Polly Jean Harvey, born October 9, 1969 in yeovil and raised in nearby corscombe (dorset), is a British singer-songwriter. She has recorded as a
solo artist under the name PJ Harvey, but she began her career as part of a trio (with drummer Rob Ellis and bassist
Steve Vaughan) also named PJ Harvey.
Early material released
by the trio on "Dry," "4 Track Demos," and "Rid of Me" was praised by critics for its raw blues and punk influenced lo-fi rock sound and dark, witty lyrics. After the trio broke up, Harvey released "
To Bring You My Love," a blues-heavy album that expanded the range of her sound through the incorporation of strings, organs, and electronic sound effects.
Her stage show became more theatrical, with Harvey performing in ballgowns, pink catsuits, wigs and garish, vampish make-up. Never one to rest, she followed this album with the softer, more experimental "
Is This Desire?" and then "
Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea", which combined her more guitar-driven work with cleaner, lusher arrangements. In 2004 she released "
Uh Huh Her," which marked a return to her earlier, rawer sound.
One of the women at the forefront of 90's alternative rock, PJ Harvey has influenced a number of artists working today, such as The Kills, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Goldfrapp and Fionna Apple. She has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Nick Cave, Thom Yorke, John Parish, Tricky, Sparklehorse, Josh Homme and Pascal Comelade.
(source: www.last.fm)
