ERICA NOCKALLS AT A GLANCE
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Professional
violinist with futuristic hair
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Full-time
violinist with signed UK indie rock band, THE WONDER
STUFF. Favourite Stuffies show? Headlining the Avalon
Stage, Glastonbury Festival [2009]
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Fiddle
player with Scottish legends, THE PROCLAIMERS; most
recently playing to a 40,000-strong crowd on the main
stage of T In The Park [2010]
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Member
of signed acoustic duo MILES HUNT & ERICA NOCKALLS,
touring extensively across the United States, Europe
and Japan [2006 – present]
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Classically
trained violinist since age 7, receiving a Bachelor
of Music degree (with honours) from The Birmingham Conservatoire
[2002 – 2006]
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Live and
studio session violinist, most recently working with
THE TING TINGS, DAMIEN DEMPSEY, CAPTAIN, TV composer
GEORGE TAYLOR and record producer JOHN REYNOLDS
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Creator
and leader of rock/metal string quartet; NEMESIS [2009
- present]
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Keen composer,
string arranger, vocalist and self taught pianist
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Proud
endorsee of Ted Brewer Violins, Pirastro Strings, Fishman
Acoustic Amplification, Marc Soubeyran
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Gratefully sponsored
by Vivien of Holloway dresses, Maya Hansen Corsets,
Classic Hardware Jewelry & Gloomth Clothing
ERICA NOCKALLS ON ERICA NOCKALLS
"As a classically
trained violinist, I've been uncomfortably fidgeting around
in the seats of orchestras and string quartets for the most
part of my early musical life, daydreaming of something
more exciting, something less old-hat, but ultimately just
something more interesting and creative. I was unhappy with
the prospect of joining an orchestra just for the sake of
it, or becoming a violin teacher because my path dictated,
at least not yet any way. I had to try to take my own route
first. At 19, the Birmingham Conservatoire offered me an
entrance scholarship to study a four year degree course.
As I laid out my clothes to pack, I also laid out two very
clear plans of action in my mind. The first was to get a
band together. The second was to learn the violin to best
of my abilities. Simple”
“In my first year at the Conservatoire I formed the progressive
metal band, Fireswitch, the second year saw me join signed
Indie band, The Wonder Stuff. After my fourth year of intense
musical training under the violin virtuoso, Ken Aiso, I
graduated with honours from the Conservatoire in the summer
of 2006. So far so good then…”
“As a result of writing, recording and touring with The
Wonder Stuff, I secured full sponsorship with Ted Brewer
Violins. Working along side this unique UK electric violin
manufacturer, I have been demonstrating these violins internationally,
which then led onto my other wonderful sponsors all showing
an interest in my playing, my visual style and playing style.
My playing style is admittedly an odd one. It’s a cocktail
of a classical grounding, featuring nods towards UK and
eastern European folk sensibilities, my own dark aggression
and more than a touch of coy cheekiness. Ken Aiso taught
me to never be scared of any corner of my violin, advice
I adhere to and likely always will.”
“Session work is a passion of mine, whether it’s playing
fiddle live on stage or sitting in a studio in front of
a microphone, it’s never dull. I pride myself on providing
string arrangements that are unpredictable, emotive, beautiful
and uncompromising to the original track. If I don’t move
you in some way with my string writing, I’ll go back to
the drawing board and work on it until I bring you to some
sort of heightened emotional state. I regularly take part
in session work over the internet, sending music files back
and forth over email is such a good (not to mention cost
effective) way to work.”
“Some of my favourite session work would have to be playing
violin for TV composer, George Taylor, when I provided violins
on the award winning BBC Arena documentary The Hunt for
Moby-Dick. I’ve recently played on new studio material for
The Ting Tings, which was a tricky challenge but ever so
rewarding.”
SOLO
WORK
“I began writing
my debut solo record 'Imminent Room' in April this
year [2011] and honestly can’t think why I didn’t start
working on my own material sooner.
The original
idea behind making the album came from me wanting to have
a physical recorded collection of demonstrations of what
I’m able to achieve when I’m writing/arranging strings for
other people. I was about two days into the recording when
I knew the project had already grown into an obsession.
The tracks on there were no longer simply demos of my own
capabilities as a session string player, they became extensions
of me, a collection of my thoughts, observations, frustrations
and artistic notions. What I’m also finding rather shocking
as I continue to compose is how commercial and popp-ish
the album sounds so far. It’s also nice and dark, don’t
get me wrong, but I might be able to sell a few copies at
this rate…”
Keep checking back here for more information/release news
concerning the Imminent Room album.
Erica has already released a one-off novelty single and
video entitled Christmas Song [2010]; available on
iTunes. To view this festive
tongue-in-cheek romp, visit the
Audio+Video page. If you
are a Mariah Carey fan, please ignore all of this.
THE
WONDER STUFF
To date, The
Wonder Stuff have achieved 17 top 20 hits throughout their
career and continue to write, record and tour internationally.
Before ‘Britpop’ became an established music scene, British
indie music had a golden era that saw the likes of Pop Will
Eat Itself, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, EMF, Jesus Jones and of
course, perhaps the biggest band of the era; The Wonder
Stuff. With a sound that mixed post-punk guitars, psychedelia,
pop-rock and folk they were the perfect alternative band
in a time of Stock Aitken and Waterman. Armed with killer,
catchy tunes and sneering lyrics, The Stuffies were to go
from indie darlings to headlining Reading Festival and enjoying
hit success with Welcome To The Cheap Seats, Size Of A Cow
and their number one collaboration with Vic Reeves; Dizzy.
The current line-up of The Wonder Stuff consists of the
following members.
Miles Hunt – Lead singer, rhythm guitarist and founding
member
Malc Treece – Lead guitarist, backing vocals and founding
member
Erica Nockalls – Violinist, member since 2005
Mark McCarthy – Bass player,
member since 2004
Fuzz Townshend – Drums, member since 2011
Erica Nockalls has appeared on the following Wonder Stuff
recordings.
Suspended By Stars [2006]
The Wonder Stuff Live [2008]
The Eight Legged Groove Machine [2008] 20th Anniversary
Edition
HUP [2010] 21st Anniversary Edition
MILES
AND ERICA
Miles Hunt,
singer and rhythm guitarist of The Wonder Stuff joins the
band's fiddler Erica Nockalls to form a dazzling acoustic
duo, performing pieces from a vast catalogue of Wonder Stuff
hits, Miles' solo work and of course, the duo's own angular
material. Miles and Erica tour this format extensively,
playing to enthusiastic audiences across Japan, the United
States and Europe.
“The Miles and Erica duo is such a creative outlet for us
and I entirely enjoy touring our shows together. Miles has
the ability to capture and hold the audience's attention
like no other performer I've seen... his onstage between-song-banter
have the crowd (and me) in hysterics. If you want to hear
some cracking foot-tapping tunes, enjoy a good laugh and
don't mind a bit of strong language, come and see us!" Erica
Nockalls.
Miles and Erica have released the following albums to date.
Not An Exit [2007]
Catching More Than We Miss [2009]
Live: 2010/11 [2011]
The duo will be releasing their next studio album 'Honesty
Box' when they have finished writing and recording it.
ART
Erica Nockalls
has recently taken up oil painting on canvas. Please take
a look in the
Art Gallery if you would
like to view or purchase any artwork. You may notice there
are no price tags hanging along side Erica’s paintings,
simply make an offer through the
contact page.
Please use
the
contact form
to discuss any commissions.
SHARED
Shared is an acoustic
based compilation project, featuring more well known artists
in order to help promote lesser known ones. The idea was
conceived by Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls over numerous
pints
while witnessing the talent at one particular open mic evening
at their local pub in Shropshire, The Horseshoe Inn. Miles
and Erica have produced two Shared compilation
albums so far, both featuring a wealth of artists new and
established.
Please
visit
www.sharedevents.co.uk
for more details.
THE PROCLAIMERS
After Miles and
Erica supported the Scottish legends in 2008, the twins
approached Erica to play guest fiddle for their home coming
show at Edinburgh Castle. Erica took the fiddle solo on
the song Sunshine On Leith on July 19th 2008 in front of
a sold out, roaring crowd. Since then, Erica plays live
for The Proclaimers at their larger shows.
NEMESIS
Nemesis are a specialist
string quartet who are formed and fronted by Erica Nockalls.
Strikingly handsome and devilishly proficient, Nemesis are
Conservatoire graduates, all with vast and wide ranging
musical tastes. Erica has always had a penchant for the
heavier side of music and has remained a loyal disciple
to those more extreme genres throughout her formal classical
training as a violinist. Whilst being bored to tears playing
Mozart Divertimenti and Pachelbel's Canon, Erica quickly
formed the opinion that a string quartet's ability to entertain
should exceed registry office limitations and stretch to
wider forums. Nemesis play Erica’s own arrangements including
finer works by some of her favourite rock and metal bands,
or anything she thinks worthy of rendition, just so long
as it rocks.
EXHIBITION (FILM WORK)
A side project
from Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls, Exhibition is a collective
of British musicians who’s sole purpose is to create compositions
for film and television. Exhibition are open to
enquiries.
