Audiences
earning all

John Goodman

This Week Editor
jooodinan@nsnews.com

BRITISH electronica chanteuse Dido may be rel-
atively unknown but her music has been making a

name for itself over the past year.

The savvy soundtrack to the Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding
Doors used her song “Thank You” and another “Here With

Me” is the theme for the new
TV series Roswell. Non-stop
touring to sold-out audiences
has also helped to get the
word out.

We caught up with Dido
earlier this week before she
was to go on stage at San
Francisco’s Fillmore.
“Nobody knew anything
about me last May,” she
laughs. “It’s been very nice
to see all these smiling faces
singing along to the songs.
We always seem to be in a
good place with a good vibe.
Ive never played somewhere

27

where I’ve wondered ‘What are we doing here?

Prior to her solo career taking off Dido worked with her
brother Rollo Armstrong’s band Faithless. “I never intended
to stay with Faithless. | was always doing my own album.” She
wrote and co-produced her debut CD No Angel with Rollo,
with most of the songs recorded in 1998 although it has just

been released on Clive Davis’ Arista label.

Davis, a man who likes to guide his artists’ careers person-
ally, has found another gem in Dido. She made it easy for him
to “discover” her — the songs on No Angel were recorded
before he heard the finished product. “Production is a huge
part of it. Most of the songs are complete before wz go in.

Tve got a studio at home so I write there.”

Although Dido doesn't write specifically for films her
atmospheric ballads work well as soundtracks for contempo-
rary life. “I love it when people use the material for films. You
get to see your songs in slightly different contexts.”

Her growing legion of fans identify strongly with the music

and keep track of her every move on the Internet. “They
know more about me than I do. They ran a competition
about me and I couldn’t answer all the questions.”

Youth centre hosts bands

@ Youth Centre hosts Band Night, William
Griffin Ree Centre: Friday, Feb. 25
Three bands participated in band night.

- Strychnine and Six Block, Radius from the
North Shore and Trash Paradox from Langley.
I was only able to catch the first two acts.
Trash Paradox are hard rock. The beginnings

“the songs were catchy, however there was
tuo much crammed in as the songs progressed,
(keep it simple) A young act with potential.
Bass: Jaben; Guitar/vocals:Al; Drums: Simon.
All girl line-up Six Block Radius are alternative
rock, Sweet vocals. Overall a good clean sound,

lots of potential. Keep it up. Drums: Shona;
Bass/Vocals: Lisa; Guitar/vocals: Shannon.

& Martha Wainwright: The Railway Club,
Monday, Feb. 21
Velevety vocals and rich melody, very meitow.

@ The Show Business Giants: The Railway
Club, Thursday, Feb. 24.

Wry and dry. The Show Business Giants are
clearly a joint effort. Together these musicians
create a distinct synergy. Featuring Tom and

Six Block Radius:
Lisa, Shona and Shannon

See Giants Page 30

1)

Photo Andrew Southam

DIDO performs tonight at Sonar (66 Water St.) on a double-bill with Tara MacLean.
Tickeis are $10 from TicketMaster 280-4444. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Delusion
back in all
it’s fury

This Week Editor
{good man@usnews.com

“When Pve had my tincture,
I kind of like Stockhausen
and Harry Parch (sic). It’s
way out stuff but really quite
groovy.” — David Bowie,
National Post, Feb. 26,

GB xkexke Delusion of
the Fury (A Ritual of
Dream and Delusion) —
Harry Partch (innova 406
Enclosure VI)

IN last weekend’s National
Post a 53-year-old David
Bowie “interviewed” him-
self as a 23-year-old.

At one point, discussing
his record collection, the

See Femi Page 32

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