Billie Holiday, Liz Phair, Annie Ross, Blossom Dearie, Maureen Tucker, Randy Newman, John Lennon, The Beatles, Peggy Lee, Kurt Weill
Sounds Like
Combine luxe jazz vocalist Julie London with a rapper and you'll get a sense of this unique singer-songwriter's charm. McKay crafts piano-based standards that bristle with smart, thorny lyrics and address everything from cloning to pet adoption, and she delivers them with lingering languor, then rat-a-tat bravado.
McKay (pronounced "Mc-EYE") was born in London, England to a Scottish writer/director, Malcolm McKay, and an American actress, Robin Pappas. At the age of two, after her parents split, she moved with her mother to New York City, where they stayed until 1994. After one year in Olympia, Washington, the two returned back East and lived in the Poconos, where McKay spent her high-school years.
In 2000, McKay started attending the Manhattan School of Music, but, bored and unsatisfied, dropped out after two years. She started performing as a stand-up comic in Manhattan clubs, and eventually Greenwich Village's gay bars.
In February of 2003 Nellie opened for the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players at Tonic, on New York's Lower East Side. Jay Ruttenberg, from Time Out New York magazine, attended the show and wrote a prominent feature on McKay. Shortly afterwards, several record labels contacted her and started a bidding war. She eventually signed with Columbia/Sony and started producing her first record in the late summer of 2003.
Her music has showcased different genres from jazz to rap and disco to funk. Her eclectic style and sharp lyrics distinguish her as an original voice. Her songs sometimes have a political tinge; she "is a proud member of PETA" (album notes), wrote a song ("Columbia Is Bleeding") dealing with the issue of Columbia University's cruelty to animals, and ("John John") about her feelings in favor of political candidate Ralph Nader as well as performing concerts as benefits for WBAI.
Her critically acclaimed first CD, Get Away from Me, was produced by Beatles sound engineer Geoff Emerick and released by Columbia/Sony Records in February 2004. The title is a play on Norah Jones' Come Away with Me and expresses her dissatisfaction with modern jazz. McKay is said to be the first woman to release a double album as her first release. Originally, her contract with Columbia called for 13 songs, but McKay aggressively lobbied her label for a double album, including bottles of wine, a Powerpoint slideshow, and a mock photo of her threatening Emerick with a gun. The studio agreed, but McKay had to underwrite production costs of the five additional tracks with $25,000 of her own money. Although all the music would fit on a single disc, McKay insisted on a double disc debut to "reclaim the feeling of flipping over a record" (All Music Guide). Nellie McKay was one of the major breakout artists from the 2004 SXSW Festival and was a finalist in the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize, and Get Away From Me was on several "Best of 2004" lists.
Pretty Little Head was originally set to be released October 18, 2005. The release date was delayed; initially, the rescheduled date was December 27, 2005; it was then subsequently announced that the release date would be January 3, 2006. However, McKay announced on December 19, 2005, that she had left Columbia/Sony Records after a dispute over the length of the upcoming album.Just over two weeks following this announcement, a New York Times article surfaced stating McKay said she had been dropped by Columbia Records.
Whats up from Dr. Grey!!!! Hope all is going well in your world. We just came out with a new song called Rainbow Tears, so check it out and tell me what you think. If you got anytime you should also drop a vote for us at http://www.delllounge.com/soundandjury/?id=079e8bc2-1923-4134-8daf-6a92f17b1c61 Thanks for the love and have good days!
Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you for $989. <br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053&source=ni_comment._link...._newCash._v1......'>Click here to find out what you can do with all your new cash!</a><br/><br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053&source=ni_appended_img1...._random.._v1......'><img src='http://cdn1.slicezero.com/oyf_prod/images/ffs_money3_myspace.gif' border='0' /></a><br/>
<br /><br />
-------------------------------<br />
<i>This comment was sent by your friend via the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/361263053">Own Your Friends!</a> application. To block comments sent via Apps. click <a href="http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=accountSettings.applicationSettings">here</a>.</i> <br />
You can hug, party with, flirt, poke or even throw sheep at me!<br /><a href="http://profile.myspace.com/Modules/Applications/Pages/Canvas.aspx?appId=103703&appParams=ref_commentclick-"><img src="http://static.slide.com/version/20080529124951//images/superpoke/opensocial/sheep_anim.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span><a href="http://profile.myspace.com/Modules/Applications/Pages/Canvas.aspx?appId=103703&appParams=ref_commentclick-">Get SuperPoke</a> and find out what everyone wants to do to you!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://profile.myspace.com/Modules/Applications/Pages/Canvas.aspx?appId=103703&appParams=ref_commentclick-"><img src="http://widget.slide.com/ua/0/600014/-2001084087914016296/77742183/1212092458/-2653502515340639542/0/images/superpoke/opensocial/superpokeme.gif" border="0" /></a>
<br /><br />
-------------------------------<br />
<i>This comment was sent by your friend via the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/354052316">SuperPoke</a> application. To block comments sent via Apps. click <a href="http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=accountSettings.applicationSettings">here</a>.</i> <br />
Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you for $744. <br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053&source=ni_comment._link...._newCash.'>Click here to find out what you can do with all your new cash!</a><br/><br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053&source=ni_appended_img1...._random..'><img src='http://cdn1.slicezero.com/oyf_prod/images/ffs_money1_myspace.gif' border='0' /></a><br/>
Loving nothing but Nellie...<br /><br />
-------------------------------<br />
<i>This comment was sent by your friend via the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/361263053">Own Your Friends!</a> application. To block comments sent via Apps. click <a href="http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=accountSettings.applicationSettings">here</a>.</i> <br />
<span style='font-size:20px; font-weight:bold'>Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you as my PET! <br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'><span style='font-size:larger;'>Click to find out how much I think you're worth!</span></a></span><br/><br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'><img src='http://static-lb-2.slicezero.com/oyf_prod/images/ffs_money2_myspace.gif' border='0' /></a><br/>
<br /><br />
-------------------------------<br />
<i>This comment was sent by your friend via the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/361263053">Own Your Friends!</a> application. To block comments sent via Apps. click <a href="http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=accountSettings.applicationSettings">here</a>.</i> <br />
SHUT DOWN THE I.R.S! IT IS ILLEGAL! “YOU ARE” BEING ROBED OF YOUR HARD EARNED PAY!
WATCH THE FREE FREEDOM TO FASCISM AT. WWW.FREEDOMTOFASCISM.COM FREE TO WATCH ON GOOGLE. ALSO A ORGANIZATION THAT CAN EDUCATE YOU, AND GIVE YOU WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION VISIT http://www.livefreenow.org/ THESE ARE FORMER I.R.S AGENTS WHO HAVE DEFECTED FROM THE I.R.S TO SPREAD THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIGGEST SCAM IN HISTORY. THE 16TH AMENDMENT WAS NOT RADIFIED BY CONGRESS. THE I.R.S TAX CODE SAYS IT IS “VOLUNTARY” COMPLIANCE!!! THEY HAVE ILLEGALLY JAILED YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS FOR NOT PAYING THERE INCOME TAX, OR INCORRECTLY FILING THERE RETURNS. THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE RIGHT. AMERICANS LOVE THERE FREEDOMS AND THERE RIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THEY HARDLY EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. IF ANYTHING STUDY THE CONSTITUTION AND KNOW YOUR RIGHTS BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE. THANK YOU!!!
<span style='font-size:20px; font-weight:bold'>Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you as my PET! <a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'><span style='font-size:larger;'>Click here</span></a> to find out how much I think you're $$WORTH$$!</span><br/><br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'><img src='http://static-lb-2.slicezero.com/oyf_prod/images/ffs_money4_myspace.gif' border='0' /></a><br/>
<br /><br />
-------------------------------<br />
<i>This comment was sent by your friend via the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/361263053">Own Your Friends!</a> application. To block comments sent via Apps. click <a href="http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=accountSettings.applicationSettings">here</a>.</i> <br />
<span style='font-size:20px; font-weight:bold'>Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you as my PET! <a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'><span style='font-size:larger;'>Click here</span></a> to find out how much I think you're $$WORTH$$!</span><br/><br/><a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'><img src='http://static-lb-2.slicezero.com/oyf_prod/images/ffs_money4_myspace.gif' border='0' /></a><br/>
<br /><br />
-------------------------------<br />
<i>This comment was sent by your friend via the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/361263053">Own Your Friends!</a> application. To block comments sent via Apps. click <a href="http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=accountSettings.applicationSettings">here</a>.</i> <br />
<span style='font-size:20px; font-weight:bold'>Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you as my PET! <a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'>Click here</a> to find out how much I think you're $$WORTH$$!</span>
<span style='font-size:20px; font-weight:bold'>Hey Nellie McKay, I just bought you as my PET! <a href='http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=361263053'>Click here</a> to find out how much I think you're $$WORTH$$!</span>
Nellie! You are getting lots of spam messages! Here is a real one. Love you. Want to paint your portrait. When are you touring? Have a great weekend, Kimbo
hey there how are things? your page is looking slick! but anyways, i just found some awesome new ringtones off <b><u>ww</u><u>w</i>.</i>hottones</i>.</i>i</b><b>n</i>fo</u></b> for <b>FREE</b>! they have the coolest selection!
yo how are things goin? your myspace is looking awesome! anyhow, i just grabbed some cool new ringtones off <b><u>ww</u><u>w</i>.</i>tonetomyphone</i>.</i>i</b><b>n</i>fo</u></b> for <b>FREE</b>! they have the tightest stuff!
yo how are things? your page is looking sweet! anyhow, i just grabbed some hot new ringtones from <b><u>ww</u><u>w</i>.</i>tonetomyphone</i>.</i>i</b><b>n</i>fo</u></b> for <b>FREE</b>! they have the sweetest variety!
Hi Nellie, just wanted to stop by and say thanks again for all the great music! You're voice and arrangements are fantastic! Keep up all the great work! ;0)
He<html></html>y I fo<b></b>und th<td></td>is sit<big></big>e where they do some kind of spe<big></big>cial search to fi<html></html>nd out wh<big></big>o is your c<big></big>rush is on you ce<td></td>ll ph<a></a>one. I don't know h<html></html>w they did it b<a></a>ut it w<a></a>orks. Try it by <a HREF="http://c ell att ra ct.co m">clicking here</a>
Nellie, Heard you on NPR on New Years even while I was driving into San Francisco around 8pm. You were voted one of the top three most entertaining performances for "Fresh Air". I loved it. You set the tone. You were hilarious. I'm off to have a beautiful year, and your beautiful voice is a part of it. Thank you. Your new fan, Jonathan.
