Neneh Mariann Karlsson, (b. March 10, 1964) beter known as Neneh Cherry, is a Swedish-born singer-songwriter, rapper and occasional DJ and broadcaster.
Role in Gorillaz[]
Neneh Cherry provided backing vocals for the track Kids With Guns from Gorillaz' second studio album, Demon Days. She later joined Gorillaz for their Demon Days Live shows, both in 2005 (in Manchester) and 2006 (In New York). For the Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour, her part was pre-recorded from the studio version. of the track, which unfortunately would lead to her part being delayed with the rest of the band. Her part has since been done by the The Humanz Choir member Michelle Ndegwa.
Musical Career[]
Cherry said she found her voice singing along with Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex. She grew up in a musical family: "Music was always there, it was like food in my house. But in my home I had never really found my own thing. I really identified with Poly, the voice. Culturally, she was mixed. I recognized her when I looked at her. One day I was singing along to their records, Germfree Adolescents or 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!', but I found my voice. And I'll never forget it happening." Her dad was singing at the piano, playing "Put Another Nickel in the Nickelodeon." Cherry remembers singing it with him in the voice she had found. "Oh look, I have a voice, it's been born. It was like an ejection, like a release button. It was like, here you go, do your own thing."
In the early 1980s, Cherry contributed to dub producer Adrian Sherwood's New Age Steppers project and gained her first significant fame singing in the group Rip, Rig + Panic which combined experimental jazz with reggae and punk influences. Although not core members, Cherry and her husband Cameron "Booga Bear" McVey were also associates of Bristol music collective The Wild Bunch which developed into Massive Attack, and hosted some of the group's early recording sessions at their home.
Cherry has enjoyed an acclaimed and successful solo career since the release of her debut solo album Raw Like Sushi in 1989.
Discography[]
Solo Records[]
- Raw Like Sushi (1989)
- Homebrew (1992)
- Man (1996)
- Blank Project (2014)
- Broken Politics (2018)
Collaborations[]
With Rip Rig + Panic[]
- God (1981)
- I Am Cold (1982)
- Attitude (1983)
With CirKus[]
- Laylow (2006)
- Medicine (2009)
With The Thing[]
- The Cherry Thing (2012)