teacups began when elizabeth and chelsea started to busk to earn enough money for dinner. the only songs in their repertoire were those of the jenny lewis record 'rabbit fur coat'.
eventually chelsea made elizabeth promise that they would be a real band instead of spending friday nights competing with the newly erected henna tattoo stall.
fate/dumb luck led them to their first real gig in a beautiful circus tent.
unfortunately, while they would pretend to be a real band, calling it nap club would probably be more appropriate since they would spend many a 'band practice' sleeping on chelsea's heated carpets, having discussions about harry potter and fantasizing about having another star wars marathon.
one day talita found them. like MAGIC she brought the fun and a double bass to practice. chelsea whispered to liz that they should invite her to join because she was super pretty and didn't like sleeping. liz agreed.
after that the trio wrote a handful of new songs which they peddled around town, playing gigs and offering home-made cupcakes wherever they went.
they played on the radio and even went on a road trip to buy an accordion. tears were shed after talita's band-wagon was broken into and goodies were stolen. but after writing an angry rap addressed to the thieves and securing a new and improved keyboard, all was forgotten and teacups carried on, recording six songs intended for an EP entitled 'sleepy ep'.
teacups were lucky enough to be featured on an entire page of the groove guide. chelsea's grandma was pretty impressed even though she couldn't read the tiny print.
unexpectedly, teacups were asked to open for swedish born songwriter josé gonzález. the big day arrived after months of anticipation and rehersing in chelsea's bathroom.
they survived talita driving on the wrong side of the road and chelsea driving herself crazy screen-printing deer onto fabric pouches to play to a large audience of josé gonzález fans.
the pouches containing limited edition singles were sold out on the night and teacups heads were spinning with glee just like the carnival ride sharing their name.
later, teacups had a smashing time opening for cat power and kimya dawson.
teacups trivia: teacups is exactly half indonesian [talita full, liz half, chelsea none], talita moonlights in jazz, elizabeth never rides shotgun, chelsea has great hair.
by chelsea in the third person.
ps. we've just released our debut album "forest fiction" into the wild. please take one home with you, it needs love. you can find them now in record stores in new zealand, or online if you're too far away:
-amplifier -smoke cds -marbecks
thank you x
OUR VERY FIRST MUSIC VIDEO of 'lily's eyes', made by the WONDERFUL Jessie Taylor Smith:
I have always wanted to listen to Teacups when im not on the computer and yes, YAAAAAAAAAAY to your album!!!! Thank you! Im going to ask my friend in Aucks to send one to me in Hawaii! :D I cannot wait to have your album in my own hands!
Hey there, Just writing to say how much i love your new album. I ventured all the way up to Auckland just to buy it from the birthplace of Teacups :) Keep writing, you girls are awesome. I'd love to see you in Wellington this year!
THANX FOR BEING FRIENDS- Merry Xmas & Happy New Year! PLS join me on Youtube http://lnk.ms/2w9vt Twitter http://lnk.ms/4Mnjl Facebook http://lnk.ms/30gS8 REVERBNATION http://lnk.ms/30gSB Check me out on my Widget....Songs,Videos,Info,blogs,Store with downloads etc....All in one WIDGET! I'm a Songwriter & need someone to perform my songs.
....FRIZZ RECORDS is proud to announce our fourth LP release...
LEILA ADU has been described as 'A Nina Simone for the Noughties', and her two acclaimed albums infuse a broadly 'art-rock' approach with elements of torch song, speakeasy blues, avant garde jazz, gamelan, post-rock textures, and a David Lynch style dreamlike b-movie melodrama. As her website has it, exploring the "dissonant edges of familiar forms", but with that kind of 'dissonance' that they once accused Thelonious Monk or Debussy of, the kind that soon betrays it's own compelling melodic and harmonic logic to the attentive listener...
'Dark Joan', Leila's third album as a solo artist, was recorded in Chicago with the legendary Steve Albini (PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsome, Nirvana, Pixies), and Albini's genius has been to strip her sound back to it's essence, and hold it's most distinctive qualities up to the light. It doesn't hurt that this is by far Leila's most powerful set of songs to date, and if anything we are lead even deeper into her world by the pictures painted with just piano (or in some cases harpsichord or a grime-encrusted electric piano) and that voice...
Capable of anything from delicate heartbreaking purity to a fearsome dramatic power, her powers are seemingly limitless, yet unlike most other singers of her calibre, never does she resort to melodrama or show-boating, or any kind of pastiche, instead she employs her resources fully in the expression of her distinctive musical vision and the deep well-spring of her imagination. Nothing ever sounds as though it could have not been sung...
Yay your albums coming out finally! Excellent news. Thanks Chelsea heaps for the CD and corresponding lovely things that you posted down a while back. It was really exciting to get such a nice present!!
