Miranda Lee Richards
Los Angeles
Known for her distinctive brand of enchanting psychedelic “chamber folk rock,” Miranda Lee Richards’ latest long-player, Existential Beast (June 16 2017), is provocative in every sense, from the breadth of musical ambition to its politically-driven lyrics.
Though she first gained attention as one of The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s most well-loved vocal collaborators, Richards has always strived for and achieved more as her musical range and vision has grown, garnering consistent industry attention and a loyal fan base along the way. There is an enduring ethereal shimmer to everything she does, but there has always been a more universal poetic and sonic depth as well, something that’s more apparent than ever on her new work.
Richards grew up in San Francisco, the daughter of two underground comics revolutionaries, Ted and Terre Richards. Her father created the infamous satirical strip, The Forty Year Old Hippie, while her mother was one of the founding editors and contributors of Wimmen’s Comix in the 1970s.
Miranda Lee Richards’ first demo was recorded in Kirk Hammett’s basement studio, which was where the-then manager of The Brian Jonestown Massacre passed it along to Anton Newcombe. Collaborations followed and Richards appeared on the band’s Give It Back, Strung Out in Heaven, and Bringing it All Back Home Again LP’s. Richards subsequently appeared in the seminal rock documentary DIG!
After moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles, a mutual friend introduced her to producer/musician Rick Parker (BRMC, The Von Bondies, and Lord Huron), and the pairing proved successful both creatively and personally. She was signed to Virgin Records based on the demos they made together, and released her debut The Herethereafter in 2001, joining a stellar roster during the label’s hit-making heyday, and garnering critical acclaim, as well as a top five song in Japan.
Following a non-self imposed hiatus after parting ways with Virgin, the songstress persevered, and in 2009 released her critically acclaimed sophomore effort, Light of X on Nettwerk Records. KCRW and the BBC jumped on board to support the album, and dates on the 2010 Lilith Fair tour followed. She appeared as the face of the “Nine West Vintage America Voices” campaign, and procured many prominent film and TV placements.
Richards’ third full-length studio album Echoes of the Dreamtime (2016) began a relationship with British independent label Invisible Hands Music, its bluesy cosmic textures, beautiful portraiture cover art and thoughtful subject matter solidifying her song craft as both spellbinding and substantial. Mojo gave the album four stars and Uncut 8/10. Echoes Radio voted the album #2 of 2016, and Piccadilly Records #8 of the top 100 releases of the year. Two U.S. tours with the Dandy Warhols and U.K. tours followed with Ren And Romeo.
In 2017, Richards has delivered Existential Beast, what is arguably her most impressive album to date. The tapestry of genres, moods and thoughts makes for a deeply orchestrated, politically and spiritually-themed album that reflects the issues of our time while finding beauty in chaos, hope in hardship, and transcendence in self.
Miranda Lee Richards has collaborated in the studio with Tricky, Tim Burgess (Charlatans), Neil Halstead (Mojave Three), Tyler Hilton, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Joel Gion (BJM), Matt Hollywood (BJM), Josh Kelly, Joe Firstman, Harper Simon, The Quarter After, The Lovetones, and GospelbeacH (Beachwood Sparks), among many others. In addition to The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Neil Halstead, she has performed live or opened shows for The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Dandy Warhols, The Hounds Below (Von Bondies), Tim Finn (Crowded House) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Beachwood Sparks, Bridgette St. John, Nikka Costa, Susan Vega, Tift Merritt, Grant Lee Philips, The Black Angels, Sam Amidon, Turin Brakes, Juliana Hatfield, and Albert Hammond.
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