Lisa Knapp (born 1974 in Balham)[1] is an English folk singer, songwriter, fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist. Her singing voice has been described as "crystal clear" and reminiscent of Anne Briggs or Jeannie Robertson.[1] Two of her three albums have received five-starred reviews in the British national press.

Early life

Lisa Knapp was born in 1974 in Balham in South London[1] and raised in Tooting, also in South London.[2]

Albums

Her debut album, Wild and Undaunted, released in 2007, was Mojo 's Folk Album of the Year. It includes a cover version of Lal Waterson's song "Black Horse".[3]

Colin Irwin gave her 2013 album Hidden Seam, which included contributions by Martin Carthy and Kathryn Williams, five stars in a review for The Observer.[4] The lyrics of the album's opening track, "Shipping Song", derive from BBC Radio 4's Shipping Forecast.[5] Another song from the album, "Two Ravens", took the award for Best Original Song at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2014.[6]

Till April is Dead – A Garland Of May, Knapp's 2017 concept album about the month of May, "twists tradition... mixing in interviews about May Day rituals and samples of birdsong, buzzing flies and cuckoo clocks".[7] It received a five-starred review in The Guardian from Jude Rogers who described it as "overflowing with warmth, light and waywardness". "Knapp’s voice throughout", she said, "is a revelation, both pure and wild, springing free".[8] Writing in The Observer, Neil Spencer gave four stars to Till April is Dead – A Garland for May, which he described as completing "a trio of extraordinary albums".[9] Thomas Blake, for Folk Radio UK, said that the album "seeks to understand old songs and traditions in modern and often highly original ways. It is a real step forward from a genuinely groundbreaking artist".[10]

Personal life

Knapp is married to musician Gerry Diver, who co-produces her albums. [11]

Discography

Albums

  • Wild and Undaunted (2007), Ear to the Ground Music ETTGCD 001
  • Hidden Seam (2013), Navigator Records NAVIGATOR 084
  • Till April is Dead – A Garland Of May (2017), Ear to the Ground Music ETTGM 003CD

EPs

  • Hunt the Hare – A Branch Of May (2012), Ear to the Ground Music

Other musical contributions

Knapp sang "The Blacksmith" and "Bonnie at Morn" on Gerry Diver's album, Diversions (2002)[11] and also performed on two of the tracks on David Rotheray's 2013 album Answer Ballads.[12] She also sang "A Promise That I Keep" for the theme song for Wolfblood series 1–3.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. The Great Rock Bible. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. ↑ Wilks, John (11 May 2017). "Lisa Knapp on "Till April is Dead", collaborating with guitar legends and the immortal importance of the shipping forecast". Grizzly Folk. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Eccleston, Danny (14 October 2013). "Premiere: Lisa Knapp's Black Horse Gets Spooky Video". Mojo. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  4. ↑ Irwin, Colin (22 September 2013). "Lisa Knapp: Hidden Seam – review". The Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Track of the Week: Lisa Knapp – Shipping Song". Navigator Records. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Irwin, Colin (20 February 2014). "Folk is growing up but it still has a lot to learn". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  7. ↑ Rogers, Jude (18 June 2017). "Lisa Knapp review – folk delivered with lust and menace". The Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  8. ↑ Rogers, Jude (27 April 2017). "Lisa Knapp: 'Til April is Dead – a Garland of May review – dazzling folk wit". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  9. ↑ Spencer, Neil (30 April 2017). "Lisa Knapp: A Garland of May review – fearless folklore". The Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  10. ↑ Blake, Thomas (1 May 2017). "Lisa Knapp : Till April is Dead – A Garland for May". Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  11. 1 2 Irwin, Colin. "Artist Biography: Lisa Knapp". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  12. ↑ Zierke, Reinhard (19 May 2017). "David Rotheray: Answer Ballads". Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
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