Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Neil Young, The Byrds, The Saints / Chris Bailey, The Velvet Underground /Lou Reed, The Beach Boys, REM, The Smiths, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads / David Byrne, Hank Williams, Joy Division, The Cure, Jimi Hendrix, The Pixies, The Sound, The Cocteau Twins, Love
Sounds Like
A walk through a forest of soft petals and surrounding mountains of velour and fallen trees. Branches strewn on the path that ache with each thoughtful footstep.
Sumishta Brahm singer and writer of 13 frightened Girls originally performed solo under the name taken from the early 60's William Castle B-movie.
13 Frightened Girls supported bands on the LA club scene, including The Saints (Chris Bailey), Camper Van Beethoven and Adrian Belew. In the early 80's Sumishta lived in New York City, met Jack Rabid and worked for his influential alternative music magazine, The Big Takeover. The high-point of her Manhattan sojourn was the occasion when Bob Dylan joined in, on piano, while she sang one of her songs at a rehearsal studio and she was introduced to him and generally in her vicinity for an hour.
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Sumishta relocated to England where 13 Frightened Girls was formed into a full band with the backing of Iain Shedden, formerly of the Saints, on drums, guitarist Keith Williams and Lode Vandermeulen on bass. It was in 1991 that 13 Frightened Girls then released a single on The Foundation Label, owned by Stephen Street (producer of Morrissey, Blur and the Cranberries). The single, 'Lost At Sea' was produced by Pat Fish (aka The Jazz Butcher) and received favourable reviews.
In the UK she toured as a support solo slot for Richard Thompson and performed support slots for Heidi Berry and The Nivens (with whom she also toured as backing vocalist and guitarist), Lucinda Williams , Andy White and the South African world music stars Johnny Clegg & Savuka . She has also featured on two Creation Records recordings by The Jazz Butcher ("Cult Of The Basement" and "Condition Blue") and with Adrian Borland & The Citizens "Alexandria". (Adrian Borland of The Sound ).
Sumishta's vocals have been described as similar to that of Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays), Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs), etc., comparison's aside, she and Keith Williams are uniquely and unmistakably 13 Frightened Girls!
View Dave Freak's video for "LOST AT SEA" -
Many thanks to Pat Fish:
Just got through listening to all the songs that you have up at the mo. Really good .... every time I listen to them they sound even better than before. Just great! All the best J.
Hey, recognise you from playing The Apple Tree! Good stuff, just reading your 'about', did you really have Bob Dylan join in while you were rehearsing? Amazing!
(just noticed you already have a video there from today, that was quick!)
