thecocknbullkid
Querelle
(IAMSOUND Records)
Born in Hackney, East London, to Ghanian parents,
thecocknbullkid (no gaps, all lower case) aka Anita Blay is
not the most conventional of pop stars. Fortunately, this
does little to slow how rapidly the 23 year-old is establishing
herself as one of 2009’s brightest pop hopes. She has
spent the past three years exploring all manner of influences
(from Moz to Madonna, M.I.A to Little Richard), forging a
wholly distinctive sound, and marked an official career “kick
off’” with her debut UK single, a collaboration
between Anita and Metronomy founding member Joe Mount, which
was released on Metronomy’s 7” label last year.
thecocknbullkid’s style, it should be
said, resides firmly on the dark side of pop. There’s
an almost Trojan quality to it -- Anita’s ever-expanding
repertoire is a subversive, sometimes sinister, and always-sublime
mix of sex, death, ugliness, wit and depravity, found amidst
the everyday, and pegged onto supremely inventive pop melodies.
“I’ve always thought pop should never just be
saccharine” she says, “It should be black and
tortured too. There’s no point otherwise.”
Having played all the major UK festivals in
the summer of 2008, including a headlining performance on
Glastonbury’s BBC Introducing Stage, thecocknbullkid
additionally played live on Later With Jools Holland last
October whilst still unsigned. A rare, but deserved occurrence.
Anita and her three-piece band then went on to support Santigold
before touring with CSS, Metronomy and Late of the Pier, as
well as doing her first European tour with VICE presents.
Up until now, thecocknbullkid has been busy
working up an arsenal of sonic ideas into fully fleshed out
tracks. Her first EP, “Querelle”, will be released
this fall in North American on IAMSOUND Records. This four-track
release features production from all over the spectrum, ranging
from Radioclit (The Very Best, Santigold, Bonde do Role) to
Dave McCracken (Beyonce, Ian Brown of The Stone Roses). Amidst
of flurry UK critical acclaim, plus Urb, Nylon, SPIN and the
New York Post already joining the choir, this new EP is Anita
Blay’s official introduction to stateside audiences,
anointing thecocknbullkid as an artist to watch worldwide.
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