Sharkboy

Sharkboy was formed in the early 1990s by Preston-born Avy (vocals, guitar), who dropped out of her arts degree course in Brighton to pursue music. She recruited American-born multi-instrumentalist Oxaal (guitar, cello, keyboards) and 5 other musically gifted Brighton boys to complete the band.


Sharkboy naturally gravitated towards a cinematic alt-country expanse, with stories and hidden meanings embedded within Avy’s acoustic-based writing. Bringing experimental and ambitious arrangements into the light of 90s Britpop utopia created a testing ground for genre-clashing, sometimes challenging work that demonstrated their commitment to dark glamour and anticipated the southern gothic genre. Sharkboy's eclectic style has been compared to My Bloody Valentine, Mazzy Star, Drugstore, Tindersticks, and Mojave 3. On the band’s second album, Allmusic identified a “blend of country, blues, post-punk textures”.
Avy’s vocal delivery is in turns stark, atmospheric and intimate, and has drawn comparisons with a diverse number of female singers, from jazz composers such as Annette Peacock through to Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux and the late, great folk singer Nico.
The music journalist Everett True describes her music as having ‘a rich and sensuous splendour’.
Sharkboy has been reclaimed as Avy creates audio experimentation and cinematic themes as a stop motion animator and audio-visual artist. She allows us to enter a narrative world of immersive beauty for the eye, ear and heart.