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Shortly before turning 16, Mackey had her first public performance at her sister's birthday party. A local indie gig promoter happened to be a guest and was impressed by her performance and signed her up for a number of local gigs. She got involved in the local indie scene, supporting touring bands
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Summer festival appearances and a debut tour in
October 2018 saw Mackey assemble the band of musicians that would go on to play with her until 2021: guitarist Jac Roberts (also of Deaf Club), drummer Josh Heffernan and keyboards player Louis Swords Milburn. In 2019, the band played at
344:
and started making music as Art School
Girlfriend. "The Art School Girlfriends" was originally the name Mackey's ex-girlfriend thought of using for a DJ duo with her friend from art school, but then Mackey took it for her solo project as they never used it.
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describing it as, "...a more exploratory account, with the hazy electronics tied together with innate pop understanding". This was followed by the double-A-side single, "Come Back To Me" and "Diving", which was released on 7-inch vinyl in June 2019.
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wrote of their live show, "There's a confidence to their dreamscape rock that belies the fact that they've only been together for a year... Among the glut of fresh acts, they're special...." In 2013, they appeared at festivals such as
463:, "I had left Margate, I was staying on my friend's sofa in London, and felt very un-anchored. So I found solace and temporary-home in a small corridor-like studio, where I spent 12 hours a day. I'd get up at 7am and drive to the
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wrote, "Deaf Club layer sound upon sound to blur their songwriting into a hallucinatory experience... They move in unexpected directions which demonstrate a real bravery."
368:, which was released on Wolf Tone in September 2017 led by debut single, "Bending Back". Art School Girlfriend's first live show was on 27 September 2017 at The Nines in
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during the aftermath of a breakup. "The bulk of this record was written during the two weeks after a long-term and quite strange breakup situation," Mackey tells
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imprint, Kissability. In 2012, the band signed to Domino
Publishing, toured the UK as headliners as well as in support of the band
1237:""Dark, Light, & Bloomy": Art School Girlfriend's Debut Album 'Is It Light Where You Are' and the Breathtaking Weight of Loss"
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describes the album as a "dreamy production emphasised by techno undertones, transcendental vocals and wistful instrumentals".
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and a second headline UK tour in April, which finished with a sold-out show at London's Omeara. Mackey joined the musician
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1289:"Ghostpoet β 'I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep' review: the world-weariness soon becomes catching"
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528:. The album was announced alongside a second single, "Close To The Clouds", which was premiered by
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Mackey spent the summer of 2019 working on her debut album, which was written and recorded at
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1158:"Wrexham musician Art School Girlfriend reveals what it's like to work with Adele's producer"
991:"Polly is finding her vital artistic space: Wrexham producer talks new EP Into The Blue Hour"
795:"Wrexham musician Art School Girlfriend reveals what it's like to work with Adele's producer"
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and get in the cold water to try and shock away my feelings, shower and go to the studio."
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Mackey describes the album as a culmination of her teenage musical influences such as the
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On 18 January 2023, Mackey released "A Place To Lie", the lead single to her second album
486:. The headline UK tour ended with a sold-out show at Village Underground in October 2021.
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1016:"Art School Girlfriend on the creative community in Margate & the comfort of a label"
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1369:"Art School Girlfriend on emerging from the darkness to make new album Soft Landing"
1185:"Art School Girlfriend playing SXSW, touring w/ The Japanese House (stream her EPs)"
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called
Captain. She runs a monthly radio show on Foundation FM, which focusses on
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Mackey had been making demos on her laptop when she met engineer JHJ, in a bar in
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with long-term collaborator Riley MacIntyre and features vocals from Tony Njoku.
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1043:"Art School Girlfriend on being her own producer and why role models are vital"
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After the disbanding of Deaf Club, in 2015, Mackey provided backing vocals on
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1077:(Interview). March 2023. Interviewed by Georgia Dimdore-Miles. London: DIVA.
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1049:(Interview). Series 3: Episode 1. Interviewed by Mike Griffiths. Wales:
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1263:"1-800 Girls remix Art School Girlfriend's 'Is It Light Where You Are'"
847:"Deaf Club's Polly Mackey talks sold-out tapes, darkness and PJ Harvey"
780:"Music for Pleasure: Polly Mackey and the Pleasure Principle Interview"
510:
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567:, alongside her more recent experiences DJing at clubs and festivals.
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between 2016 and 2019, where she ran the queer bookshop Spine Books.
509:'s book of the same name, as well as appearing in the film alongside
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364:. This music would go on to become Art School Girlfriend's debut EP,
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1439:"New Faces: The Japanese House, a Pop Star Who Defies Definition"
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1069:"From music production to five-aside football, she has it all"
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saw Mackey experiment with denser layers of electronics, with
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1136:"Art School Girlfriend Breaks Through - DKFM Shoegaze Radio"
360:; Epworth invited Mackey to finish her music at his studio,
224:
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1394:"art school girlfriend is margate's newest goth pop star"
1115:"Approved: Art School Girlfriend | Complete Music Update"
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was followed by a sold-out double A-side cassette on the
372:. That same year, Mackey began a sporadic radio show on
216:, is a Welsh musician, producer, and singer-songwriter.
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1211:"Art School Girlfriend Shares 'Into The Blue Hour' EP"
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This was followed by appearances at festivals such as
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with a solo setup for a 5-week US tour shortly after.
782:(Interview). Interviewed by Andy Von Pip. The VPME.
302:before disbanding in 2014. Their last show was at
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380:. In June 2018, Mackey was asked to DJ alongside
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245:In early 2011, Mackey moved to London with her
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1034:
952:"The Great Escape: five highlights of day one"
616:relationship with Amber Bain, who performs as
356:who had recently set up his own record label,
21:Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop
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720:Polly Mackey & the Pleasure Principle
404:was released, followed by appearances at
225:2007β2016: Early career and previous band
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478:, was released on 10 September 2021, on
44:Art School Girlfriend performing in 2023
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1340:"Art School Girlfriend - Soft Landing"
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19:For the Stone Temple Pilots song, see
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612:. In 2019, Mackey was in a three-way
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495:I Grow Tired Yet Dare Not Fall Asleep
1594:21st-century British women composers
1234:
319:, as well as appearing with them on
1209:Murray, Robin (28 September 2018).
821:"Track Of The Day 16/9 - Deaf Club"
819:Murray, Robin (16 September 2011).
432:, as well as touring in support of
13:
1430:
1386:
1067:Mackey, Polly (24 February 2023).
950:Nicholson, Rebecca (11 May 2012).
873:"SXSW Free EP Download: Deaf Club"
778:Mackey, Polly (13 November 2009).
470:With a delayed release due to the
14:
1605:
1460:
1418:Jocelyn, Hannah (7 August 2023).
1235:Mosk, Mitch (16 September 2021).
989:Richardson, Andy (5 April 2019).
871:Heath, Larry (25 February 2013).
761:"Art School Girlfriend Biography"
758:
540:was released on 4 August 2023 on
400:during which Mackey's second EP,
249:band, Deaf Club. Their debut EP,
234:and playing at festivals such as
1437:McCarthy, Lauren (31 May 2019).
1287:Balram, Dhruva (30 April 2020).
926:"Guardian: New Band Of The Week"
924:Lester, Paul (6 February 2012).
793:Bowman, Jamie (5 October 2018).
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897:Crooks, Katie (12 April 2012).
313:fourth and final studio album,
306:in London on 28 February 2014.
212:, also known by her stage name
1519:Welsh women singer-songwriters
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864:
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608:and is in a relationship with
1:
1183:Pearis, Bill (7 March 2019).
1041:Mackey, Polly (19 May 2023).
899:"Live: 2:54 @ Deaf Institute"
745:
727:Extended plays with Deaf Club
298:and released their final EP,
1589:21st-century Welsh composers
845:Milton, Jamie (2 May 2012).
275:, and received support from
7:
1420:"Soft Landing Album Review"
352:. He passed the demos onto
322:Later... with Jools Holland
10:
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1554:Welsh electronic musicians
444:across the UK and Europe.
388:'s return gig at London's
18:
1089:"Interview: Polly Mackey"
635:Is It Light Where You Are
476:Is It Light Where You Are
450:Is It Light Where You Are
340:In 2016, Mackey moved to
253:was released for free on
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905:. Manchester Media Group
707:Live St Pancras 05.10.18
681:Is It Dark Where You Are
544:. It was co-produced at
1529:Welsh lesbian musicians
1559:Welsh record producers
1539:Welsh LGBT songwriters
735:(2011, White on White)
497:. She also scored the
376:online radio station,
50:Background information
1524:Welsh women composers
1495:Art School Girlfriend
1481:Art School Girlfriend
1373:headlinermagazine.net
722:(2010, New Direction)
656:Studio extended plays
604:Mackey identifies as
269:Transgressive Records
214:Art School Girlfriend
32:Art School Girlfriend
1544:Welsh LGBT composers
688:Remix extended plays
189:.artschoolgirlfriend
1584:People from Wrexham
1569:Lesbian songwriters
741:(2013, Kissability)
701:Live extended plays
210:Polly Louise Mackey
60:Polly Louise Mackey
1579:Polyamorous people
1534:Welsh LGBT singers
1320:. 5 September 2022
668:Into the Blue Hour
618:The Japanese House
575:Mackey resides in
546:The Church Studios
489:Mackey appears on
457:The Church Studios
430:Green Man Festival
414:Into The Blue Hour
410:The Japanese House
402:Into The Blue Hour
362:The Church Studios
335:Into The Blue Hour
1574:Lesbian composers
1549:Welsh pop singers
1267:Data Transmission
1020:District Magazine
709:(2019, Wolf Tone)
696:(2019, Wolf Tone)
683:(2022, Wolf Tone)
670:(2017, Wolf Tone)
664:(2017, Wolf Tone)
501:-supported film,
472:COVID-19 pandemic
316:Marks to Prove It
296:Reading and Leeds
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113:Singer-songwriter
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1398:i-d.vice.com
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