with Mark Lanegan

In April 2004, Campell released an EP with former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan, titled "Time Is Just the Same". They would later release a single entitled "Ramblin' Man" for their collaboration album "Ballad of the Broken Seas". Campbell wrote and recorded the majority of the album's tracks in Glasgow, while Lanegan adding vocals in Los Angeles. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Prize.cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5315452.stm
title=Arctic Monkeys win Mercury prize
date = 2006-09-05
publisher=BBC
accessdate=2008-07-22 ] Lanegan and Campbell played four UK concerts in January 2007, with the London date being moved to a larger venue as a result of high demand for tickets.

In 2007, the duo recorded a second album together, entitled "Sunday at Devil Dirt", which was released on May 5, 2008. One single from the album has been released so far entitled "Who Built the Road".

elected discography

tudio albums

*"The Green Fields of Foreverland" (1999) (as The Gentle Waves)
*"Swansong For You" (2000) (as The Gentle Waves)
*"Amorino" (2003)
*"Milkwhite Sheets" (2006)

With Mark Lanegan

*"Ballad of the Broken Seas" (2006) (with Mark Lanegan)
*"Sunday At Devil Dirt" (2008) (with Mark Lanegan)

References

External links

* [http://www.isobelcampbell.com Official site]
* [http://www.jeepster.co.uk/thegentlewaves/ The Gentle Waves]
* [http://www.sacksco.com/roster/isobel/isobel_bio.html Sacks & Co profile]
* [http://lyricwiki.org/Isobel_Campbell Lyrics]