Alison Chesley
Encyclopedia
Alison Chesley known also by her stage name
as Helen Money, is a Chicago based cellist
and composer
.
Chesley was born and raised in Los Angeles
, California
. She moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University
, where she received a Master's degree
in Cello Performance in 1994. While at Northwestern, Chesley met Jason Narducy. Chesley and Narducy performed as an acoustic rock duo that was renamed Verbow
, and went on to release two albums for Epic Records
- Chronicles, produced by Bob Mould
and White Out produced by Brad Wood
. Opening for such bands as Frank Black
, Bob Mould
, Counting Crows
, Live
, Morrissey
, Liz Phair
and Brad
with Stone Gossard
, Verbow
toured nationally for seven years. Meeting and working with Bob Mould
was a big influence on Alison Chesley forming the Helen Money project for agressive, amplified cello.
Verbow
broke up in 2001. Since then, Chesley has fashioned a busy career in Chicago as a composer/performer and session musician
in the studio. She most often records for two of Chicago's busiest recording studios; Steve Albini's Electrical Audio
and Soma Studios. Some of the artists with whom she has worked include albums by Mono
, Anthrax
, Broken Social Scene
, Russian Circles
, Chris Connelly
, Poi Dog Pondering
and Disturbed, among many others. She also appears on albums by Bob Mould
. As Helen Money, Chesley performs regularly around Chicago and across the U.S. She has opened for acts such as Shellac
, Earth
and Nina Nastasia
and completed a Canadian tour opening for Joe Lally
. In 2011, she toured American opening for Joe Lally
and as part of his ensemble.
In addition to Helen Money, Chesley has also composed music for film, theater and dance, including two major works for Chicago based Mordine and Company Dance Theater, Quest and Time Stilled. Chesley was honored in 2007 by being granted a full scholarship to study composition with guitarist/composer Fred Frith
at San Francisco's esteemed Mills College
. She opted out from the offer, and instead decided against the move to concentrate on expanding her role as Helen Money.
The release of Chesley's first solo album, with the eponymous title, Helen Money, was released on Cellobird Records in September, 2007. Her second album using her stage name of Helen Money, In Tune, was to be released on the Table of the Elements
label. In Tune was recorded at Electrical Audio
by Greg Norman and mixed by Sanford Parker at Semaphore Studios in Chicago.
Alison has been chosen by Portishead to perform a Helen Money performance at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror
festival that they will curate in July 2011 at London's Alexandra Palace.
List of Victory Records artists
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
as Helen Money, is a Chicago based cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Chesley was born and raised in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where she received a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Cello Performance in 1994. While at Northwestern, Chesley met Jason Narducy. Chesley and Narducy performed as an acoustic rock duo that was renamed Verbow
Verbow
Verbow was an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago and active between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The band's sound was distinguished by emotionally-direct songwriting and their unconventional use of cello.-Early period: Jason & Alison:...
, and went on to release two albums for Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
- Chronicles, produced by Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
and White Out produced by Brad Wood
Brad Wood
Brad Wood is a record producer from Rockford, Illinois. He served as a drummer for the band Shrimp Boat. Brad records, mixes and produces records and is based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career in earnest in 1988 with the construction of Idful Music Corporation- a recording studio in...
. Opening for such bands as Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
, Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
, Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
, Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
, Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
and Brad
Brad (band)
Brad is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992. Brad's sound is influenced by the wide variety of influences brought by its members, including Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, Regan Hagar , Shawn Smith , and Jeremy Toback...
with Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
, Verbow
Verbow
Verbow was an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago and active between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The band's sound was distinguished by emotionally-direct songwriting and their unconventional use of cello.-Early period: Jason & Alison:...
toured nationally for seven years. Meeting and working with Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
was a big influence on Alison Chesley forming the Helen Money project for agressive, amplified cello.
Verbow
Verbow
Verbow was an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago and active between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The band's sound was distinguished by emotionally-direct songwriting and their unconventional use of cello.-Early period: Jason & Alison:...
broke up in 2001. Since then, Chesley has fashioned a busy career in Chicago as a composer/performer and session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
in the studio. She most often records for two of Chicago's busiest recording studios; Steve Albini's Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio is a recording facility founded in Chicago, Illinois by musician and recording engineer Steve Albini in 1997. Hundreds of independent music projects have been recorded there....
and Soma Studios. Some of the artists with whom she has worked include albums by Mono
Mono (Japanese band)
Mono are a Japanese post rock band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto , Yoda , Tamaki Kunishi , and Yasunori Takada .Mono have released five studio albums...
, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, Russian Circles
Russian Circles
Russian Circles is a three piece instrumental rock/metal band from Chicago. Russian Circles play instrumental, sprawling music which runs the gamut of heavy discordant metal, to soft delicate passages...
, Chris Connelly
Chris Connelly
Chris Connelly is a Scottish musician who became famous for his industrial music work of the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly his involvement with the Revolting Cocks and Ministry. He has since established himself as a talented alternative singer-songwriter...
, Poi Dog Pondering
Poi Dog Pondering
Poi Dog Pondering is an American musical group, noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genres, including various forms of acoustic folk music, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii in 1985, the band moved to Austin, Texas in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums...
and Disturbed, among many others. She also appears on albums by Bob Mould
Bob Mould
Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
. As Helen Money, Chesley performs regularly around Chicago and across the U.S. She has opened for acts such as Shellac
Shellac (band)
Shellac is an American group composed of Steve Albini , Bob Weston and Todd Trainer...
, Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
and Nina Nastasia
Nina Nastasia
Nina Nastasia is a New York City-based singer-songwriter born in Hollywood, California.-Biography:She began writing songs in 1993, and released her first album, Dogs, in 2000. Only 1,500 copies of the album were initially pressed, with Nastasia putting together the album packaging herself in her...
and completed a Canadian tour opening for Joe Lally
Joe Lally
Joe Lally is a bass guitar player, vocalist and label owner, best known for his work with Fugazi.-Fugazi:...
. In 2011, she toured American opening for Joe Lally
Joe Lally
Joe Lally is a bass guitar player, vocalist and label owner, best known for his work with Fugazi.-Fugazi:...
and as part of his ensemble.
In addition to Helen Money, Chesley has also composed music for film, theater and dance, including two major works for Chicago based Mordine and Company Dance Theater, Quest and Time Stilled. Chesley was honored in 2007 by being granted a full scholarship to study composition with guitarist/composer Fred Frith
Fred Frith
Fred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
at San Francisco's esteemed Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
. She opted out from the offer, and instead decided against the move to concentrate on expanding her role as Helen Money.
The release of Chesley's first solo album, with the eponymous title, Helen Money, was released on Cellobird Records in September, 2007. Her second album using her stage name of Helen Money, In Tune, was to be released on the Table of the Elements
Table of the Elements
Table of the Elements is an American record label. It concentrates on re-released and specially recorded experimental music, including many of the great avant garde musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries — John Cale, Tony Conrad and La Monte Young, for instance — as well as...
label. In Tune was recorded at Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio is a recording facility founded in Chicago, Illinois by musician and recording engineer Steve Albini in 1997. Hundreds of independent music projects have been recorded there....
by Greg Norman and mixed by Sanford Parker at Semaphore Studios in Chicago.
Alison has been chosen by Portishead to perform a Helen Money performance at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
festival that they will curate in July 2011 at London's Alexandra Palace.
Selected discography
- 2009 Helen Money In Tune (Table of the ElementsTable of the ElementsTable of the Elements is an American record label. It concentrates on re-released and specially recorded experimental music, including many of the great avant garde musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries — John Cale, Tony Conrad and La Monte Young, for instance — as well as...
) - 2011 AnthraxAnthraxAnthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
Worship Music (VictoryVictory RecordsVictory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
) - 2010 MonoMono (Japanese band)Mono are a Japanese post rock band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto , Yoda , Tamaki Kunishi , and Yasunori Takada .Mono have released five studio albums...
Hymn to the Immortal WindHymn to the Immortal Wind-Personnel:Mono* Takaakira "Taka" Goto - electric guitars* Tamaki Kunishi - bass guitar, piano, harpsichord, glockenspiel* Yasunori Takada - drums, tympani, cymbals, glockenspiel* Yoda - electric guitars, Hammond B3 organProduction...
(Temporary ResidenceTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
) - 2009 Russian CirclesRussian CirclesRussian Circles is a three piece instrumental rock/metal band from Chicago. Russian Circles play instrumental, sprawling music which runs the gamut of heavy discordant metal, to soft delicate passages...
GenevaGeneva (Russian Circles album)-Personnel:* Mike Sullivan − guitar* Dave Turncrantz − drums* Brian Cook − bass guitar* Alison Chesley − cello* Susan Voelz − violin* Greg Norman − engineering, trumpet, trombone* Brandon Curtis − production, additional piano* Joe Lambert − mastering...
(Suicide SqueezeSuicide Squeeze RecordsSuicide Squeeze Records is a Seattle, WA - based independent record label that presses a significant number of 7" vinyl singles in addition to the more prevalent compact discs. The label was started in August 1996 with the release of a 7" single from 764-Hero. The label quickly grew from owner...
) - 2009 Broken Social SceneBroken Social SceneBroken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
TBA (Arts & CraftsArts & Crafts (record label)Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
) - 2007 Alison Chesley Helen Money (Cellobird Records)
- 2007 Krista Franklin and Alison Chesley Aural Anarchy (NaïveNaïve RecordsNaïve Records is a French independent record label based in Paris, specializing in electronic music, pop music, jazz and classical music. It was founded in 1997 by Patrick Zelnik, Gilles Paires and Eric Tong Cuong.-Artists:* Aṣa* Asian Dub Foundation...
) - 2007 Plague Bringer, Life Songs in the Land of Death (Hewhocorrupts)
- 2006 MonoMono (Japanese band)Mono are a Japanese post rock band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto , Yoda , Tamaki Kunishi , and Yasunori Takada .Mono have released five studio albums...
You Are There (Temporary ResidenceTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
) - 2004 MonoMono (Japanese band)Mono are a Japanese post rock band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto , Yoda , Tamaki Kunishi , and Yasunori Takada .Mono have released five studio albums...
Walking Cloud (Temporary ResidenceTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
) - 2004 Poi Dog PonderingPoi Dog PonderingPoi Dog Pondering is an American musical group, noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genres, including various forms of acoustic folk music, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii in 1985, the band moved to Austin, Texas in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums...
In Seed Comes Fruit (Premonition Records) - 2002 Disturbed BelieveBelieve (Disturbed album)Believe is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on September 17, 2002. Believe debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Disturbed's first #1 debut, shipping over 284,000 copies in its first week...
(Warner Bros.Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
) - 2001 Chris ConnellyChris ConnellyChris Connelly is a Scottish musician who became famous for his industrial music work of the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly his involvement with the Revolting Cocks and Ministry. He has since established himself as a talented alternative singer-songwriter...
& The Bells Blonde Exodus (InvisibleInvisible RecordsInvisible Records is a Chicago based record label founded by Martin Atkins to support and distribute the works of artists who preferred to work with a smaller, artist driven label.-Artist Roster:* Ashtrayhead* Attrition* Bagman* Bizarre Sex Trio...
) - 2000 VerbowVerbowVerbow was an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago and active between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The band's sound was distinguished by emotionally-direct songwriting and their unconventional use of cello.-Early period: Jason & Alison:...
White Out (EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, 2000) - 2000 Poi Dog PonderingPoi Dog PonderingPoi Dog Pondering is an American musical group, noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genres, including various forms of acoustic folk music, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii in 1985, the band moved to Austin, Texas in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums...
Soul Sonic Orchestra (Plate-Tec-Tonic,) - 1999 Aluminum Group Pedals (Minty FreshMinty FreshMinty Fresh is a Chicago-based record label, founded in 1993 by Jim Powers with Anthony Musiala. The label is known for launching the careers of Veruca Salt. They also gave the Swedish band The Cardigans their first US release and released the debut single by Liz Phair...
) - 1999 Archer PrewittArcher PrewittArcher Prewitt is an American musician and cartoonist associated with the independent music scene in Chicago, Illinois.- Music :...
White Sky (Carrot TopCarrot Top RecordsCarrot Top Records is a Chicago-based independent record label owned and operated by Patrick Monaghan.-Artist roster:* Antietam* The Bitter Tears* The Coctails* Darling Downs* Disco Inferno* Duplex Planet Radio Hour* The Handsome Family* KatJonBand...
) - 1998 Bob MouldBob MouldRobert Arthur "Bob" Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.-Early life:...
The Last Dog and Pony Show (Rykodisc Records) - 1997 VerbowVerbowVerbow was an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago and active between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The band's sound was distinguished by emotionally-direct songwriting and their unconventional use of cello.-Early period: Jason & Alison:...
Chronicles (EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
) - 1994 Jason and Alison Woodshed (Whitehouse Records)
External links
List of Victory Records artists