Sixpence None the Richer

Sixpence None the Richer

Sixpence None the Richer is a group from New Braunfels, United States, active from 1993 to the present. It is also known as Sixpence. The band’s name comes from a passage in C. S. Lewis’s theological book Mere Christianity.

Formation and early line-up

Matt Slocum, a guitarist and songwriter, meets Leigh Nash at a church retreat in the early 1990s. The group begins by recording a demo later known as The Original Demos, then releases The Fatherless and the Widow on R.E.X. Records in 1993. The album includes Chris Dodds, from Slocum’s band Love Coma, on drums. After the release, Slocum leaves Love Coma to focus on Sixpence full time.

For This Beautiful Mess in 1995, the band adds Tess Wiley on guitar, J.J. Plasencio on bass and Dale Baker on drums. Armand John Petri produces both of those early albums. Their early work presents an explicit Christian contemporary music sound.

Breakthrough and mainstream success

In 1997, Sixpence signs to Steve Taylor’s Squint Entertainment and releases its self-titled album. The record draws on melodic Christian rock and 1960s British Invasion music, while also showing a confessional, melodic style associated with power pop and classic rock. It becomes both a critical and commercial breakthrough.

The single “Kiss Me” appears in 1999 and brings the band national pop attention. It is also used in the film She’s All That. In 2000, the band records a cover of The La’s “There She Goes”, which becomes its second hit single and is added to the self-titled album on later releases as a 13th track. At that point the line-up is Leigh Nash, Dale Baker, Matt Slocum, Sean Kelly and Justin Cary. The album reaches number one on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Christian chart, and both “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes” become top 40 hits with long radio airplay.

Later releases, hiatus and reunion

The group’s songs and lyrics move toward a more subtle, emotionally focused approach based on personal storytelling rather than direct proselytising. A follow-up album is prepared, but Squint Entertainment begins to fall apart, leaving the band inactive for several years while it still tours to an enthusiastic audience.

Word Records later takes over Squint, allowing Sixpence None the Richer to record Divine Discontent, released in 2002. The album differs from an earlier circulating version, with five songs removed and six added, and it receives some positive critical reviews. In 2004, Matt Slocum announces that the group has disbanded. That year, Best of is also released, collecting tracks from Divine Discontent outtakes and compilations.

The band reunites in November 2007 and releases the EP My Dear Machine. It then issues its first Christmas album, The Dawn of Grace, in 2008.

Related projects

After the split, Matt Slocum forms the Astronaut Pushers, whose debut EP appears in 2005. He also records and performs with the ambient rock group Hammock. Leigh Nash releases her debut solo album, Blue on Blue, on her label One Son Records in 2006, with “My Idea of Heaven” issued to US radio the same year.

Members

The group’s listed members include Dale Baker, Joel Bailey, Tess Wiley, J.J. Plasencio, Sean Kelly, Jerry Dale McFadden, Rob Mitchell, Jason Lehning, Leigh Nash, Matt Slocum and Justin Cary.

Style

Sixpence None the Richer is associated with Christian rock, Christmas music, indie pop, jangle pop, pop and pop rock.