Beth Jeans Houghton is a Newcastle upon Tyne-born multi-disciplinary musician, composer, artist, animator and video director. Her influences range from psychedelic rock, punk, blues, 1960s garage rock and soul. She Creates art under her birth name, Beth Jeans Houghton, utilising photography, illustration, animation, video, sculpture and embroidery. She has directed and animated music videos for multiple artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ezra Furman, and Laura Marling's band LUMP. She writes, performs, and produces music under the name Du Blonde.
Biography
Beth Jeans Houghton was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Houghton started writing songs in her teens. At sixteen she left school and bought herself a Fender Stratocaster, which she taught herself to play. Houghton first appeared in front of an audience in 2006; her debut release, titled EP, was on Bird Records in 2008. She signed then with Static Caravan Recordings, which released the single "Golden"/"Nightswimmer", produced by Adem, and her second EP, Hot Toast, Vol. 1, both of which earned acclaim from the UK press. Houghton signed in early 2011 with Mute Records, releasing her debut long-player, 'Yours truly, cellophane nose' in early 2012. The album was recorded with Ben Hillier whose previous production credits include Blur, Depeche Mode and Elbow. The album Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose by Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny was released on 6 February 2012 and reached number 83 in the UK Albums Chart. Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny toured the UK and Europe extensively during 2011 and 2012, appearing at multiple festivals including Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Latitude and Bestival. In April 2012, the band performed on Later... with Jools Holland alongside Paul Weller and Willis Earl Beal. After touring 'Welcome Back To Milk', Houghton began work on issue 1 of her comic books series 'Butt Hurt', focusing on bringing to life her vivid dreams and uncomfortable social situations. Having been a lifelong sufferer of anxiety, Houghton's work often touches upon discomfort, using humour to help ease her symptoms and dispel stigma surrounding mental health. During November 2016, Houghton directed and illustrated the animated music video for "Sick Love" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Houghton had previously dated the band's singer Anthony Kiedis. The video was released on 4 December 2016. On 27 March 2018, Houghton's music video for Ezra Furman's 'Suck The Blood From My Wound' was released via the Bella Union label. Houghton Directed, illustrated and animated the clip. On 20 November 2018, LUMP released the video for their single 'May I Be The Light', also directed, illustrated and animated by Houghton.
Du Blonde
During 2014, Houghton began writing and recording music under the name Du Blonde. Welcome Back To Milk, the debut album for Houghton as Du Blonde, recorded in London and Los Angeles with producer Jim Sclavunos, was released on 19 May 2015 by Mute Records. It garnered favourable reviews, with 75/100 rating at Metacritic. Du Blonde's second album, 'Lung Bread For Daddy' was released on 22 February 2019 via Moshi Moshi. The album is the first to be produced by Houghton, taking a journey into relationships and mental health of the musician.
Personal life
In 2013 Houghton suffered from anxiety. Of her practice of Transcendental Meditation, begun at this time, she said, "To now know confidently I can deal with my anxiety is such a good place to be." Houghton is non-binary and transgender.
