April March
April March | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elinor Lanman Blake[1] April 20, 1965 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Indie pop |
| Occupations | singer/songwriter, animator |
| Instruments | vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Website | aprilmarch |
April March (born Elinor Lanman Blake; April 20, 1965)[2] is an American singer-songwriter.[3] Considering herself to be a "lifelong Francophile", she performs in the English and French languages.[4] March is notable for her France Gall/Serge Gainsbourg-based cover song "Chick Habit" ("Laisse tomber les filles"), which was featured in Jamie Babbit's 1999 film But I'm a Cheerleader and in Quentin Tarantino's 2007 Death Proof.[2]
April March is also a professional writer,[5] illustrator,[6][7] and animator,[8] whose work includes the Jack White children's book We're Going to Be Friends[9][10] and visual creations for Pee-wee's Playhouse, motion credits for Madonna's movie and video Who's That Girl,[11] and others. She briefly dated John Kricfalusi during her employment at Spümcø. She worked as a layout artist on Nickelodeon's The Ren & Stimpy Show and wrote the episodes "Stimpy's Fan Club" and "Stimpy's Cartoon Show"; both episodes were produced after Kricfalusi's firing from the series, as she was among those who refused to join Games Animation alongside Kricfalusi, Jim Smith, Vincent Waller and Richard Pursel.[12]
April March founded her first band, The Pussywillows, in 1987.[13] Since then, March has recorded as a solo artist and has appeared in motion picture soundtracks, as well as performing the theme song for the Cartoon Network series I Am Weasel.[14]
Education
April March participated in a French junior high student exchange program: "French culture was something my mother presented to me as a greener pasture when I was a little girl."[15] She graduated in 1983 from Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.[16] Afterward, March studied with Parsons School of Design and also the Disney-founded Character Animation Program at California Institute of the Arts.
Discography
Albums
- Gainsbourgsion! (1995) – Released in France and Japan
- April March Sings Along with the Makers (1996) – Collaboration with The Makers
- Paris in April (1996) – International expanded version of Gainsbourgsion!
- Chrominance Decoder (1996)
- Superbanyair (1997) (Japanese version of Chrominance Decoder)
- April March and Los Cincos (1998) – Collaboration with Los Cincos[17]
- Triggers (2002)[18][19]
- Magic Monsters (2008) – Collaboration with Steve Hanft
- April March & Aquaserge (2013) – Collaboration with Aquaserge
- In Cinerama (2021) – Originally a "Record Store Day"-only release, before a wide release in 2022
- April March Meets Staplin (2023) – Collaboration with Staplin
EPs
- Chick Habit (1995)
- April March and Los Cincos Featuring the Choir (1998) – Japan-only limited edition featuring Petra Haden and Bennett
- Dans les yeux d'April March (1999) – Released in France
- Sometimes When I Stretch (2003)
- Palladium (2021) – Collaboration with Olivia Jean
Singles
- "Voo Doo Doll / Kooky" (1994)
- "Jesus And I Love You" (1998) – Orgazmo Soundtrack
- "Garçon Glaçon"(1999) – Nothing New (Remix) as B-Side
- "Mignonette" (1999) – Mon Petit Ami as B-Side
- "Sugar (Remix)" (1999)
- "RosEros" (2010) – Collaboration with Bertrand Burgalat
- "Lift Off" (2022)
Compilations
- Lessons of April March (1998) – Compilation
References
- ^ "Attention Cherie". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "April March". AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "April March". French Institute - Alliance Français. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012.
- ^ "Pop and Jazz Listings: April March", The New York Times, January 30, 2004, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ "Lana Wood, Natalie's Little Sister, Has Plenty to Say (by Elinor Blake)", The New York Times, August 3, 2019, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ Meet Elinor Blake, Illustrator Behind Jack White's Children's Book 'We're Going to Be Friends', Billboard, November 20, 2017, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ This White Stripes Song Is Now the Perfect Children's Book, M Live (Michigan), February 1, 2018, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ April March Talks Ren & Stimpy, French Influence, and New Musical Projects, Lost In Jersey, June 4, 2024, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ "Exploring the Creative Process With 'Live Art'", The New York Times, January 12, 2022, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ Michigan Notable Books 2018: Six Winners Talk About the Award and Their Work, Detroit Free Press, January 14, 2018, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ April March Talks New Album With French Duo Staplin, Paste Magazine, May 8, 2023, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ Komorowski 2017, p. 374.
- ^ "April March, Chrominance Decoder". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015.
- ^ I Am Weasel, Flix Patrol, July 15, 1997, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ "New Music: April March and Aquaserge - Des Tics et Des Tocs", The Guardian, February 27, 2013, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ About This Artist, Hash Brand New, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ Music: Billboard Picks, Billboard, October 18, 2003, retrieved July 10, 2024
- ^ "Lawrence Lanahan, Review". Prefix Mag. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016.
- ^ April March (Elinor Blake) - Triggers - Album Cover Art, Daily Vault, July 23, 2016, retrieved July 10, 2024
Works cited
- Komorowski, Thad (2017). Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorized Ren & Stimpy Story. Albany, Georgia: BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1629331836.