Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music

Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music — page 7
BJÖRK ALTERNATIVE SINGER AND SONGWRITER Once there was a girl who grew up exploring the winding trails and rushing rivers of her home in Iceland She found beautiful melodies in the sounds of nature Her name was Björk which in Icelandic means birch like the tree At her music school she sang and studied piano and flute When she was 12 Björk released her first album The record company asked her for a similar sounding follow up but Björk refused She had more to discover and like a waterfall tumbling over a rocky cliff she wouldn't let anyone hold her back As a teenager Björk formed bands with friends She tried out styles from jazz to punk and put her own spin on them Then Björk and a group of other musicians were invited to perform on a live radio show She sang in her high haunting voice and experimented with howls and shrieks The music world took notice Fans gravitated toward her unique sound and Björk's career began to take off She worked with choirs harpists and orchestras to create melodies as rich and distinct as her voice The music videos she made captured the untamed natural landscape of her home in Iceland Outside of music Björk loved fashion She sought out pieces that were one of a kind In 2001 she posed on the Oscars red carpet wearing a dress in the shape of a swan complete with a feathered skirt As her success continues Björk makes herself heard in other ways too raising awareness for issues like protecting the environment and women's reproductive rights Through it all Björk remains as free as the wind blowing across the fields of Iceland She dances to her own beat and encourages others to find their rhythm and move to it too BORN NOVEMBER 21 1965 ICELAND 8