Abigail Mary Eliza Kemp Morris (born 19 October 1999) is a British singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of The Last Dinner Party.[1]
Abigail Morris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Abigail Mary Eliza Kemp Morris 19 October 1999 West London, London, United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Years active | 2018-present |
| Known for | The Last Dinner Party |
| Style | Indie rock, pop rock, baroque pop, glam rock |
Before joining the band, she performed under the name Amorina during her early career in London.
Early life
editAbigail Morris was born on 19 October 1999 in London. She was born and raised in West London, where she was exposed to various musical influences from an early age. She attended Bedales School.[2] While there, engaged in singing and literature. She began writing music at the age of 13. Even at this young age, Morris knew she wanted to pursue a career either as an actress or in a rock band, and she spent her teenage years developing her songwriting skills.
After moving back to London at 18 to attend Goldsmiths University,[3] where she studied English, Morris started performing her original songs in local venues. In 2018, she began releasing music on SoundCloud under the name Amorina. Around this time, she also collaborated with the band Zooz as a guest vocalist during their live sets.
Career
editFormation of The Last Dinner Party
editIn 2019, Morris met Georgia Davies and Lizzie Mayland during Freshers' Week at King's College London. They frequented The Windmill, a well-known indie venue in London. The trio discussed forming a band and soon created The Dinner Party, later renamed The Last Dinner Party.[4]
Morris' early composition "Burn Alive" became the foundation for their collaboration, and the group began performing in the London area. In 2021, they officially debuted as The Last Dinner Party, with Morris taking the role of lead vocalist.
Style and influence
editMorris has cited a range of influences, from classic rock icons such as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie to literary figures like Virginia Woolf and Oscar Wilde.[5] In interviews, Morris has emphasized the importance of storytelling in her songwriting.[6]
Public image and controversy
editIn mid-2023, Morris and The Last Dinner Party faced backlash after comments made during an interview were perceived as insensitive to the ongoing cost of living crisis in the UK.[6] Morris later addressed the controversy, explaining that her words were taken out of context and reaffirming the band's support for social justice causes.[7]
Despite the controversy, Morris has continued to be a vocal advocate for women's empowerment in the music industry. She frequently discusses the challenges of navigating a male-dominated space and how she uses her platform to challenge gender norms.[8]
Discography with The Last Dinner Party
edit- "Prelude to Ecstasy" (Album, 2024)
- "Nothing Matters" (Single, 2023)
- "Sinner" (Single, 2023)
- "My Lady of Mercy" (Single, 2023)
- "On Your Side" (Single, 2023)
- "Caesar on a TV Screen" (Single, 2024)
- "The Feminine Urge" (Single, 2024)
- "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (Single, 2024)
Awards
edit- Brit Award for Rising Star, 2023[9]
- BBC Sound of 2024, 2023[10]
References
edit- ^ Aniftos, Rania (2023-09-19). "Chartbreaker: The Last Dinner Party Is 'Not F–king Around' Following Its Debut Hit". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Old Bedalian Newsletter | Bedales School". www.bedales.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "The Last Dinner Party: 'Expect the unexpected'". The Yorkshire Post. October 12, 2023. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Dean, Jonathan (2024-02-04). "The Last Dinner Party: 'It's fun to be pretentious'". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (2023-04-20). "Meet The Last Dinner Party, who might just be your favourite new band". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b Skinner, Tom (2024-03-01). "The Last Dinner Party speak out on "privilege", respond to "cost of living" comments being "taken out of context"". NME. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ Shafer, Ellise (2024-02-02). "The Last Dinner Party Talks Debut Album and Breakout Hit 'Nothing Matters': 'There's Something So Powerful About a Woman Saying "I Will F— You"'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ Hunt, Elle (2024-06-28). "The Last Dinner Party on misogyny, maximalism and making it big: 'Men think they're the arbiters of rock'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Brit Awards: Indie band The Last Dinner Party win rising star prize". BBC News. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "The Last Dinner Party win BBC Radio 1's Sound Of 2024". 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-09-23.