Girli

Girli is from northwest London.{{cite web |url=http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2016/03/girli/ |date=2 March 2016 |accessdate=9 October 2016 |first=Lily |last=Walker |publisher=Wonderland |title=Girli |archive-date=1 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401045031/http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2016/03/girli/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/27220/1/ten-artists-you-should-be-listening-to-in-2016 |date=2015 |accessdate=9 October 2016 |first=Daisy |last=Jones |newspaper=Dazed |title=Ten artists you should be listening to in 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://diymag.com/2016/02/19/girli-interview-2016 |date=19 February 2016 |accessdate=9 October 2016 |first=Jamie |last=Milton |publisher=DIY |title=Interview: GIRLI: "I want people to feel uncomfortable!"}} She was born on 6 December 1997 to acting parents,Lynette Nylander, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013255/https://i-d.vice.com/en_au/article/qv8ndd/class-of-2016-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-girli class of 2016: 10 things you need to know about girli]", i-D, 24 November 2015. Accessed 18 December 2017. and is half-Australian.{{Cite web|title=Culture - Scene Stealers - GIRLI|url=https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/culture/scene-stealers/girli|access-date=2021-06-14|website=MAC Cosmetics - Official Site}} She has a younger sister.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-11|title=Girli on growing out of her Adidas tracksuit|url=https://www.bluntmag.com.au/features/girli-on-growing-out-of-her-adidas-tracksuit/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Blunt Magazine}}{{Cite web|title=Girli's debut album is also about reintroducing her to the world|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/girl-debut-album-reintroducing-her-to-world-interview|access-date=2021-06-14|website=The Line of Best Fit}} As a child she wanted to be an actor, but abandoned her ambition after 2 unsuccessful auditions. She wrote her first song aged 8, about a boy in her class at school who she liked.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-04|title=Firsts with GIRLI|url=https://notion.online/firsts-with-girli/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Notion}}

She attended Hampstead School,{{cite web| url = https://news.camden.gov.uk/holocaust-memorial-day-in-camden---keeping-the-memory-alive| title = Holocaust Memorial Day in Camden - Keeping the Memory Alive| date = 28 January 2015| website = Camden Council| publisher = The London Borough of Camden Council| quotation=He was followed by Milly Toomey, who recently attended Hampstead School|access-date =2022-07-10 }} a comprehensive secondary school in Cricklewood. Girli describes her experience of secondary school as "the worst five years of my life, it was so bad", experiencing bullying that "made me quite an anxious person". She was nonetheless active in extracurricular activities, getting elected as a Deputy Young MP for Camden in 2012{{cite tweet|number=207819180832079873|user=CamdenCouncil|title=Congratulations to our newly elected Young MP, Jabeen Rizvi and two deputies, Milly Toomey and Danielle Williams |accessdate=2021-06-14|date=30 May 2012}} and spending lunchtimes in the music room playing instruments.{{Cite web|title=Interview with GIRLI - Wizard Radio|url=https://www.wizardradio.co.uk/news/interview-with-girli|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.wizardradio.co.uk}}

Girli realised that she wanted to be a musician aged 14 after feeling inspired at a Tegan and Sara concert. She started her career doing open mics under her legal name, Milly Toomey.{{Cite web|date=2016-01-21|title=Interview : Girli|url=https://setlisted.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/interview-girli/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Setlisted}} She later formed indie rock band Ask Martin with older girls she met online, performing vocals and guitar. After her bandmates went away to university, Girli started performing solo.{{Cite web|date=2017-06-26|title=GIRLI: The Teenage Singer Who Is "Brash, Outrageous And An Explosion Of Girl Power."|url=https://vivamanchester.co.uk/girli-the-teenage-singer-who-is-brash-outrageous-and-an-explosion-of-girl-power/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=VIVA Manchester}}

Girli attended the East London Arts & Music college in Bromley-by-Bow from 2014 to 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elam.co.uk/alumni-1/740lkmq5w2r5tl2z9by3nhpsrvhiza|title=Alumni|website=ELAM|access-date=2018-09-16}} During that period she developed interests in beatmaking, rap, and drum and bass,{{Cite web|title=Bowling, Illuminati, and Guitar Hero: I Took Teen Pop Misfit GIRLI on a First Date|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/girli-first-date-rowans/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Vice.com|date=13 July 2016 }} and made her musical debut as Girli. She released her first single, "So You Think You Can Fuck With Me Do Ya?" in 2015, aged 17. She was signed by PMR Records in October 2015.{{Cite web|date=21 October 2015|title=🚺💁💎 Welcome to the family GIRLI ⚡🍧🈹|url=https://www.facebook.com/pmrrecords/posts/-welcome-to-the-family-girli-/1001918646497496/|access-date=14 June 2021|website=Facebook}}

In 2016, Girli toured the UK throughout September and October supporting musician Oscar.{{cite web | url = https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/new-music-of-the-day-girli-girl-i-met-on-the-internet | date = 19 September 2016 | accessdate = 9 October 2016 | first = Larry | last = Bartleet | publisher = NME | title = New Music Of The Day: GIRLI – 'Girl I Met on the Internet'}}{{cite web | url = https://diymag.com/2016/10/06/girli-throws-a-house-party-for-girl-i-met-on-the-internet | date = 6 October 2016 | accessdate = 9 October 2016 | first = El | last = Hunt | publisher = DIY | title = Watch: GIRLI throws a house party for 'Girl I Met On The Internet'}}

In 2017, Girli released the Feel OK EP,{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/Girli/Feel-ok-ep|title=Feel Ok - EP by GIRLI|website=Genius|access-date=2018-11-18}} supported Declan McKenna around the UK and performed at Latitude Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2017/03/22/girli-on-tour-with-declan-mckenna-may-2017|title=GIRLI is off on tour with Declan McKenna in May|website=DIY|date=22 March 2017 |access-date=2018-06-10}} She also had a headline UK tour, titled "Hot Mess", in support of an EP of the same name which was released in October 2017 and showed elements of pop punk.

File:Girli 2019.jpg

In 2018, Girli performed at the MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn577unlGjz/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/girlimusic/1871790709398595827 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=GIRLI on Instagram: "PLAYING THE COOLEST SHOW THIS WEEKEND!!! so excited to be performing at MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling Music Festival this weekend. tickets..."|website=Instagram|access-date=2018-11-18}}{{cbignore}} In 2019, she released the single "Deal With It" and released her debut studio album, Odd One Out, four years after her debut single.{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2019/01/25/girli-debut-album-odd-one-out-deal-with-it|title=GIRLI to Release Debut Album 'Odd One Out' This Spring|work=DIY|date=25 January 2019|accessdate=3 February 2019}} In July 2019, Girli released the single "Up & Down". Later in 2019, Girli was dropped by her record label. She wrote her subsequent single "Has Been" in response, stating on Instagram, "This song is for my ex record label who didn't think I was perfect or pop star enough to sell records."{{Cite web|date=2020-10-16|title=GIRLI is back with a bang on 'Has Been'|url=https://celebmix.com/girli-is-back-with-a-bang-on-has-been/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=CelebMix}} Girli was due to take her Sofa Tour around the UK in March 2020,{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=GIRLI comes up with novel idea – a 'Sofa Tour'|url=https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/02/11/girli-comes-up-with-novel-idea-a-sofa-tour/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Brighton and Hove News}} but cancelled the dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Toomey|first=Milly|title=the sofa tour is no more :(|url=https://m.facebook.com/girlimusic/photos/a.1675097046049956/3132219810337665/?type=3|website=Facebook}} Her first EP on the independent record label AllPoints, Ex Talk, was released in February 2021.{{Cite web|title=GIRLI: In Discussion with BBH Music |url=https://www.lbbonline.com/news/girli-in-discussion-with-bbh-music|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.lbbonline.com}}

Girli previously performed on stage with DJ Kitty (Rosalie Sylvia Fountain), who provided backing vocals.{{cite web | url = http://www.thebeatjuice.com/chats/2016/05/05/16240/heres-a-completely-rando-interview-with-girli-dj-kitty/ | date = 5 May 2016 | accessdate = 9 October 2016 | publisher = Beat | title = Here's a completely random interview with Girli + DJ Kitty | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160817004855/http://www.thebeatjuice.com/chats/2016/05/05/16240/heres-a-completely-rando-interview-with-girli-dj-kitty/ | archivedate = 17 August 2016 }} DJ Kitty was later replaced by DJ GG, after DJ Kitty resigned due to other commitments.{{Cite web|last=Toomey|first=Milly|date=25 March 2019|title=INTRODUCING MY NEW DJ..... DJ GG! sadly my dear DJ Kitty had to resign from her post to do other life stuff so plz welcome @graciegoggs to the tour team!!!!!!! TOUR STARTS IN 2 WEEKS!!!! TICKETS LINK IN BIO!!!|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BvcNieGBX-q/?hl=en |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/girlimusic/2007539077280530346 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}

In 2024, she released her second album, Matriarchy, which RenownedforSound described as "a hard-hitting pop album that gives girli’s ‘mainstream’ counterparts a run for their money."{{Cite web |last=Bulbeck |first=Ryan |title=Album Review: Girli – Matriarchy – Renowned For Sound |url=https://renownedforsound.com/album-review-girli-matriarchy/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |language=en-US}}

Girli has cited a diverse range of influences including Tove Lo,{{Cite web|url=https://www.lizzieslowdown.com/post/from-blackpink-to-the-human-league-girli-on-the-songs-that-shaped-damsel-in-distress|title=Interview: Girli|website=www.lizzieslowdown.com|access-date=26 October 2021|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130023533/https://www.lizzieslowdown.com/post/from-blackpink-to-the-human-league-girli-on-the-songs-that-shaped-damsel-in-distress|url-status=dead}} the Arctic Monkeys,{{Cite web|title=Interview: GIRLI|url=https://www.thenationalstudent.com/Music/2016-12-03/interview_girli.html|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.thenationalstudent.com|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614191334/https://www.thenationalstudent.com/Music/2016-12-03/interview_girli.html|url-status=dead}} Lily Allen, the Slits,{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} M.I.A, Spice Girls, Scissor Sisters,{{Cite web |last=Collington |first=Faefyx |title=Electro-pop's girli tackles queer heartbreak & healing in Matriarchy |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/girli-matriarchy-album-queer-heartbreak-singles/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=INTO |language=en}} PC music,{{Cite web|title=An interview with artist GIRLI|url=https://www.adolescent.net/a/crybaby-interview-musician-girli|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.adolescent.net}} Kyary Pamyu Pamyu,{{Cite web|title=GIRLI - About|url=https://www.musicglue.com/girli/about|access-date=2021-06-14|website=GIRLI}} and more 'left field' artists such as 070 Shake, Caroline Polachek, Fletcher, and Grimes. Discussing the inspiration behind her stage name, she cited the rock band Blondie, saying she wanted "a name that embodied a female pop star". She has also mentioned her home city of London, particularly its nightlife, as a major influence on her sound and lyrics.

Girli's music makes use of samples from various sources including video games and news broadcasts.{{Citation|title=GIRLI - It Was My Party| date=8 July 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7W9lOQl4gM|access-date=2021-06-14}}

Girli has stated that her songs are all autobiographical.{{Cite web|last=InMusic|first=WorstTaste|date=2021-05-19|title=INTERVIEW: GIRLI|url=https://www.worsttasteinmusic.com/post/interview-girli|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Worst Taste In Music|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614191328/https://www.worsttasteinmusic.com/post/interview-girli|url-status=dead}} Referring to her EP Ex Talk, Girli said, "I think this era of Girli, my style is definitely more influenced by '90s grunge and '70s punk, kind of mixed in together in a modern way."

While performing in indie band Ask Martin as Milly Toomey in her mid-teens, Girli had short brown hair and wore men's clothing.{{Cite web|title=Meet Girli: The Artist Who Uses Pink As A Weapon|url=https://graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/girli-interview-pink-obsession/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Grazia|date=7 September 2017 }} As Girli, she has a distinctive visual aesthetic that includes neon pink dyed hair. Girli has observed a close link between her music and her fashion style. Describing her transition into a pink aesthetic, she said "I was really into indie, then I started listening to more female-made music, and my style developed based on what I was listening to." In a 2018 interview she described "wearing way more non-pink items of clothing, black, tartan and fishnet tights" when performing songs with a "more alternative and rockier sound".{{Cite web|title=In Conversation With: GIRLI|url=https://www.native.fm/story/in-conversation-with-girli/782|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.native.fm}} Girli has named Harajuku street fashion, the 1990s riot grrrl scene, and noughties girl bands as fashion influences.

Another core part of Girli's public persona is her feminist beliefs. Early interviews describe Girli throwing tampons into the crowd at gigs, which she said was a way of challenging the societal taboo around menstruation. Girli has expressed the view that music is a way to effect political change, in a way she views as more effective than parliamentary politics, which she became disillusioned with after her time as a Youth MP. She announced a partnership with Girls Against, an organisation campaigning against sexual harassment in live music venues, in 2016.{{Cite web|title=Girli partners with Girls Against {{!}} Complete Music Update|url=https://completemusicupdate.com/article/girli-partners-with-girls-against/|access-date=2021-06-14}}

She took part in stylist Louby McLoughlin's project OKgrl, a fashion and music platform, in 2017, and Kirsti-Nicole Hadley's GRL PWR, a female-only arts collective.

Girli is openly bisexual/queer.{{Cite web|date=26 April 2021|title=GIRLI on Instagram: "happy #LesbianVisibilityDay to all my lesbian followers!! i identify as bisexual/queer..."|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/COI7mtBBuxD/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/girlimusic/2560558532580011075 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}} She first came out as bisexual aged 15 at a Tegan and Sara concert. She also uses the word pansexual to describe herself.{{Cite web|last=Turner|first=Abi|date=2019-06-08|title=Girli, London-Based Feminist Singer, On Her Sexuality and the LGBTQ+ Community|url=https://www.kekemagazine.com/2019/06/08/girli-london-based-feminist-singer-on-her-sexuality-and-the-lgbtq-community/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Keke Magazine|archive-date=10 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610041824/https://www.kekemagazine.com/2019/06/08/girli-london-based-feminist-singer-on-her-sexuality-and-the-lgbtq-community/|url-status=dead}}

Commenting on gender identity in a 2017 interview, she said: "Right now I identify as a woman, but what does that even mean? Is that what I say, who I am? Right now I feel like a woman, but that may change. Some days, I'm like 'fuck it, I don't feel like a woman or a man.'"{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Courtney E.|title=GIRLI Is Using Pop Music To Create A Massive Shift In How We Talk About Gender|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/11/181034/girli-gender-identity-milly-toomey-interview|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.refinery29.com}}

In a 2024 interview with the Big Issue she said: "The idea of women being with women is often overly romanticised, and even fetishised... I wanted to write about queer joy and queer sex, and how that is inherently rebellious… Queer women aren’t just there for the male gaze."{{Cite web |last=Elton |first=Lottie |date=2024-06-01 |title=Girli on queerness, mental health and why Tories 'don't give a s**t' about Gen Z |url=https://www.bigissue.com/culture/music/girli-matriarchy-queer-mental-health-politics-tories-music/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Big Issue |language=en-US}}

She has stated that she has obsessive–compulsive disorder{{Cite web|date=2020-03-21|title=REVIEW: GIRLI treats fans to Instagram Live set|url=https://celebmix.com/review-girli-treats-fans-to-instagram-live-set/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=CelebMix}} and takes antidepressants. Her single "Up & Down" is about her mental health struggles. She is a skateboarder.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|girlimusic.com}}.
• {{Discogs artist|Girli}}.
• [https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8acbb188-0f8a-47fc-a284-d00bee93e482 Girli] at MusicBrainz.

{{Authority control}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:English women pop singers

Category:English record producers

Category:English women rappers

Category:English people of Australian descent

Category:British people of English descent

Category:British people of Australian descent

Category:British feminist musicians

Category:English feminists

Category:British women record producers

Category:British LGBTQ rappers

Category:English LGBTQ singers

Category:Rappers from London

Category:LGBTQ people from London

Category:LGBTQ record producers

Category:Bisexual women musicians

Category:Bisexual singers

Category:Queer singers

Category:British queer women

Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century English women

Category:English people with disabilities

Category:British musicians with disabilities

Category:LGBTQ women singers

Category:British queer musicians