Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh is an American singer/songwriter. She was born in Atlanta and raised in Newport, Rhode Island. In the early 1980s she and stepsister Tanya Donelly formed a band called Throwing Muses. They were the first American band to be signed by the British 4AD record label. The Throwing Muses would prove highly influential; they were pioneering a sound that can be described as 'alternative rock', though the term didn't exist yet.
Hersh is the author of Paradoxical Undressings and Toby Snax, a children's book she both wrote and illustrated. Her newest album, Crooked, is published as a book.
The word 'Rat' in the title of her memoir alludes to The Rat, a music venue in Boston, where the Muses played regularly. Rat Girl deals with overcoming one's demons, how to stay true to your own beliefs and the process of songwriting. Hersh' accounts of being onstage and playing with the band are vivid, full of sound and color.
Currently she leads the hardcore punk influenced trio 50 Foot Wave. She is the co-founder of CASH, a non profit open source software project, helping recording artists.
Throughout the year of publication, Throwing Muses are to perform songs from the book Rat Girl in a series of session recordings. These Season Sessions (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer) will be released in four special edition cd's. These collections are already available as a free download.
text by Ytje / drawing by Ytje