In advance of her sophomore album “Beauty After Bruises“, to be released on 28th April on Ministry of Love Records Department, Wakefield’s Louise Distras looks set to surprise some people, as the third track “Factory Girl” from this new collection drops. Previously described as a punk artist or protest singer (ed: guilty on both charges), Louise says she’s much more than that.
Pic Credit: Ministry of Love Records Department
”I’ve just always tried to write good songs that come straight from the heart, and songs that I want to
hear,” she explains. “I was brought up on groups like the Bee Gees, Queen, ABBA and ELO. The thing I
love the most about pop music is that there’s no stage big enough for it. So it doesn’t matter where I
sing these songs, or even who hears me, as long as the people are welcome. From the start that’s
always been my philosophy.”
And it’s a philosophy that runs through her like Blackpool rock. Truth is, Louise doesn’t really give a shit what her detractors might say (and there have been many and they’ve said a lot in the past), rising above it and confounding many with good old Rock n Roll sensibilities. The milestone of being feted by Kerrang! magazine, as one of the Stars of 2017, has probably not helped and here we are 8 years on from her debut “Dreams From The Factory Floor”, and it seems she’s toying with us here. Factory Girl, complete with organ and a guitar solo (of sorts), isn’t about the dark satanic mills of her native Yorkshire, but an altogether different Factory, New York’s equally satanic home of Andy Warhol. Yes, this is a song about 60s icon, Edie Sedgwick, one of the “Warhol Superstars”, who tragically died aged 28, the coroner’s verdict being an undetermined/accident/suicide. Pretty vague. Scratch beneath the surface and you’ve got a tragically beautiful song.
Sedgwick’s been the subject/inspiration for a number of songs, with Bob Dylan apparently writing 4 about her, “Just Like a Woman”, “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” and “Fourth Time Around” from his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde. Also his No.2 single from 1965 “Like A Rolling Stone” was also rumoured to have been inspired by her. Add to that tracks by Primal Scream – Velocity Girl, Velvet Underground – Femme Fatale, The Cult – Edie (Ciao Baby) and The Pretty Reckless – Factory Girl. Hell, Beach House got a whole album, 7, out of her life apparently, so Louise is in good company.
“I don’t want to make music that’s a space for the best, glossy version of myself so ‘Beauty After
Bruises’ is about the ugly truth. This album is messy just like me and it’s about honouring the parts of
myself that I looked away from.”
Factory Girl is out now on Ministry Of Love Records Department and can be found on all major platforms. Beauty After Bruises is due 28th April and hopefully we’ll get some live dates too!
No Comment