Lou Rhodes facts for kids

Lou Rhodes is an English singer and songwriter. She grew up in Manchester, England, and now lives in Wiltshire. Lou is best known for being the singer and lyric writer for the band Lamb.

She has also released four solo albums: Beloved One, Bloom, One Good Thing, and theyesandeye. Lou has worked with many other artists like 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, and The Cinematic Orchestra. In 2023, Lou started a new music project called Kiiōtō with Rohan Heath.

Lou Rhodes' Music Journey

Lou Rhodes was born in Manchester. Her mother was a folk singer, so Lou grew up surrounded by folk music. In the early 1990s, she worked as a photographer.

Lou met engineer Andy Barlow through a friend. They recorded a demo tape together and formed the band Lamb. In 1995, they signed a big record deal. After many years, in 2004, Lou and Andy decided to take a break from Lamb to work on their own music.

Starting a Solo Career

In 2006, Lou started her own record label called Infinite Bloom. She released her first solo album, Beloved One, through this label. This album was very special because it showed off Lou's folk music style, which was different from Lamb's electronic sound. The album was even nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, a big award in music!

Lou has performed at the famous Glastonbury Festival many times. In 2007, she released her second album, Bloom. She then went on tour to share her new music with fans.

Lamb Reunites and New Albums

In 2009, the band Lamb got back together for a tour. They later released a new album called 5 in 2010. During this time, Lou also recorded her third solo album, One Good Thing. This album was mostly acoustic, meaning it used instruments like guitars without electric amplification. It was released in 2010.

Before her fourth album came out, Lou released two singles, "All The Birds" and "All I Need," in 2016. Her fourth album, theyesandeye, included a cover of the song "Angels" by The xx. Many talented musicians helped her create this album.

Lou's Musical Style

While Lamb is known for mixing electronic sounds with jazz and drum and bass, Lou's solo music is very different. Her solo work is more natural and deeply rooted in folk music.

She often uses acoustic guitars as the main instrument in her songs. She also adds other instruments like violin, double bass, and different types of drums to create a rich sound.

Lou as an Author

Besides being a musician, Lou Rhodes is also a published author! She has written children's picture books.

Her first children's book, The Phlunk, came out in 2012 and received good reviews. A follow-up book, The Phlunk's Worldwide Symphony, was published in 2015. In 2012, Lou also wrote an essay for a book series called The First Time I Heard The Smiths. In this essay, she shared her story about first hearing the music of the band The Smiths.

Collaborations with Other Artists

Lou Rhodes has lent her voice to many other artists' songs. In 1996, she sang on the track "Azura" for the band 808 State. She also sang on the song "Kanon" for Japanese guitarist Sugizo in 1997.

In 2000, she co-wrote and sang on the song "Humanity" for A Guy Called Gerald. That same year, she performed the song "Escape (Afraid of No One)" for the movie soundtrack The Princess and the Warrior. In 2004, she was featured on the album Disconnected by Funkstörung.

Lou's Personal Life

Lou Rhodes is a mother to two sons. She lives in the countryside of Wiltshire, England.

Discography

Albums

• 2006: Beloved One (Infinite Bloom Recordings)
• 2007: Bloom (A&G Records)
• 2010: One Good Thing (Motion Audio, distributed by Ninja Tune)

Singles

• 2006: "Tremble"
• 2007: "The Rain" (A&G Records)
• 2010: "There for the Taking" (Motion Audio)

Books

• 2013: The Phlunk (ISBN: 9780957369016)
• 2014: The Phlunk's Worldwide Symphony (ISBN: 9780957369023)

Images for kids

• Lou Rhodes in London, March 2006.jpg

  Lou Rhodes performing in London in March 2006.