H.I.P.

Probably like most readers, this writer had never heard of Dido until rapper Eminem sampled her hypnotic track “Thank You” for last year’s hit single “Stan.” A subsequent thorough listen to Dido’s debut album, No Angel, proved her talent to be real, matching a seductive voice with thoughtful songwriting. An upcoming first appearance in Japan by the English songstress, then, should make for one of this fall’s most looked forward to musical moments.

The sister of Faithless leader and UK dance music producer, Rollo, Dido showed musical promise from an early age, attending London’s Guildhall School of Music and touring with a classical ensemble in her teens.

Exposed to pop and electronica through her brother, Dido began singing with London-based bands before getting involved with Rollo’s project, Faithless. She contributed vocals to the track “Flowerstand Man” on Faithless’ 1996 debut Reverence, and when the album turned into a million seller, she dropped her day job to go on tour with the band.

Meanwhile, Dido was busy writing her own material. Gradually putting together an album’s worth of demo songs, she was able to ink a deal with the US arm of Arista Records in 1999. No Angel, co-produced by her brother, was released in June 1999 and received considerable attention when the song “Here With Me” was used as the theme for the hit US television series "Roswell," and when “Thank You” was used on the soundtrack for the Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors.

Following the success of Eminem’s “Stan,” the moody, downtempo No Angel went on to multi-platinum sales. Dido then launched her own solo headlining tour across the US this summer, while also appearing on the soon-to-be-released third Faithless album, Outrospective.
Meanwhile, Launch reports that she is currently at work on a follow-up to No Angel.

Zepp Tokyo, 10/18, 7pm,
JY6800. Info: H.I.P. 3475-9999. See listings for details.