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Lucy Mongrel Who Is She and What Does She Want? Tony Engelhart

LUCY MONGREL

Who is Lucy Mongrel? Sexist jokes aside, this is one world-alternative mongrel artist. A bit like David Byrne and Frank Zappa, perhaps even Marianne Faithful. Now where did I put that Mars bar?

14/04/2002

Who is Lucy Mongrel? Good question! Weird, idiosyncratic, amusing, and bewildering are just a few words to describe Lucy Mongrel’s self-titled debut disc. World-alternative would be the best way to categorize (if you dare to attempt it) this music as Lucy combines shades of African, Cuban, Brazilian and Spanish rhythms in a mosh pit of sound, which is both gratifying to the ear as well as pleasantly irksome.

Having been compared to David Byrne and Frank Zappa on an estrogen patch, the Seattle based Lucy Mongrel is about as cutting-edge as they come. One could easily compare this recording to Daniel Dax’s Inky Bloaters because of the ethnic instrumentation, yet Mongrel is more diverse than Dax ever was, as she dabbles in spoken word and social commentary. Lucy Mongrel’s vocals range in styles from Bjork, Lene Lovich, Nina Hagen and Marianne Faithful.

However, the question remains, who is Lucy Mongrel? Actually Lucy is the invention of Grammy nominated blues singer, Kate Hart. Kate has been a staple on the Northwest blues scene for close to 30 years. Vocalist, producer, promoter, creator of Seattle Women in Rhythm and Blues, co-owner of Joe Records, 10 solo recordings and a handful of Awards, Ms. Hart is not only extremely talented but also a savvy businesswoman. So why did she invent such an odd alter ego? In Kate’s words, “I really wanted to create something that had no rules. My only goal was that they couldn’t play it on the radio. I wanted it to be completely out of the box. So I was writing all these weird lyrics, and I needed music that fit the lyrics and rhythms I was hearing in my head.”

These origins and influences are felt throughout this recording. With an up-beat middle-eastern vibe combining banjo, electric guitar, and poignant lyrics, Meet In The Streets, kicks off the recording in immaculate style with stories of misfits and lost dreams. Livin’ The Blues is another experiment in sound. Although the origins of the lyrics are bluesy, the percussion in this song is the moving of a woodpile and a saw. Lucy Mongrel gets political on the final track, Freedom. With obvious ties to the plight of Northern Ireland, this track includes Gaelic Spoken word, bagpipes, tin whistle, mandolin and thought-provoking lyrics.

With such an eclectic recording, one has to wonder, who inspired Kate or Lucy? “So many different things inspired Lucy. Bjork, Frank Zappa, PJ Harvey, Talking Heads, Son House, Was Was Not, and African, Celtic, Brazilian, Gypsy, Cuban, Cajun Music and Baba Maal” says Hart.

Mongrel music is how Kate categorizes her music, but what is it? “Mongrel describes the music. A mish mash of styles that collide with one another. Lucy is a name I absolutely love. It is silly and tarty and well…loose.” Explains the artist.

When asked if it was a hard transition from blues to “mongrel”, Kate had this to say, “Not really, since the lyrics I was writing weren’t for blues songs, and since I tended to do more of the Cajun and rock-a-billy stuff when I sang so rhythmically, it really wasn’t that much of a stretch. And even though I have been singing blues forever, I have sung many other styles. I think singing is like acting…she should be able to take on the persona of the subject matter.”

Does Lucy Mongrel have a message or is just for amusement? “The life is a paradox. All of life dwells in the gray area. I don’t believe in right and wrong….black and white….good or bad. All things are necessary, and we are not to judge what goes on. Lucy cares a great deal about everything, but her sense of humor is intact.”

The phenomenal success took everyone by surprise. The record is currently on rotation on over 1500 stations, is charted number 21 on college radio, featured on Joe’s Blue Plate Special (the most syndicated college radio show in the U.S. with an estimated 2,000,000 listeners) and syndicated by Trans World Broadcasting on 78 commercial stations.” It was truly surprising that it did, and still does, get so much radio play!” exclaims Kate.

Although nominated in 2001 for the coveted Grammy for Best New Alternative Artist, this recording must have been off the wall for that conservative constituency.

Eclectic, unique, avant-garde, and totally original in her approach, Lucy Mongrel a.k.a. Kate Hart has perhaps created her own genre, as it would be almost impossible to label her music anything except Mongrel.

Tony Engelhart for Crud Magazine© 2002



04/02 1 Giant Leap - My Culture
04/02 Elfpower Interview - Andrew Rieger - Creatures
04/02 Frou Frou Interview - Guy Sigsworth/Imogen Heap
04/02 Gomez Interview - Ian Ball
04/02 Idlewild - Live - London Astoria
04/02 K's Choice Interview
04/02 Leaves - Live - Camden Dingwall
04/02 Longwave Interview - Exit
04/02 Lucy Mongrel Interview
04/02 Oasis - The Hindu Times
04/02 Phantom Planet - Interview
04/02 Unwritten Law - Interview
04/02 VUE - Coordinates Interview
05/02 BRMC - LIve - Kentish Town, London
05/02 Breeders - Title K
05/02 FC Kahuna - Machine Says Yes
05/02 Moco - Live - London Monarch
05/02 Need New Body - Interview
05/02 The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Live - Soundhause, Northampton
05/02 The Bellrays - Meet The Bellrays
06/02 Fleadh Festival - Finsbury Park
06/02 Frou Frou Coordinates Interview
06/02 Incubus - Interview - Mark Einziger
06/02 North Mississippi Allstars - Interview
06/02 Papa Roach - She Loves Me Not
06/02 Proud Mary - Live - Northampton, Soundhaus
06/02 Pulp - Live - Sherwood Pines, Edwinstowe
06/02 Reindeer section - You Are My Joy
06/02 Silverchair - Diorama


06/02 Something Corporate - Leaving Through The Window
06/02 Soinc Youth - Interview
06/02 The Burn - The Smiling Face
06/02 The Coral - Live - Roadmender, Northampton
06/02 The LIbertines - Live - The Social, Nottingham
06/02 The Vines, Sheffield Leadmill
06/02 Trik Turner - Interview
06/02 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Live, Soundhaus, Northampton
07/02 12 Stones Interview
07/02 Arolo -Interview
07/02 Buy To Let Doncaster - Anti Social Behaviour
07/02 Cassius - Interview
07/02 Farrah - Interview
07/02 Glassjaw - Interview
07/02 Neil Michael Haggerty - Interview
07/02 Hoobastank - Running Away
07/02 Leaves - Interview
07/02 LL Cool Jay Interview
07/02 Oasis - Live - Finsbury Park, London
07/02 Polyphonic Spree - Live - Camden Monarch
07/02 Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf
07/02 Super Furry Animals - Interview
07/02 The Beatings - Live - Metro Club London
07/02 The Bellrays + The D4 - Virgin Megastore, Oxford Street London
January 2001
July - August 2001
September - October 2001
November - December 2001
January - March 2002
April - July 2002
August - December 2002


 
 
 

 

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