Dolly Mixture

Dolly Mixture

Dolly Mixture are a British indie pop and twee pop group from Cambridge, active from 1978 to 1984. The line-up consists of Debsey Wykes on bass and vocals, Rachel Bor on guitar and vocals, and Hester Smith on drums.

Formation and style

The group forms in 1978 when the three members start out as amateurs, initially coming together to play at a friend’s party. They develop into a post-punk and new-wave pop band with a sound that is more pop-oriented than some of their contemporaries in the post-punk scene.

Recordings and releases

Dolly Mixture release two singles on Respond, the label founded by Paul Weller. Near the end of their run, they self-release Demonstration Tapes, a double album of demo recordings. Only 2,000 copies are pressed, and each copy is signed and numbered by the band. The album is reissued in 1995 with support from Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne, who is a long-time admirer of the group.

Notable work with other artists

The band has some Top 40 success as backing vocalists on Captain Sensible’s singles “Wot” and “Happy Talk”.

After the group

After the band ends, Debsey Wykes and Hester Smith form Coming Up Roses. Wykes later works with Saint Etienne and then forms Birdie, with whom she releases two albums in the early 2000s.

Family connections

Rachel Bor is the sister of Andrew Bor of the Users and the mother of Syd Bor of Beetzart.