VICTORIA BOURNE

Bristol based Victoria performs and records regularly a varied repertoire including contemporary classical, experimental folk, electronic pieces, flamenco and vocal improvisation, both as a solo artist and as a member of various ensembles. She is currently a MA Music Student at Bristol Universtiy studying voice with Joanna Morton and vocal masterclasses with Rosemary Hardy, Sarah Walker and Frances Lynch. Performances this year will include Theo Leoevendie's Six Turkish Folk poems with the New Music Ensemble on Decemeber 14th at The Victoria Rooms . In 2012 she is organising the Contemporary Music Venture Concert Series in Bristol. Four concerts in March, May and June featuring newly commisioned work from composers performed by CoMA Bristol, The Flute Choir Bristol, and post graduate students from Bristol University. Victoria is collaborating with several composers in 2012 performing new vocal works writen for her voice. She is writing with Chris Harper a song cycle about the lives of the Chain Making Women of Cradley Heath in the 1910s for performances in late 2012. They are also writing a three part opera for the electronic device Alphasphere and solo voice to be performed in late 2012.

Ensembles
New Music Ensemble Bristol
NME performs new works, modern classics to the highest standards, giving two lunchtime concerts a year.
Schola Catorum
The Schola Cantorum is an auditioned women's choir, specialising in Medieval Music.
 And then we danced
Currently working on a new song cycle of original songs based around the lives of the chainmaking women living in the Black Country in the early 1900s with Chris Harper.

Previous Ensembles
Harper Bourne
Their fresh and non traditional approach to setting both their own texts and also those of Federico Garcia Lorca has resulted in a theatrical and spellbinding collection of songs.
They have appeared on BBC Radio Leicester, Demon FM, played at The Peepul Centre, The Musician, The Hub, The Y Theatre, The Phoenix Arts Centre, Market Bosworth Festival, Strawberry Fields Festival and Cafe Bruxelles where they had a 8 week residency.

Quadelectronic
A regular performer at the monthly free improvisation evening Quadelectronic (based at Quad studios, Leicester) since September 2008, Victoria has revelled in the freedom afforded at such an event and has used the opportunity to experiment with voice, flute, piano, and electronics, with a variety of co-improvisers. A collection of highlights is currently being organised for release. This has resulted in many a spin off collaborations with Jim Tetlow, Endgame and Chris Conway.
Victoria has built on these improvised experiences by composing her own music that involves improvisation within structural boundaries, using words, creating videos and artwork to be included in live performance, using the technology available to devise unique pieces for solo voice and for voice and electronics.

Compositions include the album ‘Inside the edges’. The title piece uses four haikus depicting winter, spring, summer and autumn, inspired by four very personal and contrasting visual events. A versatile work it can be performed in with a variety of line ups be it live video, with voice and electronics, and also with the additions of cajon, flute, and piano.

Bluestave
The choral, acoustic, experimental folk group Bluestave. With influences as varied as Olivier Messian, Tim Buckley and Milan Kundera and employing the unconventional line up of four female vocalists (each of whom also contribute percussion) and one acoustic guitarist Bluestave was founded on the principles of variety and the freedom to be traditional or otherwise.
 

 Reviews:
'Their songs had a distinctly Spanish flavour; in a set played with vitality and artistry, Victoria Bourne was accompanied by Chris Harper and Jim Tetlow.  Dec 2010
http://artsinleicestershire.co.uk/digitalarts.htm

'Thanks so much -what a brilliant performance by both of you - everyone was talking about how amazing you were fantastic'
Polly Tuckett, Short Fuse Fiction 2010

'you all made my night for me , what a fantastic gig, everybody has been commenting on it.
Harjinder ohbi, Leicester Mercury 2010

'Victoria Bourne and Chris Harper's brilliant flamenco and song mix, some really jaw-dropping guitar/vocal work, anyone who hasn't experienced this in the last three weeks has been SERIOUSLY MISSING OUT'
Leicester Music Scene 2010

'Thanks very much for playing, you sing beautifully and Chris is very talented on the guitar you compliment each other very well'
this was a beautiful evening, and if you didnt come you really have missed out, these 2 are amazing local talent!!
Leicester Music Scene 2010

'They are some mighty guitar twiddling and vocal finery, courtesy of Chris Harper and Victoria Bourne. Bourne's vocal is stunning in the Thom Yorke/ Matt Bellemy vein. She makes you really understand how the voice can be used as an instrument.'
Daley Copley review of the Buxton Fringe Festival. 2007

 Shortlisted for Best Musical Event at Buxton Fringe Festival 2007.

"Vanity Press are a collective from Leicestershire, Victoria Bourne, Chris Harper. Combining samples, woodwind instruments, piano, guitars, deep percussion and haunting vocals to fashion a fascinating, luscious soundscape.

Their music draws heavily from Jeff Buckley, Velvet Underground, Portishead and Sigur Ros. Dreamy and atmospheric melodies that would make perfect movie soundtracks run throughout the EP forming the mood of the song and providing the platform for Bourne’s unique vocals. Bjork, Patti Smith and PJ Harvey are the obvious comparisons. Like a female Nick Cave, her voice oozes beauty and pain in equal measure, grabbing the listener from the first note, it’s a voice that is impossible to ignore or forget.

Having already graced the stages of some very famous musical landmarks including The Luminaire, The Water Rats Theatre and the 12 bar club, their live shows are mesmerizing events. Using a mix of instruments and samples with Bourne’s sultry stage presence creates a memorable live experience.

The five songs on the EP are a roller coaster of emotion and sonic ambiance. From the tranquil and meditative to the aggressive, but done with poise passion and feeling. A band like few others, and one that must be experienced.
BY Martin Kendrick

Reference and full interview on:
http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/2007/04/vanity-press-vanity-press-ep-album.html
 
Vanity Press is a London based band and is on the face of it some mighty guitar twiddling and vocal finery, courtesy of Chris Harper and Victoria Bourne. Bourne's vocal is stunning in the Thom Yorke/ Matt Bellemy vein. Vanity Press makes you really understand how the voice can be used as an instrument. Bourne has previously been compared to Bjork and PJ Harvey (aren't all strong female vocalists!) but her stage presence is much more reminiscent of fellow blonde bombshell Wagner of The Raveonettes.

Lyrics are what you imagine Sigur Ros are singing, if only you could understand them! Vanity Press are heavy on the love songs and it would be interesting to see what happened if they dealt with something else. However, the romantic subject matter is approached in a suitably abstract way, with an excellent line in musical analogies! And actually, if they changed some of their song titles the exclusively romantic bent in the lyrics would be a lot less obvious.

Another interesting thing about Vanity Press is that they are accompanied by midi triggers of pre-recorded samples. The arrangements are amazing, but backing track percussion is never ideal! These guys have the musical ability to be brilliant. There is no reason why they shouldn't aim for that Radio 1/ Radio 2 crossover audience. All it needs now is someone to throw a load of money their way for them to hit the alternative mainstream.

Dale Copley
Reference
http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/reviews2007mus.html