“Transmissions from a dream” — What do you do as an introvert? Facilitate someone else’s dreams or grow your own? Chorusgirl is German-born songwriter Silvi Wersing, who discovered in 2014, after a decade of playing chorus girl in other people’s bands, that introverts could and should write their own dreams and front their own shows. Silvi began writing songs and put together a London-based 4-piece.
“Forecasts of rain but intermittent sunny“ — The sound of Chorusgirl has always been a heady shimmering blend of melody and pop nous, stealthily subverted by something darker. Heavy emotional lyrics on grief and existential themes are set to a mixture of pop noir, jangle and surf, channelling 60s girl groups through the lens of the 80s. The Ronettes meet The Bangles, The Cure and Blondie, meeting Lush, The Breeders and Best Coast.
“Let’s climb to heaven and back” — Chorusgirl went on to release two successful albums on two much-loved UK labels. They were first signed to Fortuna Pop for their debut album in 2015, and then they signed to Reckless Yes for the follow-up in 2018. Both albums were relaesed to rapturous applause and found a devoted audience (Rough Trade Top 10 of the Month, “Shimmering harmonies and punchy hooks” Louder Than War (8/10), “Another brilliant record from a band who seem to be capable of nothing less.” Narc Magazine (5/5) and 8/10 in Line of Best Fit, withguitars, Little Indie Blogs and many more).
Right from the start, Chorusgirl were played on Amazing Radio and US college radio, and the first single was playlisted on BBC6 radio, with subsequent singles garnering support from Steve Lamacq on his BBC6 show. Tours and festival appearances all over Europe and the US followed, supporting the likes of the Primitives, Allo Darlin, the Clientele, the Wedding Present, and up-and-coming bands like Liines, and Cloth, amongst many others. (“They never pause for breath in a riotous set” For The Rabbits)
“Sugar and spice are magnificent lies, steel and cement a more accurate blend” — The third album was initially planned for release in 2020, but the pandemic and a nervous breakdown brought everything to a screeching halt. It took Silvi the rest of 2020 and 2021 to rebuild her life and re-consider everything, including Chorusgirl. She decided to relocate to her small hometown, to become a carer for her increasingly ill father and to take Chorusgirl back to its roots as a solo project, just like in 2014. She revisited old demos and wrote a few more songs, and steadily worked to complete the album as an anchor at a time of turmoil. With the album charting her progress back to health, she decided to call it Colapso Calypso, a riff on taking her despair for a dance.
The album includes a mutlitude of references from music and film and features Silvi’s trademark self-reflective lyrics on the themes of coming through a crisis, grief, resilience, and ultimately letting go, or the inability thereof, all set to the sounds of 60s girl groups and her favourite bands from the 80s. Colapso Calypso was released in October 2022 to glowing reviews; gigs will follow in 2023.
“Chorusgirl explore universal themes with the catchiest of tunes, thundering rhythms, a wry sense of self and fascinating multi-meaning lyrics.” (8/10)
Sarah Lay, Louder Than War
“Chorusgirl’s sound is distinctly London (although, more the London of the 80s than of now) but it’s also the sound of escaping London.(…) It’s the feeling of sleeping with the bedroom window open for the first time in months and waking up with a fresh wafting across your face.” Emma Garland, Noisey/Vice
“Chorusgirl pertain to a certain kind of cold, detached dreaminess you’d associate with a label like 4AD in its prime: their overall sound being seemingly informed by Lush’s successful hybrid of classic pop, fiery punk and shimmering soundscapes. … Yet, rather than reliving a sound there’s a sense here that Chorusgirl are more intent on reinventing it. Look no further than their debut self-titled LP for conviction.” (8/10) Hayley Scott, The Line Of Best Fit
“Full of chunky, guitar-heavy songs, strong melodies, and Wersing’s richly commanding vocals, the record is a brilliant fusion of the ’90s and 2010s that calls to mind the Breeders and Dum Dum Girls in equal amounts.” (4/5) Tim Sendra, Allmusic
“There’s no slack on the album – from the starting gate to the finish line, Chorusgirl bristle with static and nerves.” … Chorusgirl are simple, until they’re not. You might recognise the distant spirits, the razor chords, the surfy snarls. But where other bands coast on borrowed sound, Wersing bends it to her own life, creating a space that resonates with insight and empathy. Ever felt separate from the human race? Be comforted, for here is your kind.” (7/10) Lee Adcock, Drowned in Sound
“This is a record with teeth… one of the most impressive first albums of a year rich in strong debuts.” (5/5) Paul Brown, NARC Magazine
“Lovingly smudged guitars” (7/10) Loud and Quiet
“Blending the shimmering dreaminess of 4AD bands like Lush, the noir pop of The Cure and the bittersweet electricity of The Breeders, the ten songs on the album sparkle with melody and pop nous but are “stealthily subverted by something darker… Chorusgirl are a band to cherish … An impressive keeper of an album by Chorusgirl.” (8.4/10) Steve Janes, WithGuitars
“It’s one of the best debut albums of the year. It’s one of the best pop albums of the year, period.” Ben Yung, The Revue (Canada)
“Chorusgirl are a band you’d have to try hard not to love. … This is one of the best albums you will hear all year.” (9/10) Richard O’Hagan, Little Indie Blogs
“It’s not often that I enjoy every song on a disc, let alone on their first recording, but that’s how good Chorusgirl’s eponymous effort is. … one of the best, if not the best album I’ve heard this year. … If you wish to see a great band in a small setting before things blow up, I’d suggest you check your UK listings and catch them live.” (10/10) Steve Ricciutti, Soundblab
“Nicht weniger als eine komplett eigene Welt … Dass die Musik und der Sound dabei so treibend, so 1990er-Noisepoppig, so wave-düster, aber auch so warm und übermütig geworden sind und die Songs immer wieder überraschende Haken schlagen, zeigt Silvi Wersings Talent als eine absolut einzigartige Songwriterin.” Benjamin Walter, Intro Magazin (Germany)
“Zugleich bestätigen die Damen und Herren von Fortuna Pop! mit diesem Album einmal mehr, wie viel sie von der Entdeckung eines nicht so offensichtlichen Indie-Juwels verstehen.” (4.5/6) Thomas Weiland, Musikexpress (Germany)
“La música de Chorusgirl es contagiosamente viva y fluida.” Pacopepe Gil, Loff it (Spain)
“Chorusgirl klinkt op hun debuut noisey, maar toch lichtvoetig en tegelijkertijd melodieus, met frisse hooks, het geheel omlijst met een gitzwart randje.” George Meijer, Musine.nl (Netherlands)