Joker's Daughter
NEWS: The new EP 'Hybrid' by Joker's Daughter and the Bullfrogs is out now on http://jokersdaughter.bandcamp.com/album/hybrid
The new songs explore themes of the hybrid: through
personal identity and re-exploring the past; within
nature; and of female characters in literature such as
Brontë’s Bertha Mason. Also included as a bonus track
is a cover of the 1930’s song Night Owl originally sung
by Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike).
Hybrid sees Helena, partnering here with The Bullfrogs,
take a new turn on her folk journey.
Born in London but Greek Cypriot by origin, Helena Costas studied violin from ages 7 to 13, then taught herself guitar and keyboards. As she became an adult, her mission came into focus. She wrote songs relentlessly, learned the art of production, and gained confidence as a performer as she played gigs around London.
Like a cryptic, symbolic dream, the music of Joker’s Daughter feeds on a range of conscious and unconscious influences, from classical violin training to Arthurian legend to a certain fascination with food. The result is haunting, infectious and playful, a rich harvest from a broad psychic landscape.
In 2003, she began sending her home recordings to artist/producer Danger Mouse, a correspondence that continued as his career grew. The two artists discovered a natural affinity, and launched a collaboration, which they dubbed Joker’s Daughter after one of Helena’s many shifting personae.
Joker’s Daughter is a character who gives voice to the darkness and redemption in Helena’s psyche, often with a mischievous flair. Always evolving as a musician and performer, Helena has recently taken up the bouzouki, a traditional instrument played by the muses in ancient Greek myth.
Danger Mouse is a full collaborator at every stage. His verdant production and instrumentation compliments the full spectrum of emotion in Helena’s music, from grief to celebration to happy ambiguity. Together, they make music both timeless and fresh from a strange, uncharted world.
The project also features the horns of Neutral Milk Hotel’s Scott Spillane and the string arrangements of frequent Danger Mouse collaborator Daniele Luppi.
The Last Laugh was released in April 2009, in the USA via Team Love, a New York based independent label founded by Nate Krenkel and Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes).
The Last Laugh will be available in the UK on CD (DS018CD) and via digital download (DS018D) from 15th June 2009 via Double Six Records.
Singles from the album: 'Worm's Head' and 'Lucid'
The second album, 'May Cause Side Effects', is the next chapter from this exciting narrative artist. This time, she encapsulates Greek myths, dreams, folklore, storytelling, creature parties, gossiping, a strange fascination with Commodore 64 games, and UFOs... all with her usual ghostly sense of humour. However, songs such as Mind of Gold, and Follow touch on her more sensitive nature of the wonderings of life. Her Greek influences shine through even more so than the first, as her bouzouki is present in most of the songs. The single 'Mind of Gold' and album track 'Bubbles' were produced by Mike Lindsay of Tunng. Giving them an almost euphoric feel, he compliments the songs in more ways than one, with his unpredictable arrangements and the enforcement of unusual instruments!
New songs on soundcloud so far: 'Bubbles', 'Mind of Gold', both produced by Mike Lindsay of Tunng.
All songs available on bandcamp.
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