< Return to the Soundtrack
“I found out I can only be who I am. I won’t try to describe the relief.”
It would be difficult to write a boring biography about Butterfly Boucher’s career to date. It would have to exclude her youth in Australia, growing up in a family that picked up roots every few months traveling the outback in a Toyota Corolla wagon and eventually up-grading to a small motor-home. You would look past the fact that she’s made records on three continents. And you would have to turn a blind eye to the scars that are just now healing after a three-year battle to release her new album, Scary Fragile.
Raised one of seven sisters, Butterfly grew up around a pile of instruments and music-loving parents, her father teaching her how to use a four-track recorder by the time she was ten. Not often finding any other eleven-year old musicians to hang out with, she learned how to play each instrument herself (a skill that she still puts to use at her home studio).
A buzzing and excited Boucher signed to A & M Records in 2003 and officially released Flutterby, an album chock full of big, tasty hooks. Songs from the album quickly made their way into television shows. Butterfly began touring in earnest and “Another White Dash” went off to radio stations.
A break came in the form of one big fan, Sarah McLachlan. Butterfly was chosen as the opener for Sarah’s Afterglow tour, an opportunity that she did not take lightly. She spent hours at the merchandise table after each show, selling and signing over 20,000 copies on these dates alone. While even other labels took notice and began calling Boucher’s management, A&M showed little interest in continuing to help the album along. Flutterby’s case was closed, in favor of making a new record.
The next two years would involve tinkering and ‘suggestions’ from the label, a machine which simply had no idea who Butterfly was, let alone who they expected her to be. It was a terrible time for her, with most days spent digging in her heels and still others conceding to demands. There were points at which nobody thought the album would see the light of day.
Despite the drama, she hoped that her label would perk up after one of the unreleased tracks, “Bitter Song”, was placed in a pivotal Grey’s Anatomy scene. The haunting song (now Scary Fragile’s album closer) rallied impatient fans that couldn’t figure out why an album didn’t follow. Message boards went wild as Butterfly kept her secret, knowing what was coming but unsure of just how to talk about it. And then it was there; she was dropped.
You’d expect to talk to a seriously bitter woman, one year after such a difficult extrication. You’ll get the opposite. Butterfly is radiating with positive energy, alive and happy. Scary Fragile will be released via her own imprint on June 2nd. She’s been touring in advance of the album and playing new songs, including the first single “Gun For A Tongue”. Talking to her feels like talking to a person who is just starting out. She’s completely reborn. “It’s not going to be worth anything unless I’m enjoying it.”
For more information about Butterfly Boucher visit her website: http://www.butterflyboucher.com/
“…{Butterfly} writes songs far more sophisticated than the average female pop singer and possesses an audacity and flair that’s both refreshing and worth remembering.” – Absolute Punk
“Boucher draws on a simple, powerful formula: hook, verse, chorus. And we fall for it, hook, line, and sinker.” Paste Magazine
“…memorable melodies, excellent harmonies, subtle vocal double-tracking and a solid rock backbone supporting her pop sensibilities.” – Pajiba
