Etty Lau Farrell

Chinese-American musician (born 1974)
Perry Farrell
(m. 2002)
Children2Musical careerGenresAlternative rockMember of
  • Satellite Party
  • Kind Heaven Orchestra
Musical artist

Etty Lau Farrell (born Etty Lau; December 10, 1974) is a Chinese American vocalist, dancer, and actress. She began working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, appearing in numerous music videos as well as nationally televised award shows. Etty was part of the original Pussycat Dolls, when the group, as a dance troupe, had a monthly residency at the Viper Room. In 1997, she toured with Jane’s Addiction, when she met her future husband Perry Farrell. She and Perry later formed Satellite Party. In 2010, she was one of the stars of Married to Rock, a TV series on the E! network.

In 2018, Etty formed Kind Heaven Orchestra, releasing an album on BMG Records. In 2022, Etty began releasing her own solo music.

Early life and career

Etty was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, to a Cantonese father and a Shanghainese mother. Her parents had a manufacturing and exporting company, supplying to brands such as Pepe Jeans and Unionbay. She attended St. Mary Canonian School in Tsim Sha Tsui, where she was raised. When she was ten years old, her family moved to Bellevue, Washington. She attended Bellevue High School, where she founded a dance team. She trained as a classical ballerina at the Royal Academy of Dance in Hong Kong, then Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. At the age of 18, after winning a year-long scholarship to the Edge Performing Art Center (EDGE PAC) in Hollywood, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a professional dance career.

After completing the year-long professional scholarship at EDGE PAC, Etty began working in Los Angeles, in the entertainment industry as a dancer. She appeared in music videos, commercials, and movies, working with artists such as Bon Jovi, Jewel, Smash Mouth, Wyclef Jean, Ricky Martin, as well as televised award shows, dancing with Madonna at the Grammys and Eric Benet at the Soul Train Awards.[1] In 1999, Etty joined Mötley Crüe as a dancer on their North American leg "Greatest Hits" tour.[2]

Etty played Ginger, the love interest of the Red Power Ranger in the Power Rangers Lost Galaxy episode titled "A Red Romance". She also appeared in Hollywood Salome/Johnny 316, an experimental short film starring Vincent Gallo.

Career

Jane's Addiction

In 1997, Etty was booked as a dancer on the Jane’s Addiction "Relapse Tour". Etty performed at every Jane’s Addiction show during the Jubilee tour in 2001, the 'Strays' tour leading into the 2003 Lollapalooza tour, "The Great Escape Artist" tour in 2011, "Detour" in 2015, and the "Sterling Spoon Anniversary Tour" in 2016.[3]

Satellite Party and other music

Etty performed backing vocals for Satellite Party at its first gig at the Key Club in Los Angeles in 2005.[4]

In 2008, "Go All the Way (Into the Twilight)" featured Etty's vocals and was a track on film, Twilight. In May 2016, Etty performed with husband Perry at a tribute for Fleetwood Mac at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood.[5]

Kind Heaven Orchestra & solo career

Etty provided vocals for Kind Heaven Orchestra, made up Matt Chamberlain of Pearl Jam with Chris Cheney and keyboardist Matt Rohde from Jane's Addiction also part of the lineup. Kind Heaven Orchestra debuted at the first ever Bill Graham Festival of Lights.[6]

Etty also provided vocals for husband Perry Farrell's album Kind Heaven.[7]

In January 2022, it was announced that Farrell would be releasing new music as a solo artist. Her debut single was a cover of The Crystals 1962 track, He's a Rebel. The track was produced by husband Perry Farrell and also featured Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters, David Bryan from Bon Jovi and Elliot Easton from The Cars.[8] She performed the track live at Lollapalooza in Chicago.[8]

Heaven After Dark

In 2022, Etty launched the "Heaven After Dark" concert series created in partnership with her husband, Perry Farrell to showcase alternative music, underground culture, and festival experiences into one event.[9][10]

Porno for Pyros

In 2022, Etty debuted as a back up singer for Porno for Pyros at their Welcome to Rockville show in Daytona Beach. She subsequently performed numerous times with the band, including at Lollapalooza in Chicago.[11]

Personal life

Etty met husband and future bandmate Perry Farrell, lead singer of Jane's Addiction, while she was a dancer on the band's Relapse tour in 1997. They started dating a couple of years later in 1999. The Jane's Addiction songs "Wrong Girl", "Superhero", "To Match the Sun", and the unreleased "Cling to You" were written for Etty. Etty married Farrell in June 2002. They have two sons together, Hezron and Izzadore Farrell.[12]

References

  1. ^ Weatherford, Mike (April 8, 2005). "Neon: Beyond Burlesque". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on April 13, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  2. ^ Page, Peter (February 5, 2022). "Dancer/Singer Etty Lau Farrell Talks About Her Career, Her Big Break, the Environment and Rising Anti-Asian Bias". Grit Daily.
  3. ^ "Jane's Addiction to Split?". NME. June 23, 2004.
  4. ^ "New Band Play First Ever Show". Blabbermouth. July 19, 2005.
  5. ^ Baltin, Steve (June 9, 2016). "How Tribute Shows Bring Out the Fan in Rock Stars: 'We All Turn Back Into Teenagers'". Billboard.
  6. ^ Glow, Kory (6 November 2018). "Perry Farrell Announces New Solo Band: The Kind Heaven Orchestra". Rolling Stone.
  7. ^ "Perry Farrell on Billboard". Billboard.
  8. ^ a b Ryan, Jim (February 18, 2022). "Etty Lau Farrell And Perry Farrell On New Single 'He's A Rebel'". Forbes.
  9. ^ "Heaven After Dark Perry and Etty Farrell Kind Heaven Orchestra Los Angeles 1926 Room at the Belasco Theater 2/17/2022". California Rock News. 18 February 2022.
  10. ^ Ryan, Jim. "Perry Farrell on the evolution of Festival Sphere as New Heaven After Dark series Takes Shape". Forbes.
  11. ^ Carter, Emily (May 24, 2022). "Porno For Pyros reunite at Welcome To Rockville for first full performance in 26 years". Kerrang!.
  12. ^ "E! Entertainment Shows, E! Schedule | E! News". Eonline.com. 2017-08-06. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
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