About the ButterspritesButtersprites is the brainchild of guitarist Elizabeth Jameson, who is internationally recognized as a visual artist; vocalist Haruko Nishimura is a Butoh dancer and founder of Seattle’s Degenerate Art Ensemble. Bassist Lunarre Omura is also a member of the nouveau cocktail lounge group Lushy, and Buttersprites is rounded out by keyboard player Julie Grant and drummer Jen Gay. Their sound is bright, up-tempo and quirky and demonstrates affection for the so-called “post punk” music of the early 1980s. Nishimura, as vocalist, oozes charisma and serves as a focal point in their live performances, which are generally done in crazy costumes designed by Jameson and Gay and made by Gay. Sometimes Buttersprites dress as nurses, at others in matching tennis outfits or Chinese communist military garb – the varying styles of dress creates an irreverent counterpoint to their gleefully nutty music and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, mostly sung in Japanese. Buttersprites was born out of Jameson’s idea to start an all-girl
Japanese pop band in the mold of Shonen Knife, and played their first
gig in Seattle in 2003. Buttersprites soon found themselves out of step
with the rest of Seattle’s typically grungy music scene, but got
a boost of confidence with a well-received appearance at the Ladyfest
in Seattle in June 2004. Their first demo recordings soon followed, produced
by Tiny Hat Orchestra alumnus and Lushy
member Andrew Sodt with Lynval Golding,
once of The Specials.
The demo was received favorably by Dionysus
Records in Los Angeles, who issued Buttersprites’ debut CD in
June 2005, utilizing the same production team and adding Johnny
Horn (KEXP DJ and
Purefire recording
artist). Gradually finding its way onto the College Radio charts across
America, Buttersprites is an infectious and ultimately irresistible debut
that is musically fulfilling well beyond what may be its perceived novelty
value. In the rather dour, dark and polluted climate of post 9-11 American
music, Buttersprites represent a welcome burst of sunshine. Click here for a print-quality jpg of the Buttersprites! |