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Girli

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Girli
Girli photographed for Paper Magazine, 2022
Girli photographed for Paper Magazine, 2022
Background information
Birth nameAmelia Toomey
Born6 December 1997 (1997-12-06) (age 26)
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2014–present
Labels
Websitegirlimusic.com

Amelia Toomey[1] (born 6 December 1997),[2] known professionally as Girli, is an English singer and songwriter.[3][4][5] Based in London, she has released a number of singles, five EPs and two studio albums. The Guardian has described her sound as veering "between PC Music, bubblegum pop, pop punk and rap, each one treading a line between catchy and deliberately discomforting."[4] Much of her music is about feminism, sexuality, queer culture, and mental health.[6][7][8]

In April 2019, Girli released her debut studio album, Odd One Out, on PMR Records. After being dropped by her record label and later being forced to cancel her 2020 Sofa Tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Girli released the EP Ex Talk in 2021. She is currently with independent label AllPoints[9] and released her second album Matriarchy in 2024.[10]

Early life

[edit]

Girli is from northwest London.[11][12][13] She was born on 6 December 1997 to acting parents,[14] and is half-Australian.[15] She has a younger sister.[16][17] As a child she wanted to be an actor, but abandoned her ambition after 2 unsuccessful auditions.[7] She wrote her first song aged 8, about a boy in her class at school who she liked.[18]

She attended Hampstead School,[19] a comprehensive secondary school in Cricklewood. Girli describes her experience of secondary school as "the worst five years of my life, it was so bad", experiencing bullying that "made me quite an anxious person".[17] She was nonetheless active in extracurricular activities, getting elected as a Deputy Young MP for Camden in 2012[20] and spending lunchtimes in the music room playing instruments.[21]

Career

[edit]

Girli realised that she wanted to be a musician aged 14 after feeling inspired at a Tegan and Sara concert.[18] She started her career doing open mics under her legal name, Milly Toomey.[22] She later formed indie rock band Ask Martin with older girls she met online, performing vocals and guitar. After her bandmates went away to university, Girli started performing solo.[23]

Girli attended the East London Arts & Music college in Bromley-by-Bow from 2014 to 2016.[3][24] During that period she developed interests in beatmaking, rap, and drum and bass,[25] and made her musical debut as Girli. She released her first single, "So You Think You Can Fuck With Me Do Ya?" in 2015, aged 17. She was signed by PMR Records in October 2015.[26]

In 2016, Girli toured the UK throughout September and October supporting musician Oscar.[27][28]

In 2017, Girli released the Feel OK EP,[29] supported Declan McKenna around the UK and performed at Latitude Festival.[30] She also had a headline UK tour, titled "Hot Mess", in support of an EP of the same name which was released in October 2017 and showed elements of pop punk.

In 2018, Girli performed at the MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling festival.[31] In 2019, she released the single "Deal With It" and released her debut studio album, Odd One Out, four years after her debut single.[32] In July 2019, Girli released the single "Up & Down". Later in 2019, Girli was dropped by her record label. She wrote her subsequent single "Has Been" in response, stating on Instagram, "This song is for my ex record label who didn't think I was perfect or pop star enough to sell records."[33] Girli was due to take her Sofa Tour around the UK in March 2020,[34] but cancelled the dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[35] Her first EP on the independent record label AllPoints, Ex Talk, was released in February 2021.[36]

Girli previously performed on stage with DJ Kitty (Rosalie Sylvia Fountain), who provided backing vocals.[37] DJ Kitty was later replaced by DJ GG, after DJ Kitty resigned due to other commitments.[38]

In 2024 she released her second album, Matriarchy,[10] which RenownedforSound described as "a hard-hitting pop album that gives girli’s ‘mainstream’ counterparts a run for their money."[39]

Artistry

[edit]

Influences

[edit]

Girli has cited a diverse range of influences including Tove Lo,[40] the Arctic Monkeys,[41] Lily Allen,[23] the Slits,[citation needed] M.I.A,[41] Spice Girls,[22] Scissor Sisters,[42] PC music,[43] Kyary Pamyu Pamyu,[44] and more 'left field' artists such as 070 Shake,[42] Caroline Polachek,[42] Fletcher,[42] and Grimes.[42] Discussing the inspiration behind her stage name, she cited the rock band Blondie, saying she wanted "a name that embodied a female pop star".[14] She has also mentioned her home city of London, particularly its nightlife, as a major influence on her sound and lyrics.[41]

Style

[edit]

Girli's music makes use of samples from various sources including video games[41] and news broadcasts.[45]

Girli has stated that her songs are all autobiographical.[46] Referring to her EP Ex Talk, Girli said, "I think this era of Girli, my style is definitely more influenced by '90s grunge and '70s punk, kind of mixed in together in a modern way."[16]

Image

[edit]

While performing in indie band Ask Martin as Milly Toomey in her mid-teens, Girli had short brown hair and wore men's clothing.[47] As Girli, she has a distinctive visual aesthetic that includes neon pink dyed hair.[41] Girli has observed a close link between her music and her fashion style. Describing her transition into a pink aesthetic, she said "I was really into indie, then I started listening to more female-made music, and my style developed based on what I was listening to."[47] In a 2018 interview she described "wearing way more non-pink items of clothing, black, tartan and fishnet tights" when performing songs with a "more alternative and rockier sound".[48] Girli has named Harajuku street fashion, the 1990s riot grrrl scene, and noughties girl bands as fashion influences.[43]

Another core part of Girli's public persona is her feminist beliefs.[46] Early interviews describe Girli throwing tampons into the crowd at gigs,[47] which she said was a way of challenging the societal taboo around menstruation. Girli has expressed the view that music is a way to effect political change, in a way she views as more effective than parliamentary politics, which she became disillusioned with after her time as a Youth MP. She announced a partnership with Girls Against, an organisation campaigning against sexual harassment in live music venues, in 2016.[49]

She took part in stylist Louby McLoughlin's project OKgrl, a fashion and music platform, in 2017, and Kirsti-Nicole Hadley's GRL PWR, a female-only arts collective.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Girli is openly bisexual/queer.[50] She first came out as bisexual aged 15 at a Tegan and Sara concert.[7] She also uses the word pansexual to describe herself.[51]

Commenting on gender identity in a 2017 interview, she said: "Right now I identify as a woman, but what does that even mean? Is that what I say, who I am? Right now I feel like a woman, but that may change. Some days, I'm like 'fuck it, I don't feel like a woman or a man.'"[52]

In a 2024 interview with the Big Issue she said: "The idea of women being with women is often overly romanticised, and even fetishised... I wanted to write about queer joy and queer sex, and how that is inherently rebellious… Queer women aren’t just there for the male gaze."[53]

She has stated that she has obsessive–compulsive disorder[17][54] and takes antidepressants.[7][53] Her single "Up & Down" is about her mental health struggles.[17] She is a skateboarder.[48]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Title Details
Odd One Out
Matriarchy

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
Feel OK
Hot Mess
Ex Talk
  • Released: 12 February 2021
  • Label: Allpoints, Believe
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Damsel in Distress
  • Released: 22 October 2021
  • Label: Allpoints, Believe
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
why am i like this??
  • Released: 12 May 2023
  • Label: Allpoints, Believe
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Album
"So You Think You Can Fuck With Me Do Ya"[59] 2015 non-album singles
"Girls Get Angry Too"[60] 2016
"Too Much Fun"
"It Was My Party"
"Girl I Met On The Internet"[61]
"Fuck Right Back Off to LA"
"Not That Girl"[62] 2017 Feel OK
"Feel OK"
(featuring Lethal Bizzle)
"Hot Mess" Hot Mess[63]
"Mr. 10pm Bedtime"
(solo or with The Tuts)
"Play It Cool"[64] 2018 non-album single
"Day Month Second"[65] Odd One Out
"Young"[66]
"Deal With It"[67] 2019
"Cold Feet"
(with Rony Rex) 		2020 non-album singles
"Live the Weekend"
(with Rizha)
"Big Cat"
(with Brijs and P!nch)
"Has Been" Ex Talk
"Letter to My Ex"
"Passive Aggressive" 2021
"More Than a Friend" Damsel in Distress
"Dysmorphia"
"Ricochet"
"Ruthless"
"I Really F**ked It Up" 2022 why am i like this??
"Imposter Syndrome" 2023
"Cheap Love"
"Inner Child"
"Matriarchy" Matriarchy
"Nothing Hurts Like a Girl"
"Be With Me" 2024
"Crush Me Up"
[edit]
Title Year Album
"Breaking My Phone"[68]
(Oscar Scheller featuring Girli) 		2016 non-album
single

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "GIRLI | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  2. ^ "20 today.", @GIRLImusic / Twitter, 6 December 2017. Accessed 3 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b Garland, Emma (22 September 2015). "We Spoke to GIRLI, London's Teenage Answer to Brooke Candy, About Her New Track "ASBOys"". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b Pollard, Alexandra (28 September 2016). "Girli: 'If everyone likes you it means you're inoffensive'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. ^ Edgington, Eloise (14 July 2016). "Meet London's Pink-Haired, Hyper Pop Rapper Princess GIRLI". Paper. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  6. ^ Turner, Abi (8 June 2019). "Girli, London-Based Feminist Singer, On Her Sexuality and the LGBTQ+ Community". Keke Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d Damshenas, Sam (16 April 2019). "GIRLI is using her platform to ignite conversations around feminism, sexuality and mental health". Gay Times. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  8. ^ Smith, Courtney E. (16 November 2017). "GIRLI Is Using Pop Music To Create A Massive Shift In How We Talk About Gender". Refinery29. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  9. ^ "GIRLI". AllPoints. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b Wratten, Marcus (31 December 2023). "21 up-and-coming queer music stars to keep an eye on in 2024". PinkNews. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b Walker, Lily (2 March 2016). "Girli". Wonderland. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  12. ^ Jones, Daisy (2015). "Ten artists you should be listening to in 2016". Dazed. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  13. ^ Milton, Jamie (19 February 2016). "Interview: GIRLI: "I want people to feel uncomfortable!"". DIY. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  14. ^ a b Lynette Nylander, "class of 2016: 10 things you need to know about girli", i-D, 24 November 2015. Accessed 18 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Culture - Scene Stealers - GIRLI". MAC Cosmetics - Official Site. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Girli on growing out of her Adidas tracksuit". Blunt Magazine. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d "Girli's debut album is also about reintroducing her to the world". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Firsts with GIRLI". Notion. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Holocaust Memorial Day in Camden - Keeping the Memory Alive". Camden Council. The London Borough of Camden Council. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2022. He was followed by Milly Toomey, who recently attended Hampstead School
  20. ^ @CamdenCouncil (30 May 2012). "Congratulations to our newly elected Young MP, Jabeen Rizvi and two deputies, Milly Toomey and Danielle Williams" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Interview with GIRLI - Wizard Radio". www.wizardradio.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Interview : Girli". Setlisted. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  23. ^ a b "GIRLI: The Teenage Singer Who Is "Brash, Outrageous And An Explosion Of Girl Power."". VIVA Manchester. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Alumni". ELAM. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  25. ^ "Bowling, Illuminati, and Guitar Hero: I Took Teen Pop Misfit GIRLI on a First Date". www.vice.com. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  26. ^ "🚺💁💎 Welcome to the family GIRLI ⚡🍧🈹". Facebook. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  27. ^ Bartleet, Larry (19 September 2016). "New Music Of The Day: GIRLI – 'Girl I Met on the Internet'". NME. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  28. ^ Hunt, El (6 October 2016). "Watch: GIRLI throws a house party for 'Girl I Met On The Internet'". DIY. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  29. ^ "Feel Ok - EP by GIRLI". Genius. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  30. ^ "GIRLI is off on tour with Declan McKenna in May". DIY. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  31. ^ "GIRLI on Instagram: "PLAYING THE COOLEST SHOW THIS WEEKEND!!! so excited to be performing at MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling Music Festival this weekend. tickets..."". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  32. ^ "GIRLI to Release Debut Album 'Odd One Out' This Spring". DIY. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  33. ^ "GIRLI is back with a bang on 'Has Been'". CelebMix. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  34. ^ "GIRLI comes up with novel idea – a 'Sofa Tour'". Brighton and Hove News. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  35. ^ Toomey, Milly. "the sofa tour is no more :(". Facebook.
  36. ^ "GIRLI: In Discussion with BBH Music". www.lbbonline.com. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Here's a completely random interview with Girli + DJ Kitty". Beat. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  38. ^ Toomey, Milly (25 March 2019). "INTRODUCING MY NEW DJ..... DJ GG! sadly my dear DJ Kitty had to resign from her post to do other life stuff so plz welcome @graciegoggs to the tour team!!!!!!! TOUR STARTS IN 2 WEEKS!!!! TICKETS LINK IN BIO!!!". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  39. ^ Bulbeck, Ryan. "Album Review: Girli – Matriarchy – Renowned For Sound". Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  40. ^ "Interview: Girli". www.lizzieslowdown.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Interview: GIRLI". www.thenationalstudent.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  42. ^ a b c d e Collington, Faefyx. "Electro-pop's girli tackles queer heartbreak & healing in Matriarchy". INTO. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  43. ^ a b "An interview with artist GIRLI". www.adolescent.net. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  44. ^ "GIRLI - About". GIRLI. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  45. ^ GIRLI - It Was My Party, 8 July 2016, retrieved 14 June 2021
  46. ^ a b InMusic, WorstTaste (19 May 2021). "INTERVIEW: GIRLI". Worst Taste In Music. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  47. ^ a b c "Meet Girli: The Artist Who Uses Pink As A Weapon". Grazia. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  48. ^ a b "In Conversation With: GIRLI". www.native.fm. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  49. ^ "Girli partners with Girls Against | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  50. ^ "GIRLI on Instagram: "happy #LesbianVisibilityDay to all my lesbian followers!! i identify as bisexual/queer..."". Instagram. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  51. ^ Turner, Abi (8 June 2019). "Girli, London-Based Feminist Singer, On Her Sexuality and the LGBTQ+ Community". Keke Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  52. ^ Smith, Courtney E. "GIRLI Is Using Pop Music To Create A Massive Shift In How We Talk About Gender". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  53. ^ a b Elton, Lottie (1 June 2024). "Girli on queerness, mental health and why Tories 'don't give a s**t' about Gen Z". Big Issue. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  54. ^ "REVIEW: GIRLI treats fans to Instagram Live set". CelebMix. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  55. ^ "Odd One Out – Album by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  56. ^ "Matriarchy – Album by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  57. ^ "Feel OK – EP by Girli on Amazon". Amazon. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  58. ^ "Hot Mess – EP by Girli on itunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  59. ^ "So You Think You Can Fuck With Me Do Ya by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  60. ^ "Girls Get Angry Too by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  61. ^ "Girl I Met On The Internet by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  62. ^ "Not That Girl by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  63. ^ Kemppainen, Emma; Kemppainen, Mia (18 September 2018). "One Quart Magazine Playlist: LCMDF". One Quart Magazine. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  64. ^ "Play It Cool by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  65. ^ "Day Month Second by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  66. ^ "Young by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  67. ^ "Deal With It (Just Kiddin Remix) by Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  68. ^ "Breaking My Phone by Oscar Scheller feat. Girli on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
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