PJ Harvey
Great BritainBiography of PJ Harvey
Early Life and CareerPJ Harvey, born Polly Jean Harvey, is a British alternative singer, musician, and songwriter. She was born on October 9, 1969, in the small English town of Yeovil. From a young age, she learned to play the guitar and saxophone, and by her teenage years, Polly was already playing in various bands as a session musician.
In 1991, Harvey founded her own project, PJ Harvey, by inviting bassist Steve Vaughan and drummer Robert Ellis to collaborate. That same year, the trio made their first recording, which cost around five thousand dollars. Their debut single, "Dress," released on the independent British label "Too Pure," became a sensation in the indie rock scene. The second EP, "Sheela-Na-Gig," also garnered a lot of praise. The band's rising popularity was further fueled by Harvey's provocative topless photos on the cover of "New Musical Express" magazine.
Breakthrough and Solo Career
PJ Harvey's debut album, "Dry," received significant acclaim, and its distribution was taken over by the American label "Island Records." In support of the album, PJ Harvey embarked on a major tour, culminating in an appearance at the Reading Festival. However, the sudden popularity took its toll on Harvey's mental health, and she found herself on the verge of a breakdown after the tour ended. Nonetheless, her fans demanded more, and after a brief hiatus, the band resumed their work.
For their second album, they enlisted producer Steve Albini ("Pixies," "Breeders"), who added his signature noise-guitar sound to "Rid of Me." While the tour in support of "Rid of Me" was successful, Harvey parted ways with Vaughan and Ellis afterward and began her solo career. In 1993, she released a four-track demo, "4-Track Demos," followed by the full-length album "To Bring You My Love" in 1995. The album featured bassist Mick Harvey, guitarists John Parish and Joe Gore, and was produced by Mark Ellis, also known as Flood. The sound of PJ Harvey became richer, incorporating bluesy tones. The album reached number 40 on the American charts, and the song "Down by the Water" received extensive airplay on radio and MTV.
Later Career
After completing another round of tours, Harvey took a break from her own work. However, in 1996, she broke her silence by appearing on Nick Cave's album "Murder Ballads" and releasing a collaborative album with John Parish titled "Dance Hall at Louse Point." Following the relatively unsuccessful "Is This Desire?" album, PJ Harvey reunited with Robert Ellis and Mick Harvey, releasing the powerful record "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea." The album's aggressive style was influenced by Harvey's six-month stay in New York. In 2001, the album won the "Mercury Prize," making Harvey the first female recipient of the award.
In the new millennium, PJ Harvey remained highly active. In addition to working on her solo albums, she participated in numerous side projects, including collaborations with musicians from "Queens of the Stone Age" and Marianne Faithfull. Furthermore, Polly Jean also ventured into film acting and published books of her poetry.
