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Art School Girlfriend


Born: ???
Location: Wrexham, Wales
Real Name: Polly Mackey
Genre: Indietronica
Years Active: 2011 -
Way of Working: One woman band
Associated: Marika Hackman

Essential Releases

Dummy

Soft Landing (2023)

A culmination of years exploring new sounds.



When Art School Girlfriend, or Polly Mackey as she was then known, moved from the small town of Wrexham to London she didn't only bring herself but her entire band, the shoegaze outfit Deaf Club. Their shared dream of success saw them land a deal with the Domino Recording Company, but the group eventually split in 2014.

However, the big city had more in store for Polly Mackey. It wasn't long before she embraced her interest for electronica and started DJing in local clubs and radio stations, gaining a cult following and providing an income to support her as she discovered new influences.

Eventually, she would release new work that combined the dreamy textures of shoegaze with a variety of dance-oriented styles, such as atmospheric drum & bass, to create a distinctive blend of a rich inner life expressed through the ferocious power of raw sonics.


Meaning of the Name


An old girlfriend of Polly's came up with the name for them to use together as a pair of DJ's. After the couple split, Polly used the name for herself.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
60

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
40

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
80

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
40

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
85

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
70

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
90

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
80

Singing

i Technical attributes.
85

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
80

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
55

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
75

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
40

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
70

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
45

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications

Charts

Critics

Similar Acts



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