Wilby - Bio


Rosie Wilby grew up in Ormskirk, Lancashire – a quiet northern English town and not the most exciting place to be a teenager. So she occupied herself by forming bands and organising gigs in the street, whilst learning Tracy Chapman songs in her bedroom. Arriving in London in the early 1990s to study film and television, she joined a women’s vocal group and was inspired by the beauty of vocal harmony – still an integral part of her music. Meanwhile, she spent hours at record store listening posts discovering such artists as Tom Waits, Al Green and Portishead. Inspired she began to find her own sound. Under the name Wilby, Rosie’s music has evolved through working with a string of talented musicians. Expressive, romantic and lyrical, this unique style has been honed over 2 years of playing live around the UK, both solo and with a band. In July 2000, Rosie released her debut album Precious Hours on her own record label, securing distribution in the UK and Australia. It is also due to be launched in the US via Revolver Music. Described by one journalist as a work of ‘musical genius’ it encapsulated a style of melancholy songs wrapped in delicate summery pop arrangements with layered sumptuous vocal harmonies. Tracks from the album have received airplay on radio stations across the UK and have featured heavily in many Internet charts. Rosie Wilby has also appeared on Tyne Tees, Carlton, Sky One, Sky News and Meridian TV. Writing and recording has begun for a second album, due to be released in Summer 2003. The first fruits of these sessions are the tracks from forthcoming single Be There, which display a darker, more aggressive and dramatic edge.