Scout Niblett
Portland, OR
Alt Country, Folk Rock, Indie Rock
PJ Harvey, Nirvana, Cat Power
Few people generate so much power with so little, but all singer/songwriter Scout Niblett needs is an electric guitar and her rip roaring vocals to knock you for a loop. Her style is simple; a pounding riff, some unbelievably expressive lyrics, repeat. It’s a formula for one of the most commanding presences in music today, and one that surely won’t remain under the radar for long
Emma Louise Niblett was born in Staffordshire County in England, where she grew up learning the piano and violin at a young age. In college Niblett began pursuing performance art before picking up a guitar and writing songs. Inspired by Kurt Cobain’s raw power, she adopted the stage name Scout, in homage to the character in To Kill a Mockingbird, and began writing minimalistic, though emotionally packed songs.
Teaching herself the guitar and eventually drums as well, Niblett moved to the U.S. where she began releasing albums in 2001 and recording with legendary producer Steve Albini (Pixies, Nirvana, the Stooges) in 2005, a partnership that remains today. Her latest album, The Calcination of Scout Niblett (Drag City), is a work of refinement, though it still sports her single instrument approach and plenty of reverb. The tone of the album is as somber as ever, filled with mood, angst, and a journey that ultimately is about personal growth. When inspired to write, this songwriter composes some of the most pure, and emotive music out there. Outdoing Chan Marshall’s plaintive cries by far, Niblett’s crashing vocals play heartwrenchingly over often simple, but haunting riffs on her electric guitar. Sometimes her voice soars over only drums, a minimalist and immediate style that captures your ear and racks your brain.
