Robyn Loau

Robyn Loau
Born October 20, 1972[1]
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Pop, Rock, Dance, World
Years active 1991–present
Website myspace.com/robynloau

Robyn Loau (/laʊ/; born October 20, 1972) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. From 1991 to 1994, she was lead singer of pop group, Girlfriend,[2][3] before leaving the group to become the face and voice of world music project Siva Pacifica. Loau launched her solo career in 1997 with the Adamski produced single Sick With Love.

Girlfriend

Robyn Loau first came into the spotlight as the lead singer of Australian all girl pop group Girlfriend, with fellow vocalists Jacqui Cowell, Siobhánn Heidenreich, Lorinda Noble and Melanie Alexander. Their debut single, Take It from Me, released in April 1992, peaked at #1 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.[4] Two further Australian top 20 singles followed, with "Girl's Life" and "Without You", and the group's debut album, Make It Come True, was certified platinum.[5]

Girlfriend's popularity helped launch their own range of clothing, available through Myer. The group achieved minor success in the UK, where "Take It From Me" and "Girl's Life" charted at #47 and #68 respectively.[6] In an attempt to achieve success in Japan, the group re-recorded the single "Take It from Me" in Japanese, and the Make It Come True album was released there under the name of Girl's Life, containing exclusive tracks.

"Heartbeat", the first single from the band's second album, It's Up To You, was released in 1993, coinciding with the Heartbeat Tour to promote the new material. The album did not have the same impact as the first, though was certified gold in Australia,[5] and contained two top 50 singles, "Heartbeat" and the ballad "Wishing on the Same Star".

Loau left the band in mid-1994 to pursue a solo career. The four other members continued performing and renamed themselves GF4. However, the group disbanded in 1996 after two further singles.

Siva Pacifica

Loau was the face and voice of the South Pacific project Siva Pacifica. Loau worked with producer Anthony Copping to arrange a CD, similar to Deep Forest's work, capturing the voices of the native island people. After its completion, Loau travelled the world, introducing countries across Europe to the ancient music of the islands.

Solo Artist

Loau's debut solo single Sick With Love, written with and produced by Adamski, received heavy airplay on alternative radio station, Triple J, and peaked at #21 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.[4] Loau's second solo single, Love Addiction (featuring EMF singer James Atkin), peaked at #66 in Australia.[4] Loau's debut album Malaria (recorded while working on the Siva Pacifica project) received a promotional release within Australia.

Malaria was well-received by Australian critics, drawing comparisons to Portishead and Neneh Cherry. In a four star review, Rolling Stone proclaimed Malaria "a wickedly classy solo debut". However, only weeks prior to the scheduled commercial release of the album, Loau was dropped by her label, PolyGram, during their merger with Universal Music, and the album was shelved.

The following years saw little music output from Loau, with the main exceptions being a cover of Duran Duran's "The Wild Boys" for the various artists Duran Duran tribute album UnDone in 1999, and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras theme "Never Miss The Water" in 2003.

She Devil / Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

2007 saw the release of a new single from Loau, "She Devil". Who magazine compared it to Madonna's Ray of Light era.

The single peaked at #83 on the ARIA singles chart,[4] and #45 on the ARIA physical singles chart.[5] It was top 5 on the AIR independent artist chart and was listed as the 29th highest selling indie single of 2007.

"She Devil" was performed in Charlie's Bar on the TV soap opera Neighbours (airing 25 October 2007 in Australia, and 8 February 2008 in the UK).

Loau covered the track "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" by The Korgis, which was used to promote the 2008 series of The Biggest Loser across TV and radio. It was released as a double A-side single with "Foreign Life", penned by Loau and Sven Tydeman.

Malaria: The Lost Album

In July 2008 Loau's critically acclaimed 'lost' debut album Malaria finally received a commercial release. As well a digital and limited CD release, the album was also one of the first albums by an Australian artist to be released on USB wristband format.

Only Human

The Only Human album was preceded by the teaser single, "Hard", containing provocative lyrics exploring the Columbine shootings from the killer's point of view.[7] "Never Let You Down" was released as the lead single from the album in late 2010, preceding the album's 2011 release. On the album, Loau collaborated with songwriters and producers including Josh Abrahams (Puretone), Future Sound Of Melbourne, members of the Resin Dogs, Skin and Len Arran (Skunk Anansie).[8]

During this time, Loau also made a guest appearance on the Street Warriors album Unstoppable Force, on the song "How Much You Mean To Me".

In March 2012, Loau announced the release of the "Wuthering Heights" single.[9]

Acting career

The feature film Idiot Box saw Loau's acting debut. Directed by David Caesar, "Idiot Box" drew warm reviews from critics locally and internationally and debuted at number 10 at the Australian Box Office. The film was also released in the US and UK. Loau played the female lead role of Lani, a drive-through bottle shop attendant. Loau starred alongside actors Ben Mendelsohn and Jeremy Sims.

In the late 1990s, Loau also appeared in the Paul Fenech-directed film Somewhere in the Darkness. Loau has also appeared in critically and commercially successful TV dramas such as Wildside and All Saints.

Discography

Albums

(as a member of GIRLFRIEND)

(as a member of SIVA PACIFICA)

SOLO

Singles

(as a member of GIRLFRIEND)

(as a member of SIVA PACIFICA)

SOLO

References

  1. ↑ Chenoweth, Ben (12 November 2012). "Robyn Loau a friend to the kids". Blacktown Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ↑ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Girlfriend'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  3. ↑ Spencer, Chris; Nowara, Zbig; McHenry, Paul (2002) [1987]. "Loau, Robyn". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. with notes by Ed Nimmervoll. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1. Retrieved 13 February 2010. Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
  5. 1 2 3 Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  6. 1 2 3 "Official Charts > Girlfriend". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  7. ↑ http://poptrashaddicts.blogspot.com/2009/09/pop-panel-week-18.html
  8. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/only-human/id404613437
  9. ↑ Paul Cashmere (9 March 2012). "Robyn Loau Covers Kate Bush Classic". Noise11. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "charts.org.nz > Discography Girlfriend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
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