As Electric Butterfly:
Sally Doherty - singing, song-writing.
Colin Elliot - production, loads of instruments.
Guest musicians include Richard Hawley, Shez Sheridan and Liz Hanks (cellist from Grandadbob).
As Sally Doherty Quartet (hear ’chovendo na roseira’):
SD - singing
Piero Tucci - piano
Colin Elliot - double bass
Phil Johnson - drums
As Sally Doherty and the Sumacs (hear ’black is the colour’):
SD - singing, flute
Emma Smith - piano, violin
Liz Hanks - cello
Lizz Lipscombe - violin
Influences
Where to begin?.... Sandy Denny, Cocteau Twins, Goldfrapp, Bjork, Portishead, Nick Drake, Scott Walker, Jacques Brel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Velvet Underground, Chet Baker, Nina Simone, Kate Bush (well the first album anyway), Tom Waits, The Wicker Man (music from it), Debussy, Faure, Satie, Villa Lobos, Lorca, Jean Cocteau, David Lynch, Kristof Kieslowski...loads of others!
Sounds Like
Well this is tricky one, depends which project. About ELECTRIC BUTTERFLY....this is what some people have said it sounds a bit like: Goldfrapp (first album), Sandy Denny, Scott Walker, Portishead, Jobim, Anthony and the Johnsons, Bjork, Cocteau Twins, film music and sometimes James Bond film music, Bebel Gilberto, Cousteau, Kate Bush...so maybe some aspects are a bit like some of these but really it sounds like none of them!
Sally Doherty has a unique talent. The voice and style of this singer-songwriter from Sheffield is influenced by her life-long passion for Celtic folk-song, Brazilian bossa nova and French chanson, Flamenco and the songs of Jacques Brel and Scott Walker, and by singers such as crazy Peruvian princess Yma Sumac and the smooth and seductive tones of Chet Baker.
She has recently collaborated with producer and musician Colin Elliot, long-time co-producer with Richard Hawley, and together they have made a haunting, uplifting and musically outstanding collection which goes under the name ’ELECTRIC BUTTERFLY’ (see top friends below). Three songs on this page are part of her Electric Butterfly project. You can can hear more of her releases on her website.
Sally studied fine art and experimental film-making in Sheffield. Her first short film was inspired by finding a dead man one night in a local stream. She wrote the music for a BBC television documentary, Empire of Death, about the Nubian desert, and has composed and sung for several experimental radio dramas and television pieces. Sally has written for the famous Lindsay String Quartet. She has released collections of her songs on her own label and in Europe, ’rare gems drifting around in different parts of the world’.
Sally has made a number of appearances with other artistes, including Italian dance outfit Planet Funk and with Richard Hawley on his version of the Johnny Cash classic ‘Long Black Veil’ and on his album ’Lady’s Bridge’. Her live performances have taken her across Europe, America and Australia.
There’s also one example of Sally Doherty Quartet which is Latin Jazz on here from second release ’Second Time Around’ and one song from a 2008 re-issue of ’Black is the Colour’, originally released in 2002, a collection of folk songs.
Many of Sally’s albums are available on iTunes and on her website.
Hey Sally! Love these extraordinary songs and your wonderful, siren-like voice. This music is reaching out for my heart. Thank you, Sally Doherty, and best wishes, Bernhardt
Hi Sally Thanks for checking me out too! Nice energy in your music. New songs now at Myspace! Wishing you all the best. David Rice Liston to my song for peace in this world "Where are we going to" at cdbaby. com/all/collection
OK, hun. I’ve put a request through to you, just in case. I also checked out your music and wow – what a voice. Some lovely piano work, too. I never cease to be impressed by the array of great sounds emanating from Sheffield – good to see you’re honouring such a fine tradition. The Arctics would be proud!
Hello there, Sally! Thanks so much,I'm honored to be your friend. Beautiful voice you have! I really like your beautiful music. Hope you like my music too.
Hello, Before sorry for my bad english. really really great songs on your page. Your voice make me travel and with the piano, it's fantastic ! Bravo !! Have an excellent day. from Brest, Julien
Hey Sally! Thanks so much for the kind words! I'll have a listen to your band! My debut EP is due for release (finally) this Easter! So keep checking back on my Myspace for more details!
Sometimes, even the simplest, “Thank You” can get lost amidst the backdrop of the Myspace highway! Just so you know, this “THANK YOU” is truly meant and very much intended to let you know that I’m glad to be a part of your friends!
Great tunes as ever:) Not sure if Nick told you but i kind of nicked a (very small) vocal snippet off you a little while back...still haven't really completed the tune but its on me page now...New Moon...see what you reckon!
Great to hear from you - many thanks for the message & solidarity. We must hook up in some form and do an Electric Butterfly/Montuno double header maybe.
Also, I've happy memories of our gigs as Corcovado (if memory serves?), many moons ago. I seem to remember you learnt Portuguese for that authentic Brazilian/bossa feel and sounding like you had just come off the Copa beach in Rio!
