Lioness

Lioness is a name used by three different acts: an experimental British rock band from Cornwall, a Canadian electronic group from Toronto, and a British grime MC.

Canadian band

The Canadian Lioness forms in Toronto in the winter of 2007. It centres on Jeff Scheven and Ronnie Morris, the rhythm section from controller.controller, and Vanessa Fischer of No Dynamics. The group develops its sound through low-key after-hours performances in small venues around the city, before attracting attention that leads to support slots with acts including !!!, Hercules and Love Affair, You Say Party! We Say Die! and K-OS.

Its music combines electronic squall, elastic rhythms and a live rock arrangement without guitar. Fischer draws on jazz, old soul and blues in her vocals, while the band’s sound blends disco and house influences with organic and synthetic textures. The debut EP, Lioness, is recorded and mixed with Rob Sanzo at Signal To Noise in Toronto and released on New Romantic. The group later issues Omens, Oracles and Signs - Volume 1 on the same label, as the first part of an ongoing remix project built around the single “You’re My Heart”. That release includes remixes by Pilotpriest, Mansion and CCENTURIESS. Fischer also appears as a vocalist on “She’s Good For Business” from MSTRKRFT’s The Looks. The band’s listed members are Vanessa Fischer on voice and synthesizer, Jeff Scheven on drum machines, and Ronnie Morris on bass.

British grime MC

The British grime MC Lioness begins performing at 14, influenced by family members involved in the early grime scene and the older garage period. After forming MYT, or Mastermind Youth Team, with three others, she later joins her brother and cousins in Mastermind Trooperz, where she becomes known as the first lady of the group. Her reputation grows through radio sessions on stations including On Top FM, Raw Blaze, Radio 1, Kiss 100 and 1Xtra, and through a clash on “Xtra Xtra Read All About It”. She also appears in videos for “Rep Ur Endz – South”, “Don’t Talk” and “Phuture Journey”, and appears on Illogic’s Unforseen Shadows.

British band

The British Lioness is an experimental alternative rock and post-hardcore band from Wadebridge, Cornwall. It forms in February 2007 and later changes its name to Lonely Hunters. The line-up includes Dan Morris on vocals, James Ginieres and Charlie Murphy on guitar, Elliott Rothon on keyboards, Matt Oliver and Oli on bass, and Bryn Dolman on drums and vocals. The band releases the EPs This Is How We Move in 2007 and Channels in 2008.