Peaches Biography

Merrill Beth Nisker, professionally known as Peaches, is a Canadian electronic singer and performance artist. She has a peculiar and controversial style. Her songs contain very explicit lyrics. Her songs were featured in many movies like Mean Girls and Lost in Translation. Additionally, she also contributed to the soundtrack of several tv shows such as Ugly Betty, South Park, True Blood.

Career Beginnings

Merrill was born in a Jewish family and struggled with antisemitism in her school years. Before her solo success, the eccentric artist was part of the folk group Mermaid Cafe. In 1995 she released a first solo album, called Fancypants Hoodlum. Later that year, she formed a band namedThe Shit. Their highly sexual rock music anticipated Merrill’s future persona, Peaches. The pseudonym came from a Nina Simone song, Four Women. During that period she was friends with indie pop/folk artist Feist, with whom she collaborated occasionally. Ulteriorly, Peaches toured with important singers such as M.I.A, Marilyn Manson, and Queens of the Stone Age.

Breakthrough

In 2000, Peaches released her second album, The Teaches of Peaches. The album convinced Sony to sign her to their label. However, after she released a video for her song Set It Off, they dropped her. The video presented her sitting in a locker room as her pubic and armpit hair grew to Rapunzel length. In 2002, Peaches appeared in Hideous Man, a short film by John Malkovich. In 2003, she made quite an impression with Fatherfucker. The album spawned a popular single Kick It, due to Iggy Pop being featured. Consequently, the singer received a nomination at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. For her next album, Impeach My Bush, Peaches collaborated with numerous acclaimed musicians. The album granted her another GLAAD Media nomination.

Later Years

In 2009 Peaches released another album, I Feel Cream. All tree singles, Talk to Me, More and I Feel Cream reached the European charts. The artist became famous for her flamboyant and anachronic style. The album reached number 160 on the Billboard 200, thus becoming the singer’s best-charting to date. One year later, Peaches won the Electronic Artist of the Year award at the Independent Music Awards. Additionally, she was featured on Christina Aguilera‘s My Girls. Peaches also appears on R.E.M.’s Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter. In 2015, her latest album, RUB, came out to a generally positive reaction. It reached several charts, most noteworthy number 4 on the US Top Dance/Electronic Albums.

Photo source: Pitchfork