Band of the Week: Eliza Doolittle

[March 28 - April 3]

Eliza Doolittle
Sounds Like: Pop
Terroir: London, England
Drinking Buddies: Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Lenka

Synopsis: The long-lasting bubblegum pop with a delectable taste.

Makes You Want To: Skip down the street; Sing + Dance; Walk in the park.
[Personal Blog] / [Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Eliza Doolittle.


It's been awhile, readers! But Voilà! is sort of back in action. If you're new to this little game we play, it is weekly tradition to feature a wicked musician every week. Or at least try to. Just something that's been bubbly bouncing out of the speakers into our lives; something that we feel is worth sharing with the masses of eager ears begging for some delicious tuneage.

And are we ever returning to the music scene with a delicious piece of candy. Meet Eliza Doolittle. That would be Eliza Caird if you know her personality. But her My Fair Lady-inspired pseudonym has been the one to springboard this delightful, curly-haired darling into some fairly significant international spotlight.

Let's get things straight: Eliza Doolittle isn't your prototypical pop artist. Okay, maybe she's super stylish, has a delectable voice, and is absolutely stunning. But c'mon, let's put the fundamentals of this lovely lady aside and get to the fundamentals of her sing-song. Her band got their feet on the musical ground back in 2009 with the release of Eliza's self-titled, debut EP. Not only did this EP flare up like oil in a fire, it caught the eyes and ears of listeners and major talents across the UK and beyond. Her first songs got several remixes made of them, including one by the likes of The XX.

This helped to propel Eliza along to her first album, equally self-titled, and equally infectious. Her musical style is unfathomably bubbly and fun-loving, light with a sense of jubilance, and a voice reminiscent of Kate Nash. Pair this with a proper band of lads to accompany her, a quick wit, and a flirty sense of lyricism, and you have a road well paved for some excellent hits that will have nearly any listener cooing over her her quirk.

Eliza's quick success has placed her as a shining star quickly rising in the sky over the UK. Her singles "Skinny Genes" and "Pack Up" both have scored her numerous honours, and both got their own nifty music videos. Tonnes of media outlets have picked up on her rising fame, on aiding in making her rise further exponential. Her success even landed her a number of gigs at SXSW 2011, which I was fortunate to attend, meaning her sound is only expected to expand across the seas. And why shouldn't it? Her viral success is the best sort of ailment you can receive, giving you symptoms of random public singing and dancing. You'll want to catch yourself a bit of Eliza Doolittle.

After her stay in the Texas capital, and a brief stint here and there whilst on tour, Eliza Doolittle and her gang of misfits have returned to the UK. She'll be touring throughout Great Britain, bouncing around from several gigs and festivals. Eliza Doolittle's eponymous debut has been out for awhile now, and is finally reaching American and international audiences through regular music outlets. Or, of course, you could snag some music from iTunes. There are tonnes of videos and remixes of her songs. Whoever the dancer is in "Pack Up" is FANTASTIC, the paper-cutout version of "Skinny Genes" is too fun to watch, and I'm a particular fan of her latest single, "Mr Medicine." Check them all out! Or, if you're just curious about what Eliza and co. is up to, wander over to her personal blog and check it out for yourself. In the meantime, I recommend this nifty acoustic, rooftop performance. And until next time, peace out!