Bad Pollyanna

Bad Pollyanna

Bad Pollyanna are a group made up of Olivia Hyde on vocals and piano, Nikki Kontinen on bass and programming, Stephen Kilpatrick on guitar, and Valerian Adore on drums. Fronted by Hyde, the band combine alternative rock and electronica with a strong visual and theatrical approach.

Style and themes

The group’s name reflects the contrast they build into their music, which brings together beauty and darkness. Their work draws on anime, manga, gothic science fiction, cutting-edge alternative rock, and electronica. Across music, film, art, and performance, they explore themes of love, sex, and the human condition, with an emphasis on duality.

Monstrous Child

Their debut album, Monstrous Child, presents a connected story across the songs and accompanying videos. It follows an innocent young woman who is transformed by a crazed scientist into a beautiful but deadly monster while trying to reincarnate his lost love. The character becomes aware of how she has been conditioned to be afraid and subservient, and the story follows her struggle between retaining her humanity and seeking revenge for a life of powerlessness. Hyde performs the character on stage and in the visuals as well as on the record, helping create a wider narrative world around the album.