Donna Lorraine Matthews(born 2 December 1971) is a Welsh musician who was thelead guitaristof theBritpopbandElastica.

Music career

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When she was 20, Matthews answered an advert inMelody Makerfor a guitarist with a new band. She became a member ofElastica,subsequently becoming one of their songwriters and credited for many of their tracks.[1]Matthews left Elastica in the spring of 1999 after the band's output had waned and she had developed aheroinhabit.[1]In April 2000 she briefly rejoined the band to play one track, "Connection",at the LondonKentish Town Forumafter being invited out of the audience by Elastica singerJustine Frischmann.[2]

After shaking off her drug addiction she formed an unnamed band withbassistIsabel Waidner and Catrin Jones. In May 2003 they produced and sold 1000 copies of a single, called "L.O.V.E."[1]

In May 2004, Matthews' new band, Klang (with Waidner and drummer Keisuke Hiratsuka) released their debut album,No Sound is Heard.[1]Klang have not produced any output or news since 2005.[3]

On 21 January 2017 three-quarters of the original line-up of Elastica – Matthews,Annie HollandandJustin Welch– worked together on the remastering ofElastica.[4]

As of 2022, Matthews has aYouTubechannel where she uploads mostly improvisational music.[5]

Other activities

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Matthews subsequently studied music at theDartington College of ArtsinDevon.She was interviewed byIchthus Christian Fellowshipin October 2006.[6]

It was revealed that she had become aChristian.She is working as a missionary with the homeless.[7]

In a 2007 interview Matthews claimed she was still making music but no longer had a desire to be in the public eye. She wanted simply to be "rich in love".[8]

Matthews also played the role of glam rocker Polly Small in the 1998 filmVelvet Goldmine.

References

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  1. ^abcdCripps, Charlotte (14 May 2004)."Donna Matthews: A new Elastica band".The Independent.Archived fromthe originalon 15 September 2015.Retrieved19 April2013.
  2. ^"Donna back with Elastica for one night only".NME.14 April 2000.Retrieved19 April2013.
  3. ^Klangers.netArchived28 August 2007 at theWayback Machine
  4. ^"'They hadn't seen each other for 20yrs': Elastica are back in the studio ".Vanyaland.com.21 January 2017.Retrieved6 July2020.
  5. ^"Donna Matthews".Youtube.com.7 February 2022.Retrieved7 February2022.
  6. ^"Evangelism News October 2006".Archived fromthe originalon 28 October 2007.
  7. ^Justine Frischmann: waking up from Elastica to art in AmericaGuardian Newspaper 14 March 2016
  8. ^Achara, Chidi."Interview: Donna Matthews"."Famous" (2007).Artisan Magazine. Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2009.Retrieved19 April2013.
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