Bio

Rhiain and the Utter Strangers is the moniker of Wellington based anti-folk songstress Rhiain McGrath. Her first EP Heartplusmelody out on the 24th August 2012 is a lyric-heavy ode to childhood, recorded with long-time musical collaborator Oli Wilson (of Knives at Noon, The Chills).

McGrath had a musical upbringing, performing musical theatre and singing in church. In her final year of high school she took out the lyrics section at the nationals of the Smokefree Rockquest alongside Wilson. However music was put on the backburner when she began working as a legal secretary and it wasn't until a cathartic trip to Texas that she realised she needed to follow her dreams and record and release her previously bedroom-bound songs.

Her music draws influence from contemporary folk luminaries Joanna Newsom, Fiona Apple, and Laura Marling. Rhiain says "the music is not about doing something pretty, I use my voice to portray emotions in a way that is honest and has integrity".

Links

• Facebook Page
• Twitter Page
• Bandcamp Page