User talk:Ziggi Baker
Ziggi Baker - English Singer / Song-writer / Creative
Band Name - Ziggi or Ziggiville
Web-Site - [1]
Birth Name - Victoria Jane Hemmings
DOB - 8th August 1973
First in public eye - Age 9 - Ziggi started working in Theatre – pantomimes, summer holiday shows and as a backing singer
List of contents
1 Early Life
2 Career
3 Personal Life
4 Discography
5 Biography
2011 – Ziggi Baker - ‘Walking To a Different Beat’
Her lifetime’s work – produced in text, music and video in the first ever docu-video-book and published by ‘My Life On A Stick’ multi-media publishers.
Early Life
Victoria was born in Lewisham (South London) to Mother Hazel, a Theatrical & Literary agent, and Father James, a City Broker, growing up in South London and Kent. Her education was a mix of private schools, theatre schools and state schools and by the time she reached her mid teens she had already started writing and was juggling school time with musical collaborations and gigging. She did not want to know her GCSE exam results regardless of the outcome as she felt they had no place in her creative journey and could not make her a better or worse songwriter or performer.. As a young girl she appeared in Theatre and TV shows, working with a variety of established performers – including Academy Award winning filmmaker and former actress, Andrea Arnold. On leaving school she formed various bands to hone her live performance. At that time she was also volunteering at a Homeless shelter for young people in London and was spotted by Japan’s TV Asahi who filmed her for Stage Door – a Japanese TV show about the activities of young creative people worldwide.
Career - commencing 1988
Ziggi moved to West London and formed a number of bands including - TanTien & Bluevan. Line-ups included Andy Higgins, Andy Coughlan, Matthew Bullivant, Gabrielle Nuzzoli, Duncan Beamont and Finian Day-Lewis. She also developed her musical confidence experimenting and collaborating with writers, producers, actors and filmmakers including (UK) Filmmaker and Anthropologist Paul Basu, Mark Davies, Ethan Johns, (Russia) Michael Poel and Lina Fradkin. Through a mutual friend Ziggi met John Conlon who, at the time, was playing bass with Chesney Hawkes. John immediately joined Ziggi’s band and from the various line-ups, Ziggi and John emerged as a duo – January Land – named after a self-penned ballad “Ms January Land”. They began writing and gigging together and this was the beginning of a decade and a half long musical collaboration and friendship.
1994 January Land was chased by several labels and signed with Dave Bates/ Phonogram-Mercury Records. Because of the existing commitments of the producers chosen by Dave Bates - Howard Jones, Gary Langan, Chris Hughes and Dave Bates himself - it took almost two years to complete the never to be released eponymous album “January Land”. April 1996 Dave Bates unceremoniously dropped the band by calling a payphone at the management company’s studio, which was answered by John Conlon - leaving John to pass the message on! The management fought and managed to get their material back although Howard Jones didn’t feel able to give the Band permission to release the tracks without the backing of a major label. The duo moved forward with a new image and new music, joined by - as a co-writer and keyboard player - long term friend and management bedfellow, solo artist Bob Pearce. Mark Smith joined them on drums and they became Lovatux. They were invited to play at The Wiltshire Festival and also accepted an invitation to be guests on The Commitments tour. The tour included a gig at the famous Shepherds Bush Empire where they shared a stage with Sam Moore, Clarence Clemons and Steve Cropper. Lovatux gained newfound popularity and were once again chased by record labels. Flown to New York, courtesy of Clive Davis at Arista (Signed artists Janis Joplin, Bruce Springstein, Barry Manilow, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, Kelly Clarkson, Harry Connick, Jr, Leona Lewis, Whitney Houston, BC Jean etc., etc.) and Dave Novic at RCA, they played an intimate live showcase at Sir Studios. Offers from UK and US companies were whittled down to Clive Davis at Arista and Max Hole at Warner’s East West label. Ziggi, the band and the management moved ahead with Max Hole based on his promised commitment.
While continuing to gig they produced an album under the A & R direction of Tony Swain (producer and songwriter for Alison Moyet, Spandau Ballet, Diana Ross, Tom Robinson, Errol Brown, Wang Chung, Imagination etc.). East West requested a change of name - Lovatux became Independence – the album was Sheds and Islands and award winning producer Stephen Street) remixed tracks (produced The Smiths, Blur, The Psychedelic Furs, Cranberries, Sleeper, The Zutons, Kaiser Chiefs etc., etc.) Rumours started circulating that Max Hole was leaving East West - all enquiries met with denial but were finally confirmed in March 1998. Following his departure Ziggi and co were released from their contract in the absence of support from the label. Again they were restricted from releasing the Stephen Street Tracks. All in all, many of the songs they had recorded between 1994 and 1998 were outside the control of Ziggi & Co. Following this the band, led by Ziggi plus various musicians, went on to produce a video “Live At The Fridge”, along with continuing and strengthening their presence on the London gig scene, as always cheered on by ever growing loyal supporters. Some very famous A & R guys and Labels started to rear their heads again, but nothing seemed solid and solid is what this band wanted. Ziggi had worked with the same management since 1988; the management had set up a label – keystone records - to provide writing and recording facilities so Ziggi, JC & Bob decided unanimously to make keystone their ‘Major’ label. They would re-record songs from previous contracts alongside writing new material and license their material (not themselves) to labels in the UK and abroad
Cory Robbins (signed Run DMC) of Robbins Entertainment USA offered a deal. The agreement reached was that Robbins would license the single “First Kiss”; if all went well, the album would follow. Cory believed in the music but Ziggi and the team wanted to be certain that release and marketing commitments would be fulfilled. “First Kiss” was released before Christmas 1998 in the US; caution had proved wise - the single fought to gain coverage amidst the heavyweights fighting for Christmas hits. The moderate marketing budget didn’t give this a fighting chance in the huge US marketplace. However, Ziggi was delighted - after 8 years of gigging and in and out of major deals and recording studios, she finally had a release – and in the US at that - and they appreciated Cory for that!
January 1999, Intercord of Germany (EMI Group) agreed a deal to license the Lovatux Album ‘Sheds & Islands’ for their vast European territory. First single ‘Stop Hanging Around’, mixed in London by Milan Saje, was to be taken to radio immediately and album release scheduled for July, backed up by tour, marketing and promotion. EMI (owner of Intercord) simultaneously offered a publishing deal. However, Intercord ceased trading in July 1999 and EMI Publishing withdrew their offer. Also in 1999 Dr. Jonathon Green, an IT expert, offered to build a website and on-line shop for Ziggi and the band. This was an exciting prospect at the infancy of the Internet and allowed more independence. 1999 August Ziggi, John & Bob went into the studio – January 2000 they emerged as Victoria, Will & JC with a new manifesto, a new band name “Super Delta Three”, a new sound and a new album “eve Sub rebel”. With help from management and friends, they took their own photos, created their own artwork, and produced their own music and live shows. April 2000 they filmed their first live show as Super Delta Three at The Orange (West One Four) in West London. This was a creatively fruitful period for Ziggi marking the beginning of a DIY ethic that has remained with her. Reviews of live performances were excellent, the band gigged consistently. By accident they became part of Mean Fiddler/LOOT music awards, having booked a gig at a venue that was holding heats. Out of 1200 entries they went on to be voted best rock band, playing the awards gig at The Forum in Kentish Town in July 2000. 2001-2002 Ziggi, JC and Bob, as Super Delta Three continued to produce music and videos on a shoestring budget. Ireland picked up on the band and their first video for the project “super delta freak” was broadcast on RTE.
They played right across the country with fantastic local and national radio support, featuring on FM104’s Strawberry Alarm Clock Breakfast Show several times, 2FM with Ruth Scott, Phantom FM with Aidan Lynch and Dan Hegarty and Today FM amongst many others. Press also supported, especially Eddie Rowley with a centre spread in The Sunday World.
Between September 02 and January 03 Ziggi and the team produced SD3TV, a television magazine show presented by the band working with the Super Delta Three ethos. Their DIY ethic saw many friends give their skills and time to the six part quirky, funny modular show. It was transmitted on UK Community Channel and Propeller TV and Canada’s Pride TV, along with obscure reports of transmission in Hong Kong and South America (not confirmed). Also during 2003, Opera Director Lee Blakeley was taken with Ziggi’s voice and with his encouragement and Bob’s classical background the trio were inspired to work on a project experimenting with two different musical genres to create a mini pop opera entitled BE. A video was made for the project pulling in, again, favours from friends. The DIY ethic of the band led to videos being made, with the aid of friends, in offices, swimming pools, on the back of trucks, at train stations, rooms in various friends and family homes plus professional productions and back-up by Quicksilver TV, Waterfall Studios, Andrea Vecchiato, Derrick Moore, Spyros Melaris and Sutal Productions.
2004 saw Ziggi, John and Bob writing and recording new projects and they went back into the studio with friend and producer, Adam Helal ([The Fall). They took a new band name – babyvader - and their new album was “walking to a different beat” – at that time by far Ziggi’s most commercial and breakthrough album. However, this coincided with a time of change for Bob and John. Bob decided he wanted to take a back seat from music and focus on teaching young performers, fishing and football. John was by now based in Malmo with Karoline his Swedish girlfriend (now wife) and finding the commute to London was putting enormous demands on his emotional and practical resources.
2005 - 2010
In 2005, the loss of Ziggi’s long term working family hit her hard and she found it difficult to adjust to a working life without them. A solo artist for the first time she decided to take a new direction and turned her attention to the club/dance market, with a new name, Gigibaker (borrowed from her grandmother as a nod of respect). Long time friend and supporter, top photographer and video producer, Arun Soni, stepped in to provide a photo shoot; fashion house, Jitrois, stepped in generously with clothes for the new image. Long-term member of Ziggi’s record label – keystone records - artistic director, Derrick Moore also stepped in. From the album, “walking to a different beat”, “bitch is back in town” and “hugging peach” were remixed by various people including top Swedish DJ Per QX and Rohan Onraet (Ro-Selecta) from Metropolis Studios, JC (Evil Twin) and Adam Helal (Sonic Surgeon), Emre Ramazanoglu and Adrian Hall. Throughout 2005, Ziggi played in clubs and on radio throughout the UK and Europe. She made the Music Week Club Charts and played on DJ Paul Van Dyk’s Label. At the time Ziggi was also writing for other artists and working on different projects. 2008 -2009 Ziggi started dipping her toes back into her creative passions, developing the Ziggi we know today. Exploratory meetings with musicians took place and in 2009 her manager introduced her to Simon J Pinto. 2010-2011 Simon & Ziggi went on to co-write and produce her solo album – ‘i n t c’. She also found time to spearhead the collaborative project ‘A Single Symphony’ – ‘art with social awareness’ (‘A Single Symphony’ is now also a university degree module). She maintained her fitness in the gym and abseiled down Battersea Power Station for MAGS (Mines Advisory Group). 2012 Ziggi ,while taking time with family continues to write for other artists and projects.
During all the changes of image and style Ziggi and the guys had stunning photo sessions with photographers Alan Fagan, Francis Loney, Mel Winning, Louis Girardi, Andrea Vecchiato, Paul Massey, Arun Soni.
Personal Life
During the period 2005- 2007, Ziggi married her long-term West London based architect boyfriend Jan in Arundel Cathedral. After her marriage Ziggi decided to take time out to focus more on writing projects and less on constant gigging and also to prepare to start a family. Being pregnant didn’t stop her from doing a gig in Soho weeks before she was due to give birth and filming a video for a charity days before she was due! Her son, George, was born late 2007 and Ziggi lost no time in introducing George to the tubes, buses, sights, galleries and exhibitions of London
Discography
Albums:
Ziggi’s Music is currently released through V&M Music
i n t c - ziggiville 2010
Dance Mixes - gigibaker 2004
Walking To A Different Beat - babyvader 2004
eve Sub rebel - super delta three 1999-2003
Sheds and Islands - lovatux 1996-1998
Demos & Doodles - compilation 1999-2010
Live At The Bush - lovatux 1997
January Land - January Land 1994-1996
TV
Live At The Fridge - 1998
Area 51 - 1999
Super delta three tv - 2003-4
Super Delta Freak - 2003
Videos – numerous 1989-2010
Awards:
Mean Fiddler/Loot Awards 2000 Top Rock Band – super delta three
Biography
‘Walking To A Different Beat’ published in the sensational new DocuFlipbook by ‘My Life On A Stick’ multi-media publishers -2012
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