PJ Harvey

Picture of PJ Harvey

Artist Type: Person
Artist Born: 1969

Similar Surge Artists:

Tori Amos

External Links:

Surge Tracks

Artist Biography

Polly Jean Harvey, born October 9, 1969 in Yeovil and raised in nearby Corscombe (Dorset), is a British singer-songwriter. She has recorded as a solo artist under the name PJ Harvey, but she began her career as part of a trio (with drummer Rob Ellis and bassist Steve Vaughan) also named PJ Harvey.

Early material released by the trio on "Dry," "4 Track Demos," and "Rid of Me" was praised by critics for its raw blues and punk influenced lo-fi rock sound and dark, witty lyrics. After the trio broke up, Harvey released "To Bring You My Love," a blues-heavy album that expanded the range of her sound through the incorporation of strings, organs, and electronic sound effects. Her stage show became more theatrical, with Harvey performing in ballgowns, pink catsuits, wigs and garish, vampyresque make-up. Never one to rest, she followed this album with the softer, more experimental "Is This Desire?" and then "Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea," which combined her more guitar-driven work with cleaner, lusher arrangements. In 2004 she released "Uh Huh Her," which marked a return to her earlier, rawer sound.

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Artist Discography