Millie Lovelock

Millicent Ellen Lovelock (born ) is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Zealand who performs as Repulsive Woman. She was a member of Dunedin bands, Astro Children (2010–2017, 2019) and Trick Mammoth (2013–2015). As Repulsive Woman she released her debut album, Relief, in June 2019. Late that year Lovelock relocated to Manchester. Relief won the Best Independent Debut Award at the 2020 Taite Music Prize award ceremony.

Biography

Lovelock started her musical career in Dunedin. At four or five years old she started to learn violin but does not consider herself to be proficient, Lovelock on guitar and vocals founded Astro Children in 2010, with fellow school friend, Isaac Hickey on drums. The alt-pop, shoegaze duo's name references "Astro Zombies" by the Misfits. Their debut album, Proteus, was also recorded at Dunedin's Attic Studios and was released in that year.

While still in Astro Children, Lovelock joined indie pop group Trick Mammoth late in 2013, on vocals and guitar, alongside Adrian Ng on guitar and Sam Valentine on drums. Ng had produced Proteus for Astro Children and had formed Trick Mammoth in 2012 with his former school mate, Valentine. From late 2014 to March 2017 she was a student columnist for Otago Daily Times with her "A Situation Report". She also completed her master's degree in English studies at University of Otago with her thesis, "One Direction fans and the co-construction of identity". In her opinion column she addressed issues of sexism, cuts to humanities courses and concerns on the future for young women. Her honours dissertation was on Djuna Barnes and her 1936 novel, Nightwood. Lovelock's pseudonym is from Barnes' poetry collection, The Book of Repulsive Women (1915). As Repulsive Woman she recorded her cover versions of One Direction songs and progressed to writing her own material. Repulsive Woman released her debut single of original material, "Relief", in mid-2017. During that year she had taught herself cello and then used the instrument for the single. Late that year Lovelock relocated to Manchester. Relief won the Best Independent Debut Award at the 2020 Taite Music Prize. The citation describes her album, "an elusive, guitar-driven exploration of self in the context of modern society. [Lovelock] uniquely crafts soothing melodies with intricate lyrics to convey inner-conflicts and societal pressures." While in Manchester she has recorded material for an EP, writing parts for bass guitar, guitar and strings, including recording violin parts on a MIDI keyboard.