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Jill Bryson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jill Bryson
Jill Bryson in 2012
Jill Bryson in 2012
Background information
Born (1961-02-11) February 11, 1961 (age 64)
Glasgow, Scotland
Genres
  • New wave
  • Pop
  • Post-punk
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active1982–1986, 2013–present

Jill Bryson (born February 11, 1961)[1] is a Scottish musician and artist, best known as a member of the new wave band Strawberry Switchblade, which achieved success with the 1985 single "Since Yesterday".[2] She has also pursued a career in mixed media art, exhibiting at venues such as Dunoon Burgh Hall.[3]

Early life

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Bryson was born in 1961 in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in the Shawlands area.[4] During the late 1970s, she was involved in Glasgow’s punk scene, influenced by bands such as the New York Dolls.[5] She studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1979 to 1983, where she explored performance art and fashion, drawing on punk and vintage influences.[5]

Strawberry Switchblade

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Bryson co-founded Strawberry Switchblade with Rose McDowall in Glasgow in 1981.[6] Their debut single, "Trees and Flowers" (1983), written by Bryson about her agoraphobia, was produced by Bill Drummond and featured Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera on guitar.[6] Released through 92 Happy Customers, it sold over 10,000 copies and ranked number 47 in John Peel's 1983 Festive 50.[5] The band’s 1985 single "Since Yesterday" peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and their self-titled album reached number 25.[2] Their polka-dot aesthetic influenced gothic and lolita fashion in Japan.[6] Strawberry Switchblade disbanded in 1986 due to internal disputes.[6] In 2005, Warner Bros. Platinum Records released a retrospective compilation of the band’s work.[7]

Art career

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After Strawberry Switchblade’s dissolution, Bryson returned to visual arts, working with Super 8 film and performance art.[5] She collaborated with Atelier E.B, a project by Lucy McKenzie and Beca Lipscombe, contributing to exhibitions such as The Inventors of Tradition II in 2016.[5] In 2023, she exhibited mixed media work at Dunoon Burgh Hall.[3]

The Shapists

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In 2013, Bryson formed The Shapists with her daughter, Jesse Frost, and musician Craig Hood.[7]

Discography

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Strawberry Switchblade

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Studio albums

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Compilation albums

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  • The 12″ Album (1985, Japan LP / 1997 Canada CD)[8]
  • The Platinum Collection (2005, Warner Bros.)[9]

Singles and EPs

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  • "Trees and Flowers" (1983, single)[10]
  • "Since Yesterday" (1984, single, UK #5)[2]
  • "Let Her Go" (1985, single, UK #59)[11]
  • "Who Knows What Love Is?" (1985, single, UK #84)[12]
  • "Jolene" (1985, single, UK #53)[13]
  • "Ecstasy (Apple of My Eye)" (1985, single, Japan only)[14]
  • "I Can Feel" (1986, single, Japan only)[15]
  • "1982 4-Piece Demo" (2017, 7" single)[16]


The Shapists

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Singles / Digital tracks

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  • "Change Your Mind" (July 5, 2013)[17]
  • "In My Head" (August 1, 2013)[18]
  • "King of the World" (July 2013)[19]
  • "Dust Index" (December 13, 2013)[20]
  • "Daddy I’ll Drown" (June 6, 2014)[21]
  • "White Horses" (February 3, 2014)[22]
  • "Trees and Flowers" (March 28, 2014)[23]
  • "The Warning" (July 8, 2015)[24]

Vinyl Single

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  • "The Warning" / "Dust Index" (July 2015, Mystic Moon Records, 7″)[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Jill Bryson - MusicBrainz".
  2. ^ a b c d "Strawberry Switchblade Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  3. ^ a b Patience, Jan (2023-02-19). "Jill Bryson's Identity, It's a Crisis Can't You See?". Sunday Post. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  4. ^ "Jill Bryson on Prince, pop art and her days in Strawberry Switchblade". The Herald. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e McKenzie, Lucy (2016). "Jill Bryson in conversation with Lucy McKenzie". In Duffy, Catriona; McEachan, Lucy (eds.). The Inventors of Tradition II. Atelier E.B. ISBN 978-3-96098-002-5. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  6. ^ a b c d Simpson, Dave (2015-04-15). "Cult heroes: Strawberry Switchblade". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  7. ^ a b "Jill Bryson Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  8. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – The 12" Album". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  9. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – The Platinum Collection". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  10. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – Trees and Flowers". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  11. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – Let Her Go". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  12. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – Who Knows What Love Is?". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  13. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – Jolene". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  14. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – Ecstasy (Apple of My Eye)". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  15. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade – I Can Feel". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  16. ^ "Strawberry Switchblade: 1982 4-Piece Demo". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  17. ^ "Change your mind". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  18. ^ "In my head". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  19. ^ "The Shapists discography". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  20. ^ "Dust index". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  21. ^ "Daddy I'll drown". The Shapists blog. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  22. ^ "White horses". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  23. ^ "Trees and flowers". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  24. ^ "The warning". The Shapists Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  25. ^ "The Shapists – The Warning / Dust Index". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
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