Elizabeth McChesney, better known by the stage name Lissy Trullie,[1](born March 1, 1984), is an American singer-songwriter and former model. She released her debut EP, Self-Taught Learner, in February 2009, and as of 2009, performed with a band named Lissy Trullie. She released her full-length debut album on April 10, 2012. She was previously the lead singer for the rock band Zipper Club.[2]

Lissy Trullie
Trullie at Denver's Bluebird Theater in May 2009.
Trullie at Denver's Bluebird Theater in May 2009.
Background information
Birth nameElizabeth McChesney
Born (1984-03-01) March 1, 1984 (age 40)
Washington, D.C., US
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresIndie rock, post-punk revival
Instrument(s)Singing, guitar
Years active2009–present
LabelsAmerican Myth, Makemine, Wichita, Downtown

Early life edit

Trullie was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to New York City at the age of 16 with her mother. She attended Walnut Hill School, a boarding school in Natick, Massachusetts, with a focus on performing arts.[3] She studied graphic design at Parsons in Greenwich Village and then studied art history at The New School.[4] Trullie performed music at art openings, but soon gravitated towards the downtown rock scene. She spent time working as a model, a dishwasher, a janitor, and a disc jockey at the Beatrice Inn.[3]

Career edit

Solo artist edit

Trullie released her debut EP, Self-Taught Learner, through American Myth Recordings on February 17, 2009. She performed at New York City's Mercury Lounge on February 11, 2009, in anticipation of the CD release.[5] The cover of the EP featured a woman's posterior clad in hot pants, taken from a 1970s pornographic magazine.

Trullie then signed with Wichita Recordings, who released her EP in Europe. Photographer Cass Bird directed the video for her single, "Boy Boy", which was partially filmed in the basement of Lit Lounge on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Actress Chloë Sevigny had a cameo as a merchandise sales girl.[6] In 2009, The Observer grouped Trullie with other singers gaining notice with their distinct fashion, 1980s references, and androgyny, including Lady Gaga, Little Boots, Ladyhawke, and Elly Jackson's synth duo La Roux.[7]

Trullie signed with Downtown Records and re-released her debut EP in October 2009 with four additional songs. Her cover version of Hot Chip's "Ready for the Floor" appeared on the soundtrack of the horror film Jennifer's Body.[8] Trullie made a video for the title single from her EP, "Self-Taught Learner", in October 2009.[9]

Trullie began work on a full-length album in late-2009 with producer Bernard Butler, formerly of the band Suede.[10] Producers John Hill and Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio ended up recording her debut album, Lissy Trullie, in Los Angeles. The album was released in the U.S. on April 10, 2012, by Downtown Records. The debut single, "Madeleine", was made available as a download through RCRD LBL in November 2011, and a video for "It's Only You, Isn't It?" was released in March 2012.[11][12]

 
Trullie in 2008.

Lissy Trullie band edit

As of 2009, Trullie fronted a four piece rock band, also named Lissy Trullie, which included Trullie on vocals and guitar, Josh Elrod on drums, Eben D’Amico (of Saves the Day) on lead guitar, and Ian Fenger on bass.[13][14] The group often performed the songs "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie, "Ready for the Floor" by Hot Chip, and Amy Winehouse’s "Rehab" live.[15][16]

The band toured the U.S. and Europe with The Virgins and Anya Marina in May–June 2009.[17] The tour was cut short when bassist Fenger was hospitalized with swine influenza. The band and crew were quarantined in their hotel in Germany.[10] The group made their U.S. television debut on Last Call with Carson Daly performing "Boy Boy" at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California on June 3, 2009.[18] They then toured the UK in September–October 2009 with The Cribs and Adam Green.

Modeling edit

Trullie has appeared in the fashion magazines Elle, SOMA, and Jalouse. She was the face of actress Chloë Sevigny’s clothing line,[19] and posed in an early portrait by photographer Ryan McGinley in 2002.[20] She was also the inspiration and model for Moses de la Renta's debut line.[21] Trullie stated to Time Out New York that modeling was "just a way for me to make money during college".[5]

Trullie was chosen to represent fashion designer Max Azria for the Hervé Léger Fall 2009 collection. Underground filmmaker Richard Kern photographed the advertisements and directed a video for Trullie's "Ready for the Floor", with the singer wearing clothes from the collection.[22]

 
Truillie (center) with Zipper Club in 2016.

Zipper Club edit

Trullie and Mason James of Cerebral Ballzy formed Zipper Club, a band produced by James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. [23]

Discography edit

Albums edit

EPs edit

Singles edit

  • "Boy Boy" (2009), Makemine – limited edition 7"
  • "Self Taught Learner" (2009)
  • "Madeleine" (2011)
  • "Here" (2018)

References edit

  1. ^ Whitney, Christine (April 10, 2009). "Lissy Trullie". Missbehave. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  2. ^ Kim, Taylor Bennett. "Introducing Zipper Club and Their Very First Track "Going the Distance" – Noisey". Noisey. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Goodman, Lizzy (April 5, 2009). "Lissy Trullie Carries on Tradition of Downtown Cool With Debut EP 'Self-Taught Learner'". New York. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  4. ^ Campion, Freddie (April 10, 2012). "Artist of the Week: Lissy Trullie Archived 2012-04-13 at the Wayback Machine". Vogue. Retrieved on April 10, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Shteamer, Hank (February 5, 2009). "Buzz kill". Time Out New York. Retrieved on August 25, 2009.
  6. ^ Davis, Rebecca Willa (May 13, 2009). "Very Special Friends Archived 2009-06-26 at the Wayback Machine". Nylon. Retrieved on June 6, 2009.
  7. ^ Day, Elizabeth (April 19, 2009). "Pop's new wave: quirky, stylish girls fashioned from the 80s". The Observer. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  8. ^ Zahn, James (July 28, 2009). "JENNIFER'S BODY – Full soundtrack details Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine". Fangoria. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.
  9. ^ Davis, Rebecca Willa (October 27, 2009). "Trullie Madly Deeply". Nylon. Retrieved on October 30, 2009. Archived at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ a b "Swine flu to blame for Lissy Trullie gig cancellations". July 8, 2009. NME. Retrieved on July 11, 2009.
  11. ^ Lanham, Tom (November 15, 2011). "Lissy Trullie is more than just another pretty face". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Schreiber, Abby (March 6, 2012). "Lissy Trullie's "It's Only You, Isn't It?" Is Our Music Video of the Day". Paper. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  13. ^ Marchese, David (February 26, 2009). "The New New York Cool". Spin. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  14. ^ Lester, Paul (April 1, 2009). "New band of the day – No 518: Lissy Trullie". The Guardian. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  15. ^ Fischer, Reed (February 9, 2009), "Artist of the Week: Lissy Trullie". Paste. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  16. ^ Bernstein, Kate (April 3, 2008). "Beautiful People 2008: Lissy Trullie". Paper. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  17. ^ Chapman, Gray (April 21, 2009), "Lissy Trullie to tour with The Virgins, Anya Marina". Paste. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  18. ^ Daly, Carson. Last Call with Carson Daly (June 3, 2009). [Television Show]. NBC.
  19. ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (April 19, 2009). "My Generation: Cynically yours". The Sunday Times. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  20. ^ Honigman, Ana Finel (June 22, 2007). "Web sights: Ryan McGinley's portraits of a generation". The Guardian. Retrieved on June 6, 2009.
  21. ^ Gould-Simon, Alisa (June 22, 2009). "The Punk World of Moses de la Renta Archived 2009-06-25 at the Wayback Machine". BlackBook Magazine. Retrieved on June 23, 2009.
  22. ^ "Richard Kern Shoots (Lissy Trullie for Herve Leger)". July 20, 2009. Interview. Retrieved on July 24, 2009.
  23. ^ Ziemba, Christine N. (August 29, 2016). "20 Of Our Favorite Events in Los Angeles This Week". LAist. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.

External links edit