Beth Orton is an English singer-songwriter from Dereham and London, born in 1970. She is associated with alternative folk, alternative rock, electronic music, electronica, folk and folk rock, and is known for a style often described as “folktronica”, combining folk and electronica.

Career

Orton first comes to wider attention in the mid-1990s through collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers. Before that, she releases a solo album, Superpinkymandy, in 1993. The record is issued only in Japan and gains little international notice.

Her second solo album, Trailer Park, arrives in 1996 and becomes a major critical breakthrough. It is produced by Andrew Weatherall, who is chosen after his work on Primal Scream’s Screamadelica. The album leads to nominations for Best British Newcomer and Best British Female at the Brit Awards, and for the Mercury Music Prize in 1997. It sells around 300,000 copies and reaches number 68 in the UK.

Central Reservation, released in 1999, builds on that success. It keeps some of the electronic edge of her earlier work while moving towards a more acoustic sound, with some tracks built around voice and solo acoustic guitar. The album includes contributions from Terry Callier, Dr Robert and Ben Harper, and some tracks are produced by Ben Watt of Everything but the Girl. It brings her a second Mercury Music Prize nomination and wins Best Female at the 2000 Brit Awards.

Daybreaker follows in 2002 and combines her earlier electronic approach with up-tempo pop songs and acoustic ballads. It includes guest appearances from the Chemical Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams and Four Tet. The album reaches the UK top ten, peaking at number eight, and receives mixed reviews.

Later albums and collaborations

Comfort of Strangers is released in 2006. It marks a move away from the electronic sound associated with her earlier records and towards a more stripped-back alt-folk style. The album is produced by Jim O’Rourke and follows a longer gap between releases, after several unsuccessful production attempts and her split from Heavenly.

In 2012 she releases Sugaring Season on ANTI-, followed by a European tour. Her sixth album, Kidsticks, is released in 2016. She also contributes vocals to Beck’s Midnite Vultures album on the track “Beautiful Way”.

Other work

Orton is also associated with the singles “Stolen Car” and “She Cries Your Name”. “Stolen Car” becomes a college radio hit, while “She Cries Your Name” is used in the television series Roswell. She also writes songs for the Erin Brockovich soundtrack.

Her brother, Rupert Orton, is guitarist and manager of the British rock’n’roll band The Jim Jones Revue. Orton also has an early interest in acting.