Du Blonde is not a persona or a character, it’s
Beth Jeans Houghton ripping it up and starting again.
Welcome Back To Milk is the Newcastle-born and sometimes California based singer's second album, but her debut as Du Blonde, and it's a complete reinvention: new name, new sound, new band, new attitude – and attitude is the key word.
It started at the V&A. Two years ago, in the cavernous final room of the ‘David Bowie Is…’ exhibition, Beth had an epiphany.
“When I was a kid, my idea of being a musician came from all these big characters – Bowie, Bolan, Beefheart" she says.
"I had this moment in front of all these chapters of his life: this is what I want to do and I haven't done it for all of these years. All this stuff that was really important to me in the beginning, all of the creativity, emotional expulsion, I’d just lost all of that. It was such a sad moment, but also good – because you can't change it unless you realize.”It was time for a revolution and to get back to what she’d always promised herself: keep moving, keep changing, keep pushing art and sound and never be pinned down. Beth Jeans Houghton was dead, and Du Blonde was born.
Where 2012's debut
Yours Truly Cellophane Nose threw everything at a song,
Welcome Back To Milkstrips everything back and is one massive release of pent up aggression, captured perfectly by producer and
Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos. Heavy riffs, loud drums and vocal snarls contrast beautifully with poignant balladry and tenderness that fans of Houghton's previous work will recognize.
Future Islands frontman
Samuel T Herring also provides guest vocals on “Mind Is On My Mind.”
“What am I pissed off about? In no particular order: the free wheeling judgment of faceless accusers online, every man and his dog giving me advice on how to live my life, what to wear, what not to say, how to write songs. Being asked if I’m on my period in business meetings. Being told to ‘just deal with’ misogyny. It’s clear that the message for young girls, in music, business and relationships, is still ‘shut up, do what you’re told and be thankful’.”Du Blonde’s prime aim now is to connect with live audiences around the country.
"I was hiding behind my guitar for so long. I want no choice but to look people dead in the eyes and give them all I have.”Beth will have this chance when she takes her new band out on the road this June.
DU BLONDE – UK TOUR3 Jun 2015 - BRIGHTON GREEN DOOR STORE
4 Jun 2015 - LONDON 100 CLUB
5 Jun 2015 - LEEDS BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB
6 Jun 2015 - BRISTOL LOUISIANA
7 Jun 2015 - NOTTINGHAM THE BODEGA
9 Jun 2015 - MANCHESTER DEAF INSTITUTE
10 Jun 2015 - GLASGOW BROADCAST
11 Jun 2015 - NEWCASTLE THE CLUNY
All shows will go on sale at 10am on Friday March 20.
Welcome Back To Milk is released May 19, on vinyl, CD, download and cassette. Special pre-order packages are available which include signed copies, various different artworks, hand crafted merkins (that one makes more sense if you look at the sleeve) and Beth will even design you a tattoo for you if you want. You can find the full list of options
HERE.
