The Queens of Quirk

Summary

Ongoing History of New Music: "The Queens of Quirk"

Release Date: December 25, 2024
Host: Alan Cross, Curiouscast
Podcast Description:
"Ongoing History of New Music" explores the vast landscape of alternative rock, hip hop, and beyond, offering in-depth artist profiles and thematic explorations. Hosted by the legendary Alan Cross, Canada’s most renowned music documentary, this podcast promises unique insights not found elsewhere.

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Episode Overview: "The Queens of Quirk"

In this captivating episode, Alan Cross celebrates ten exceptionally eccentric and innovative female artists who have redefined the boundaries of alternative rock. Dubbed the "Queens of Quirk," these women have infused the genre with their unique styles, fearless experimentation, and unparalleled creativity. Through engaging storytelling and expert analysis, Cross highlights how each artist has contributed to the evolution of new music, challenging norms and inspiring future generations.

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Breaking Down Barriers: Women in Rock

The episode begins with a reflection on the restrictive roles women historically faced in rock and roll. Cross emphasizes how the advent of punk rock in the 1970s dismantled these barriers:

Alan Cross [01:22]: "Anyone should have the right to say anything in any manner they wished, regardless of who they were."

This shift allowed women to express themselves freely, leading to a surge of unique female performers who would come to be known as the Queens of Quirk.

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Meet the Queens of Quirk

1. Patti Smith ([03:21] – [05:03])

Patti Smith is heralded as the godmother of quirk, pioneering the fusion of poetry and punk rock. Her 1974 release, "Piss Factory," is often cited as the first punk rock record, blending raw emotion with literary prowess.

Alan Cross [04:36]: "And as a vocalist, no one had ever heard anything like her before."

Smith's rebellious spirit and innovative approach laid the groundwork for future generations of female artists in alternative music.

2. Kate Bush ([05:03] – [07:08])

Discovered by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Kate Bush revolutionized music with her ethereal vocals and theatrical performances. Her debut single "Wuthering Heights" showcased her ability to blend storytelling with avant-garde soundscapes.

Alan Cross [06:57]: "Nothing Kate did was conventional or traditional."

Bush's refusal to conform to traditional music norms set her apart as a truly unique voice in the industry.

3. Lena Lovich ([07:32] – [08:09])

An art school graduate from England, Lena Lovich blended sculpting, cabaret, and saxophone into her music. Her breakthrough single "Lucky Number" exemplified her fresh and unconventional approach.

Lena Lovich [08:09]: "Me, Myself and I is all I've ever known."

Lovich's eclectic style and fearless self-expression earned her a dedicated following and critical acclaim.

4. Nina Hagen ([08:30] – [09:30])

Originating from East Berlin, Nina Hagen merged punk aesthetics with performance art, defying communist norms and pushing the boundaries of musical expression. Her dynamic performances and genre-blending music left a lasting impact on the alternative scene.

Narrator [09:00]: "German singer, actress and performance artist Nina Hagen performing African reggae."

Hagen's boldness and theatricality made her a standout figure in the music world.

5. Tori Amos ([10:21] – [12:27])

A child prodigy expelled from a prestigious music program, Tori Amos transitioned into a solo artist known for her deeply personal and experimental songwriting. Her album "Little Earthquakes" cemented her status as a respected and quirky figure in music.

Narrator [11:34]: "Anyone familiar with Kate Bush's headspace immediately recognized that she and Tori were kindred spirits."

Amos's ability to blend classical influences with alternative rock has made her a unique voice in the industry.

6. Björk ([12:31] – [13:53])

Icelandic singer Björk's evolution from punk bands to a solo artist is marked by her eclectic and experimental sound. Her 1993 album "Debut" introduced a blend of trip-hop, electronic, and avant-garde elements, keeping the music scene fresh and innovative.

Narrator [13:57]: "It is artists like Björk that keep music on its toes."

Björk's relentless experimentation and distinctive voice have solidified her as a trailblazer in alternative music.

7. PJ Harvey ([14:53] – [16:55])

PJ Harvey has consistently pushed artistic boundaries through her exploration of complex themes and diverse musical styles. Her album "Let England Shake" won the Mercury Music Prize, highlighting her fearless approach to music.

Alan Cross [16:27]: "PJ remains the only person to win the Mercury Prize twice."

Harvey's ability to navigate different genres and themes has earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.

8. Florence Welch ([17:00] – [19:59])

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine combines her academic background with personal tragedies to create powerful, ethereal music. Her debut album "Lungs" achieved multi-platinum success and showcased her unique vocal and performance style.

Narrator [17:08]: "Like I said, to look at her is to gaze at a Renaissance painting come to life."

Welch's grandiose performances and haunting melodies have made her a staple in alternative rock.

9. Tune Yards (Meryl Garbus) ([20:45] – [21:56])

Meryl Garbus, known as Tune Yards, creates genre-defying music that incorporates elements of indie, pop, funk, and afrobeat. Her innovative use of loops and samples sets her apart as a quintessential Queen of Quirk.

Alan Cross [21:56]: "It is wonderfully different."

Garbus's experimental approach and distinctive sound have garnered her a loyal following in the indie music scene.

10. Courtney Barnett ([21:56] – [22:56])

Courtney Barnett's deadpan singing style and storytelling lyrics blend cheerful melodies with dark, unexpected themes. Her song "Avant Gardener" exemplifies her ability to weave complex narratives into alternative rock.

Narrator [22:56]: "Courtney Barnett is a lot weirder than you might first think."

Barnett's witty lyricism and unique vocal delivery have made her a standout artist in modern alternative music.

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Honorable Mentions

While the episode focuses on ten primary Queens of Quirk, Alan Cross acknowledges other remarkable artists who embody the spirit of eccentricity and innovation in alternative rock:

• St. Vincent
• Joanna Newsom
• Susie Su
• Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins
• Lily Allen
• Fiona Apple

These artists, among others, contribute to the rich tapestry of alternative music with their unique styles and creative expressions.

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Conclusion: Celebrating Eccentricity in Music

Alan Cross wraps up the episode by highlighting the importance of these artists' contributions to the music industry:

Narrator [23:35]: "They all bring new richness to music. And that's always a good thing. You just gotta give it a chance."

Cross emphasizes that while these artists may initially seem unconventional or perplexing, their willingness to innovate and express themselves uniquely enriches the musical landscape. He teases the next installment of the series, promising a look into the "Kings of Quirk."

Alan Cross [23:41]: "Part two of this program will be the Kings of Quirk. And who might they be? Join me next time to find out."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Gender Roles in Rock:

  Alan Cross [00:43]: "Women were locked into very defined roles when it came to rock and roll."

• Punk Rock’s Impact:

  Alan Cross [01:22]: "Anyone should have the right to say anything in any manner they wished, regardless of who they were."

• Kate Bush’s Unconventionality:

  Alan Cross [06:57]: "Nothing Kate did was conventional or traditional."

• Bjork’s Influence:

  Narrator [13:57]: "It is artists like Bjork that keep music on its toes."

• PJ Harvey’s Achievements:

  Alan Cross [16:27]: "PJ remains the only person to win the Mercury Prize twice."

• Celebrating Uniqueness:

  Narrator [23:35]: "They all bring new richness to music. And that's always a good thing."

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Final Thoughts

"The Queens of Quirk" episode serves as a vibrant homage to the women who have not only defied but redefined the parameters of alternative rock. Through their innovative approaches and fearless self-expression, these artists have enriched the music world, offering listeners fresh and diverse sounds that challenge the status quo. Alan Cross masterfully intertwines their stories, providing both inspiration and deeper understanding of their pivotal roles in shaping new music.

For those who haven't yet tuned into this episode, "The Queens of Quirk" promises an enlightening journey through the unconventional and the extraordinary, celebrating the artists who dared to be different.

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Technical production by Rob Johnston.

Transcript

[Alan Cross]

Hey, it's Alan and I just wanted to let you know that you can now listen to the ongoing history of new music. Early and ad free on Amazon, music.

[Commercial Voice]

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[Narrator]

Get More Done For a very long time Too long actually, women were locked.

[Alan Cross]

Into very defined roles when it came.

[Narrator]

To rock and roll. Girls were expected to look pretty and.

[Alan Cross]

Do little more than sing.

[Narrator]

Okay, maybe they could shake a tambourine or something, but that was about it. Everything else was unladylike. And when it came to singing, it.

[Alan Cross]

Was just stick to the conventional stuff, dear. Don't get any crazy ideas in your little head.

[Narrator]

This is a woman's role in rock and you should just stick to it. There you go.

[Alan Cross]

That's a nice little lady. But then along came punk rock.

[Narrator]

In the 1970s, punk did many things.

[Alan Cross]

For rock, including knocking down a lot of heretofore inviolable gender roles. The central tenet of punk was that.

[Narrator]

Anyone should have the right to say.

[Alan Cross]

Anything in any manner they wished, regardless.

[Narrator]

Of who they were.

[Alan Cross]

And that included women and their right to self expression.

[Narrator]

And the result was fantastic.

[Alan Cross]

Freed from all the old expectations, women were free to reinvent themselves as musicians in a million different ways.

[Narrator]

And that led to a wonderful array of female performers.

[Alan Cross]

Some of my favorites are the ones who decided to spit in the face of virtually every rock and roll convention.

[Narrator]

Women who, before punk, came along and liberated everyone from the tyranny of the way things ought to be.

[Alan Cross]

Women who developed styles that were different.

[Narrator]

And unique and utterly unlike anything the.

[Alan Cross]

World had ever heard before.

[Narrator]

Yes, some of them were an acquired taste and took a little getting used to. But once people figured out what they.

[Alan Cross]

Were trying to do and what they.

[Narrator]

Were all about, it was inevitable that.

[Alan Cross]

They became addicted, enchanted, inspired.

[Narrator]

We're going to look at 10 of these women. I call them the Queens of Quirk.

[Alan Cross]

This is the ongoing history of New Music, the podcast edition with Alan Cross.

[Narrator]

Hi again, I'm Alan Cross.

[Alan Cross]

Every so often we seem to hit a cycle where it seems that every single female singer sounds the same.

[Narrator]

This happens a lot with pop music. There are really not many sonic differences between, say, Brittany, Christina, Miley and Ariana There are minor differences in delivery and vocal timbre, but unless you were familiar with their songs, you would be forgiven.

[Alan Cross]

For not being able to tell them.

[Narrator]

Apart or get them mixed up. Happens to me all the time. But when we slide into the world of alt rock, there are some women.

[Alan Cross]

Who sound like no one else. And in many cases they look like no one else. They have fantastic and sometimes bewildering senses of style and poise and confidence.

[Narrator]

They are, in every sense of the word, extraordinary. I'd like to take this hour to.

[Alan Cross]

Run through 10 of the coolest and.

[Narrator]

Quirkiest women alt rock has ever seen and heard. These are the queens of quirk. And if we're gonna name a godmother of quirk, we must begin with Patti Smith.

[Patti Smith]

I'm gonna get on that train Go to New York City and I'm gonna be so big I'm gonna be a big star and I will never return Never return no never return to burn.

[Narrator]

Patti Smith with what some music historians call the first ever punk rock record. It's called Piss Factory, the B side.

[Alan Cross]

Of a one off seven inch single released in the summer of 1974. No one man or woman was making.

[Narrator]

Music quite like this back then. Patti was a poet and music writer.

[Alan Cross]

Who often did readings with her friend.

[Narrator]

Record store clerk Lenny Kay, noodling around on a guitar in the background. Piss Factory was sort of an accident. They had booked time to record a.

[Alan Cross]

Cover of the Jimi Hendrix song hey.

[Narrator]

Joe and finished early. So they recorded this other track that.

[Alan Cross]

Told of Patti's time working in a doll factory. They pressed up a thousand copies and seeded it at independent bookstores and record.

[Narrator]

Sellers and it sold out almost instantly.

[Alan Cross]

This little bit of success set Patty.

[Narrator]

On the road to becoming a genuine recording artist, nailing a major label record.

[Alan Cross]

Deal and becoming a leading icon on.

[Narrator]

The New York punk rock scene. And then, well, the rock scene in general.

[Alan Cross]

Patti was an inspiration to so many women and men with her take no.

[Narrator]

Prisoners, I Don't give a crap view of the world, the universe and beyond. She did things her way, end of story.

[Alan Cross]

And as a vocalist, no one had ever heard anything like her before.

[Narrator]

Now at the time Patti Smith was recording Piss Factory, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd chanced upon a 14 year old.

[Alan Cross]

Girl who had been playing piano, violin and organ as well as writing her own songs. And he knew immediately that this girl.

[Narrator]

Was, was, well, different.

[Alan Cross]

Gilmore took a demo tape back to.

[Narrator]

The people at Floyd's label, EMI Records. Prog Rot was really hot in the.

[Alan Cross]

Uk at the time, and there was.

[Narrator]

An appetite for artists who sounded and looked different. And this girl seemed to have the goods.

[Alan Cross]

EMI quickly signed her to a deal that allowed her to continue to go to school and develop as a musician.

[Narrator]

And over the next couple of years.

[Alan Cross]

She wrote more than 200 songs and.

[Narrator]

Played in a bunch of pubs around London.

[Alan Cross]

By the summer of 1977, she was deemed ready. And during the period around her 19th.

[Narrator]

Birthday, a debut album was recorded.

[Alan Cross]

The first single came out in January 1978. And if you were around back then.

[Narrator]

You may remember the first time you heard Kate Bush. And if you were like me, you probably said something like, what the hell is this? Kate Bush and Wuthering Heights, the first.

[Alan Cross]

Single from her album, the Kick Inside, recorded when she was barely 19. Even for something that came out during the punk years, that was unusual. First, there was her singing style and her range. Then there was the matter of a hit song being based on an Emily Bronte novel.

[Narrator]

And third, she was howled. Not everyone got Kate Bush, of course.

[Alan Cross]

But those who did loved her for her.

[Narrator]

Well, let's just call it her ethereal kookiness.

[Alan Cross]

And I don't mean that in any.

[Narrator]

Kind of a negative way.

[Alan Cross]

Nothing Kate did was conventional or traditional. And because she refused to play any.

[Narrator]

Live shows for 35 years after one initial tour, she was surrounded by an.

[Alan Cross]

Aura of mystery and myth and legend. It's impossible to say how many future musicians and non musicians were bewitched by whatever Kate was. To this day, she is one of the most loyal and fanatical fan bases.

[Narrator]

Of any artist in the world. By comparison, Lena Lovic, queen of quirkiness three is almost normal. Okay, hang on, I take that back.

[Alan Cross]

She was born in Detroit, but she.

[Narrator]

Ended up in art school in England, working as a sculptress and a cabaret performer, and also as a saxophone player.

[Alan Cross]

And she also worked in film, lending her screams for post production on horror films. In 1978, around the very same time.

[Narrator]

Kate Bush was debuting on the charts, Lena came to the attention of Stiff.

[Alan Cross]

Records, an indie label very much at.

[Narrator]

The forefront of the punk and new wave worlds.

[Alan Cross]

The result was an album called Stateless.

[Narrator]

And it features this single.

[Alan Cross]

It is definitely quirky.

[Narrator]

I mean, can you think of another word for it?

[Lena Lovich]

Me, Myself and I is all I've ever known I never felt the need to have a hand to hold and everything I do, I took complete control. That's where I'm coming from.

[Narrator]

Lena Lovic with her fresh and fun.

[Alan Cross]

Hiccupy breakthrough single, lucky number from 1978.

[Narrator]

Which leads me to Lena's friend, Nina Hagen.

[Alan Cross]

Nina was born in communist East Berlin and was declared to be an opera prodigy by the time she was 9.

[Narrator]

But opera wasn't her thing.

[Alan Cross]

Much to the consternation of the authorities.

[Narrator]

She insisted on performing songs that were not officially allowed by the communist regime.

[Alan Cross]

A series of complications found Nina living in West Germany, where she continued to pursue the kind of music that was forbidden at home. And her performances became more and more unusual.

[Narrator]

Her costuming became more outrageous, and her singing style got attention for. Well, just listen. German singer, actress and performance artist Nina Hagen performing African reggae. Tell you something, if a song like that doesn't classify her as quirky, then there's no hope. We should just, you know, give up.

[Alan Cross]

But we won't. Six More Queens of Quirk Next Starting with a direct spiritual descendant of Kate.

[Narrator]

Bush.

[Anthony Delaney]

After Dark Myths, Misdeeds, and the Paranormal is a podcast that delves into the dark side of history.

[Maddie Pelling]

Expect murder and conspiracy, ghosts and witches.

[Anthony Delaney]

I'm Anthony Delaney.

[Maddie Pelling]

And I'm Maddie Pelling. We're historians and the hosts of After Dark. From History Hit, where every Monday and Thursday we enter the shadows of the.

[Anthony Delaney]

Past, discover the secrets of the darker side of history on After Dark. From History hit wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator]

I call this episode The Queens of Quark, 10 of the most lovably eccentric female singers ever bestowed upon us by the alt rock gods and goddesses, counted.

[Alan Cross]

Down in chronological order from the oldest.

[Narrator]

To the most recent. And number five on my list is Tori Amos. Now, there were so many similarities between.

[Alan Cross]

Her and Kate Bush. In fact, the comparisons between her and.

[Narrator]

Kate began from the moment she started working as a solo artist.

[Alan Cross]

Like Kate, she was a child prodigy.

[Narrator]

More so actually, since she was accepted.

[Alan Cross]

Into the music program at John Hopkins.

[Narrator]

University at age 5. 5. Youngest ever.

[Alan Cross]

But then she was expelled at age 11 because she preferred to play music.

[Narrator]

By ear, which is bad form for a classical music program, and because she preferred rock and pop songs over the old masters. At around the time Kate was performing.

[Alan Cross]

In pubs as a teenager, Tori was.

[Narrator]

Performing at things like country teen talent shows and playing in gay bars.

[Alan Cross]

She was also absorbing and rejecting various.

[Narrator]

Religions, spiritual and philosophical ideas, which can happen when your dad's a minister and there's a Cherokee Indian element to your family tree. By the time she got to her.

[Alan Cross]

First solo album, she had been part of a failed pop band called why.

[Narrator]

Can't Tori Reid and won a songwriting.

[Alan Cross]

Competition staged by the Baltimore Orioles. The first version of her record was.

[Narrator]

Rejected by her label. The second version they showed much patience with her, was the one they released. Now, not to belabor the point, but.

[Alan Cross]

Anyone familiar with Kate Bush's headspace, which.

[Narrator]

Is somewhere beyond the orbit of Saturn, immediately recognized that she and Tori were kindred spirits. Not the same, but definitely fearless in their need to express themselves in the only ways they knew how.

[Patti Smith]

I've been raising up my hands Dropping.

[Lena Lovich]

Up a million Got Enough.

[Narrator]

Tori Amos and Crucify from her 1992 debut solo record, Little Earthquakes. She has since become one of the world's most respected female singer songwriters, regarded.

[Alan Cross]

As quirky at first, but then revered.

[Narrator]

And adored by those who got her. Now, if you look up quirky in.

[Alan Cross]

The dictionary, I'm pretty sure that one.

[Narrator]

Of the definitions will simply read Bjork.

[Alan Cross]

This woman is so eclectic and so.

[Narrator]

Experimental and so forward looking that if you describe anything as Bjorkish, everyone knows exactly what you mean. And that goes beyond wearing a dress that looks like a swan.

[Alan Cross]

Bjork Gudmund's Dottir is of course from Iceland.

[Narrator]

Maybe it's the cold or the volcanic.

[Alan Cross]

Gases or the vodka, but in Iceland.

[Narrator]

Bjork is considered rather normal. Here's another woman who started with music at a very early age. She was in music school by age.

[Alan Cross]

6, learning classical piano and flute. Her debut album was released in 1977.

[Narrator]

When she was 12. It was all in Icelandic and became something of a hit at home, such.

[Alan Cross]

As one can have a hit in.

[Narrator]

A country with a population of 300,000. But anyway, her parents divorced and she.

[Alan Cross]

Went to live with her mom in a hippie commune. Mum was a serious activist, demonstrating against.

[Narrator]

Things like power plants.

[Alan Cross]

Bjork was encouraged to explore whatever muses came her way and she ended up.

[Narrator]

In a series of punk bands before joining the sugar cubes in 1986.

[Alan Cross]

Then in 1993, having exhausted possibilities with.

[Narrator]

That band, she went solo with a record called Debut, which wasn't her debut, of course. There was that record from 1977. But no matter. Debut was extremely well received when it.

[Alan Cross]

Was released in July of 1993, right in the middle of the grunge explosion. And because many of the alt rock nation of Gen Xers were very open.

[Narrator]

To new ideas, they embraced Bjork.

[Alan Cross]

And she in turn taught them something.

[Narrator]

About different musical styles, from trip hop to, well, stuff that was more Yorkish. Bjork big time sensuality from her debut solo record. Well, sort of her debut solo record, confusingly called Debut, which it really wasn't. Anyway, from that point On Bjork just became more and more eclectic. Weird. Okay, okay, maybe weird isn't the wrong word. But neither is quirky or for that matter, cool. It's artists like Bjork that keep music on its toes, even if what they do isn't for everyone. The world would be a much poorer place without people like Bjork. Number seven on my list of queens of quirk is PJ Harvey.

[Alan Cross]

Paulie Jean Harvey.

[Narrator]

I adore this woman and everything that she's done from her lo fi beginnings to her adventures in something approaching cabaret to indie rock to singer songwriter to collaborations with various musicians. And like all the other women on.

[Alan Cross]

This list, she forged a reputation as being unnervingly fearless when it came to.

[Narrator]

Doing things her way and exploring themes.

[Alan Cross]

Of religion and sex and love and.

[Narrator]

Death and other difficult subjects.

[Alan Cross]

She can go from quiet piano songs to bruising punk like performances.

[Narrator]

PJ loves to be theatrical and enjoys shifting her image from project to project. There's a lot we can choose from here. Her career goes back to 1988, but I want to play you this from her 2011 album, Let England Shake. Call this experimental folk rock with a liberal dose of alternative or something.

[Alan Cross]

This is called Written on the Forehead.

[Patti Smith]

Date puns in our hedge and eyes are crying for everything. Let it burn, Let it burn, Let it Burn by.

[Narrator]

PJ Harvey with written on the forehead from her 2011 album Let England Shake, winner of that year's Mercury Music Prize, the big English music prize. That was the second time she won that award, if you don't remember.

[Alan Cross]

The first time, it was for a record called Stories from the City, Stories.

[Narrator]

From the sea back in 2001. But the awards ceremony was held on September 11, 2001, so you'd be forgiven if that slipped your mind.

[Alan Cross]

But PJ remains the only person to.

[Narrator]

Win the Mercury Prize twice.

[Alan Cross]

And there were the other two times.

[Narrator]

She was nominated but didn't win that record also won the Ivor Novello songwriting award in 2012.

[Alan Cross]

Plus there are the eight Brit nominations.

[Narrator]

Six Grammy nominations, so you can see that we could easily do two full.

[Alan Cross]

Programs on this woman.

[Narrator]

She is fascinating, so if you have time to explore her body of work, you should. But for the moment, we'll just include her on our list that we call.

[Alan Cross]

The Queens of Quirk.

[Narrator]

And she's at number seven.

[Alan Cross]

I have three more to get to. And the woman at number eight is a no brainer.

[Narrator]

I've described her as a Renaissance painting.

[Alan Cross]

Come to life and she's done very well for herself.

[Narrator]

Hold tight this is an episode entitled.

[Alan Cross]

The Queens of Quirk.

[Narrator]

Ten of the quirkiest female singers from the world of alternative rock. And when I say that, I'm talking about their unusual voices, their different performance ways, and their offbeat, peculiar, incomparable and.

[Alan Cross]

Extremely distinct ways of expressing themselves.

[Narrator]

They do not sound like your standard female singers.

[Alan Cross]

So if you're expecting to see Florence Welch, she of Florence and the Machine.

[Narrator]

On this list, here you go. Actually, Florence and the Machine is the.

[Alan Cross]

Name of the band, which is really.

[Narrator]

Made up of two people. There's Florence Welch, the singer, and Isabella.

[Alan Cross]

Summers, whose nickname is the Machine.

[Narrator]

But for our purposes, we'll focus on just the redhead.

[Alan Cross]

Florence Leontine Mary Welch.

[Narrator]

Dad is an advertising executive who insisted.

[Alan Cross]

That Florence put away the Ramones records.

[Narrator]

And try different music. Mom is an academic, Harvard Warburg, the.

[Alan Cross]

University of London, King's College, London.

[Narrator]

And she's a professor of Renaissance studies, which explains a lot about Florence right there. Like I said, to look at her is to gaze at a Renaissance painting come to life.

[Alan Cross]

And if that DNA weren't enough, her uncle is a famous satirist and freelance journalist for a ton of British newspapers.

[Narrator]

He's also a broadcaster and TV writer, and an aunt was an editor of the Daily Telegraph. So, in other words, she comes from.

[Alan Cross]

A very artsic, very literary and very academic background. But then there's the emotional side of her background. Her parents divorced, the slow, painful death.

[Narrator]

Of a grandparent, then a grandmother who was an art historian, by the way, committed suicide.

[Alan Cross]

And then the other grandmother, another person.

[Narrator]

Who urged her to pursue music, died of a stroke. And to top it all off, Florence is dyslexic and has something called dyspraxia.

[Alan Cross]

Which is a neurological disorder that affects.

[Narrator]

The messages the brain gives to other parts of the body when it comes to coordinating movements.

[Alan Cross]

Sufferers often can't tell left from right.

[Narrator]

So don't ever ask them for directions. Plus, it can also lead to poor.

[Alan Cross]

Short term memory, which is sometimes offset by excellent long term memory. There's no cure for it, but it.

[Narrator]

Can be controlled through things like speech therapy and physiotherapy. I bring this all up because you.

[Alan Cross]

Can'T be a performer and not have all these factors influence your art.

[Narrator]

I've spoken to Florence several times and.

[Alan Cross]

You can sometimes tell that she struggles.

[Narrator]

But for the most part, everything is completely under control. And here's one more story.

[Alan Cross]

Florence got her current manager.

[Narrator]

When she was very, very drunk, she.

[Alan Cross]

Ran into Mayrid Nash, one half of.

[Narrator]

A UK outfit called Queens of Noise. A very blitzed Florence pestered May Red.

[Alan Cross]

All night before following her into the.

[Narrator]

Toilets so she could sing her an Etta James song. She impressed and that sealed the deal.

[Alan Cross]

Eventually she ended up with a deal.

[Narrator]

With Island Records that resulted in the Lungs album in the summer of 2009.

[Alan Cross]

Very big hit.

[Narrator]

Three million copies, plus a couple of prestigious awards. Thirteen songs in the record, six of which were released as singles. This was the second.

[Patti Smith]

The Dark Days are overstar. The dark days are down can you hear the houses? You're like.

[Narrator]

Florence and the Machine with Dog Days are over from her. Well, there actually, because remember that we're actually talking about a band here. Their debut album, Lungs, comparisons to Kate.

[Alan Cross]

Bush and Tori Amos started immediately and they continue.

[Narrator]

Not that this is a bad thing, of course.

[Alan Cross]

Our next queen of quirk is Meryl.

[Narrator]

Garbus, but you may know her by.

[Alan Cross]

The name Tune Yards. She's from somewhere in New England and has been making some charmingly offbeat music since 2006. Very big hit with the indie pop crowd. The first Toon Yards record was released.

[Narrator]

On a used and recycled cassette. The music was recorded using nothing but a handheld voice recorder.

[Alan Cross]

This led to a deal with 4ad.

[Narrator]

The wonderfully experimental alt rock label out of the UK, that also took a chance with bands like the Pixies, Bon.

[Alan Cross]

Iver, the National and so many others.

[Narrator]

It is impossible to categorize Tune Yards. There's alternative, indie, pop, rock, funk, pop, folk, afrobeat, free jazz. Lots of loops, lots of samples. And Meryl really likes to play the ukulele. Plus her notions of spelling and capitalization are unconventional. Let me play you some Tune Yards. You may have heard this song as part of an episode of the Good Wife or Orange Is the New Black or Weeds. It's called Gangsta.

[Meryl Garbus]

Bang bang My o ain't never move to my hood Cause danger is crawling out the way Bang bang My oi never moved to my hood Cause danger is crawling out the word bang mama.

[Narrator]

That's Toon Yards, which is actually Meryl Garbus.

[Alan Cross]

And that's gangsta, from a 2011 album entitled who Kill.

[Narrator]

There are a couple of other Tune Yards albums out there, and if you.

[Alan Cross]

Found that song interesting, I urge you.

[Narrator]

To check out everything else.

[Alan Cross]

It is wonderfully different.

[Narrator]

Finally, I want to play something from Courtney Barnett. This is a singer songwriter from Melbourne who is a lot weirder than you might first think.

[Alan Cross]

Her singing style is pretty deadpan and.

[Narrator]

You may not pay attention to what she's actually saying. This is maybe the best example. It's from a 2013 release called the.

[Alan Cross]

Double A Sea of Split Peas.

[Narrator]

It's a very happy song entitled Avant Gardener. But if you listen to the words.

[Alan Cross]

You'Ll realize that it's about someone going.

[Narrator]

Into anaphylactic shock as the result of a bizarre gardening accident. I mean, who writes songs about that?

[Courtney Barnett]

Life's getting hard in here so I do some gardening. Anything to take my mind away from where it's supposed to be. The nice lady next door talks of green beds and all the nice things that she wants to plant in them.

[Narrator]

I want to grow the beautifully eclectic Courtney Barnett and Avant Gardner.

[Alan Cross]

So that is my list of 10.

[Narrator]

Of my favorite quirky female singers from the world of alt rock, all played back in chronological order.

[Alan Cross]

Patti Smith, Kate Bush, Lena Lovicz, Nina Hagen, TORY Amos Bjork, P.J.

[Narrator]

Harvey, Florence Welch, Toon Yards, and Courtney Barnett. There are plenty more, of course.

[Alan Cross]

We've got St. Vincent.

[Narrator]

She's great.

[Alan Cross]

Joanna Newsome, Susie sue might be a good for an extended version of this list.

[Narrator]

Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, Lily Allen, Fiona Apple.

[Alan Cross]

All these women have wonderfully different and.

[Narrator]

Unique ways of expressing themselves through music. And although their styles may be startling at first and have us going, what's going on here?

[Alan Cross]

They all bring new richness to music.

[Narrator]

And that's always a good thing. You just gotta give it a chance.

[Alan Cross]

Now let's give the men some equal time.

[Narrator]

Part two of this program will be the Kings of Quirk. And who might they be? Join me next time to find out.

[Alan Cross]

Meanwhile, look me up at my website.

[Narrator]

Ajournalofmusicalthings.Com or email me at alanalancross.ca.

[Alan Cross]

I would love to hear you.

[Narrator]

Oh, and join the newsletter too for all kinds of cool, interesting and useful music information.

[Alan Cross]

Five days a week.

[Narrator]

It's free and there is never ever any spam. Technical productions by Rob Johnston. I'm Alan Cross.

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[Patti Smith]

Are you kidding me?

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[Narrator]

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