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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
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| 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
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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
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Leaves - Interview
07/02
LL Cool Jay Interview
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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
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