Mary Timony, Helium, Daft Punk, The Notwist, Stars, Mirah, Ratatat, The Knife, Pinback, Metric, The Postal Service, Scrabbel, Loquat, The Aislers Set, The Stills, Iron & Wine, Annie, The Reindeer Section, The Softies, The Go-Go's, The Bangles, hey willpower, Blonde Redhead, Nada Surf, Eliott Smith, Nick Drake, Thievery Corporation, Astrid Gilberto, April March, Bedhead, The Rachel's, Sufjan Stevens, Ladytron, Belle & Sebastian, Sondre Lerche, Brendan Benson, Broadcast, The Whitest Boy Alive, Camera Obscura, Art in Manila, Versus, Cocteau Twins, The Poems, The Postmarks, Elvis Perkins, Jeff Hanson, Fionn Regan, Brittle Stars, The Sea and Cake
Hearts of Palm UK are Erica Elektra (vocals, keyboard, guitar), Frankie Rose (glockenspiel, keyboard, percussion) and Billy Kaye (cello, autoharp, keyboard). The band fuses the intensity of electro, the sweetness of lo-fi indie pop, the dance-ability of Euro club hits and the rawness of folk music. Working from original material, Erica Elektra creates layered sequences and textures that are joined by smooth vocals. Her work has drawn comparisons to Stars, Metric, Cat Power, Camera Obscura, The Postal Service and even Cyndi Lauper!
The daughter of a Russian piano teacher, Erica Elektra started playing piano at the age of three years old. As a child, she loved to play the passionate music of composers like Rachmaninoff and Beethoven. A guitarist for most of the past ten years, Erica's only recently gone back to her piano-playing roots. She recruited her good friend Frankie Rose to play a host of instruments – shaker, triangle, keyboard, glockenspiel, sticks – which has served to give Hearts of Palm U.K. their unique sound. Billy Kaye has recently joined the mix as a much-needed one-woman string section. Needless to say, Billy and Frankie are known to have their hands full.
Hearts of Palm U.K. are developing their own electro-indie-pop style and couldn't be happier about it. They are ready to dance, rock out and have fun.
Go H.O.P.U.K.!!!
"It's no secret what Echo Park-based Elektra and band mate Frankie Rose are doing -- twee pop with honeyed vocals, tart lyrics and twitchy beats. It might remind you of the likes of Talulah Gosh, Lali Puna or Look Blue Go Purple." - Los Angeles Times, 5/07
"the electro-pop duo have generated a buzz on the West Coast..." - CMJ.com, 6/15/07
"...sound like they've spent some time listening to Postal Service and The Notwist..." - The Toronto Star, 11/03/07
"Though they're not from the UK (and please don't ask), the ladies of Echo Park duo Hearts of Palm UK still purr and bounce through melancholy, retro pop tunes like cotton candy hurtling through a thunderstorm. - Flavorpill LA 11/20/07
"You'd think with all the electronic bits in LA indie pop duo Hearts of Palm UK's songs that they might sound better on your stereo or in your car than in-person at some music venue, but you know what? They're pretty amazing live. Lead singer Erica Elektra's voice is as clear as a fucking bell and, you know, who isn't a complete sucker for the glockenspiel?" - Radio Free Silver Lake, Band of the Week, 7/07
"How do you make an indie pop band? Take some Camera Obscura, mix in some Stereolab, add a pinch of Go-Gos and some Human League… voila! Hearts of Palm UK."
- Best Week Ever (VH1), 08/07
"Hearts of Palm UK are heading down a promising path: a female duo comprised of Erica Elektra and Frankie Rose, the two create upbeat indie-electro pop that does a great job of drawing the listener in, with melodies occasionally hinting at the beauty of The Postal Service. Erica Elektra owns the stage, with a beautiful voice and solid guitar/keyboard work."
- Glide Magazine, 03/08
"If a picture paints a thousand words then check out the picture accompanying this post, it sums Hearts of Palm UK up perfectly, pure bontempi bubblegum....Once they let rip then hold onto your bobbie pins girls because Hearts of Palm U.K. are coming to steal your boyfriends." - The Devil Has the Best Tuna, 08/07
"...lovely lo-fi-pop with electro-beats, completed with a hint of dance and two spoons full of folk." - Music of the Moment, 8/07
"I have one word to describe this electro-pop duo - adorable. Hearts Of Palm UK is highly recommended for fans of other chicky groups like Au Revoir Simone." - 5 Acts, 9/07
"Erica, who writes the songs, sang and played keys and guitar with an impish twinkle in her eyes. The serene Frankie Rose played a host of other instruments from glockenspiel to guiro. The result was smoothly choreographed, cleanly delivered, sweet electronic pop, buoyed by Erica's animated personality. I like to see the ladies bringing beauty and class to the rock stage. " - Speed of Dark, 02/08
"They play pleasant and user friendly indie-pop, like a Camera Obscura meets Cat Power type thing going on..." - Comfort Comes, 03/07
"Fronted by Erica Elektra, Hearts of Palm, play toe-tapping, laptop indie-pop, reminiscent of Camera Obscura, Stars, and maybe even a little Giant Drag (the title of their single is titled "Jonathan (the fucking motherfucker). Elektra has a gorgeous voice and a fully-formed knack for melody and in my opinion, the duo stole the show...The live show is impossibly pleasant, song after song of breezy, slightly melancholic pop, full of shimmering electronic melodies and catchy hooks certain to please even the most jaded of listeners. If you like the bands referenced above, I highly encourage you to check out Hearts of Palm." - The Passion of the Weiss, 3/07
"Hearts of Palm UK play pleasant dancey, lo-fi, electro-folk." - You Set The Scene, 2/07
Electra so sorry had to leave... I was looking for ya to say Goodbye. But you were lost somewhere. Love ya guys performance always. can't wait to hear the other two gals perform with ya. Going to wear that cute band shirt to magic mountain this sat. Gotta spread the good word. Hee Hee
we're giving away a couple pairs of tickets to Hearts of Palm UK's show at Spaceland with The Helio Sequence and The Builders and The Butchers next Tuesday (2/26)
Our involvement is strictly grassroots; nothing official here! Check out the following link for the story, or look up "obamamobile" on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OKu4JnUNLQ
Ha ha and yay yay for Super Tuesday. Fab as always. Half of the LASR actually got roped into doing something last minute for the Obama campaign, but it's not nearly as fun as what you guys did . . . nonetheless it's on the page for curious parties. . . Cheers
