Skin (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Skin
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Skin at the 2011 Eska Music Awards
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Deborah Ann Dyer |
| Born | 3 August 1967 |
| Origin | Brixton, London, England |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Skunk Anansie |
Deborah Anne Dyer OBE (born 3 August 1967) is a British singer, songwriter, and electronic music DJ. She is known by her stage name Skin. She is the lead singer of the British rock band Skunk Anansie. Skin is famous for her strong, wide-ranging voice and her unique look.
In 2015, Skin was a judge on the Italian TV show The X Factor for one season. She has been featured on the covers of magazines like Classic Rock and Kerrang!. In 2018, she received the Inspirational Artist Award at the Music Week Awards. This was just before Skunk Anansie celebrated 25 years together. Skin is seen as an important role model for young Black women in music.
Contents
Skin's Early Life
Deborah Ann Dyer was born on 3 August 1967. Her birthplace was Brixton, London, England. Her parents were from Jamaica. Her father worked in the Royal Air Force and later on oil rigs. Her mother was a nurse.
When she was six, Skin moved in with her grandfather. He ran a nightclub in his basement. She remembers there was always music and rum there. Posters of Bob Marley and Muhammad Ali inspired her. As a child, she wanted to play the piano. At 14, she read Macbeth by William Shakespeare. She loved how complex the play was.
Skunk Anansie Band
Skin is best known as the lead singer of Skunk Anansie. The band formed in 1994. They were known for not changing their style to please others. Their early songs were very powerful. "Little Baby Swastikka" was an anti-fascist song. "Selling Jesus" looked at organized religion and greed.
The band released six studio albums. They toured with famous artists like David Bowie, U2, and Lenny Kravitz. Skunk Anansie broke up in 2001. Skin then started her solo career. The band reformed in 2009. They are still recording music and touring today.
Skin's Solo Music Career
After Skunk Anansie split, Skin released her first solo album. It was called Fleshwounds and came out in 2003. This album had a softer sound than her band's music. It did not become as popular with Skunk Anansie fans. She also changed her famous bald look and grew her hair short.
Two songs from the album were released as singles: "Trashed" and "Faithfulness". Another song, "Lost", was a double A-side with "Getting Away with It". Skin felt her record company did not promote the album well in England. However, it sold over half a million copies in Europe.
After Fleshwounds, Skin played many solo concerts in Europe. She also opened for Robbie Williams and Placebo on their world tours.
She then started recording her second album, Fake Chemical State. This album was released on 20 March 2006. The first song from it, "Alone in My Room", came out earlier in November 2005. For this album, she shaved her head bald again. This brought back her classic Skunk Anansie look.
Skin went on a promotional tour for Fake Chemical State. She performed at many European festivals. These included Rock Werchter in Belgium and the Southside/Hurricane festivals in Germany. She often played on the main stage at these events.
In 2008, she worked on a project called "Format-3". Her song "Tear Down These Houses" was part of a movie soundtrack. She also sang "Renaissance" for the Netflix series Medici: Masters of Florence in 2016.
Skin as a DJ
Skin has always loved electronic music. She started DJing in 2009. Her friend Damian Lazarus gave her a mixer. She uses the name D-Dyer when she DJs. She plays Techno, Tech House, and Minimal music. She has performed all over the world. Some famous clubs she has played at include Output in New York and Fabric in London.
In 2015, Skin worked with techno artist Nicole Moudaber. They released an EP called Breed. It included five songs, like "Don't Talk To Me I'm Dancing". In 2016, she DJed at Carl Cox's Revolution in Ibiza. She also played at Coachella. She released more techno music under the name Juvenal.
In 2020, Skin was a contestant on the UK version of The Masked Singer. She appeared as Duck. Her identity was revealed in episode six. In September 2020, her memoir, It Takes Blood and Guts, was published. She also started hosting a radio show called The Skin Show on Absolute Radio.
Skin's Life Outside Music
Skin studied Interior Architecture & Design at Teesside Polytechnic. She graduated in 1989. In 2000, she received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Teesside University.
In January 2021, Skin became the Chancellor at Leeds Arts University in England. This is an important role in the university.
Skin has spoken out about social issues. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2021. This award was for her services to music.
Skin's Music Albums
Solo Studio Albums
- Fleshwounds (2003)
- Fake Chemical State (2006)
Guest Appearances
- Vocals on "Carmen Queasy" from Maxim's 2000 album, Hell's Kitchen
- Vocals on "Licking Cream" from Sevendust's album, Home
- Vocals on "You Can't Find Peace", for the film Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (The Princess and the Warrior)
- Vocals on "Good Times", by Ed Case
- Vocals on "If This Ain't Love" by Erick Morillo & Eddie Thoneick – released 2012
- Contributes vocals to "Still Standing" from Unity – The Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games Album
- Performs "Kill Everything" on the soundtrack of L'Empire des Loups
- Contributes vocals to "La Canzone Che Scrivo Per Te" on the album Che Cosa Vedi by Marlene Kuntz
- Contributes vocals on "Stagioni D'Amore" from the cast album to the Italian production of Rent
- Vocals on "Meat" from Tony Iommi's album Iommi
- Vocals on "Comfort of Strangers" on the soundtrack to Timecode
- Vocals on "Remains" on the third part of Bastille's Other People's Heartache EP
- Contributes to charity single "It's Only Rock And Roll"
- "Not an Addict" (with K's Choice) – live at Pinkpop 1996
- "Army of Me" (with Björk) – live version on Top of the Pops, 5 May 1995
- "Anti Love Song" (Betty Davis cover; live on Taratata with Lenny Kravitz)
- Vocals on "Nothing Matters" by Mark Knight.
Images for kids
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Skin at the 2011 Eska Music Awards
See also
In Spanish: Skin (cantante) para niños
