Elizabeth Caroline Orton, commonly known as Beth Orton, (born 14th December 1970), is a BRIT Award-winning English singer-songwriter. Perhaps best described as a folk/electronica artist, Beth Orton was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, and moved to East London at the age of fourteen. Orton found success as a musician late, having been more interested in acting during her early career. She first gained notice in 1995 for her vocals on The Chemical Brothers' track "Alive Alone" and is well known for her collaboration (stemming from a relationship) with William Orbit in which she lends her voice for the Strange Cargo albums. ...show more

Elizabeth Caroline Orton, commonly known as Beth Orton, (born 14th December 1970), is a BRIT Award-winning English singer-songwriter. Perhaps best described as a folk/electronica artist, Beth Orton was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, and moved to East London at the age of fourteen. Orton found success as a musician late, having been more interested in acting during her early career. She first gained notice in 1995 for her vocals on The Chemical Brothers' track "Alive Alone" and is well known for her collaboration (stemming from a relationship) with William Orbit in which she lends her voice for the Strange Cargo albums.

The collaboration with Orbit called SuperPinkyMandy, though of excellent sound, was only released in very limited numbers in Japan. Orton's first solo album, Trailer Park, was released in 1996. It earned her nominations for two Brit awards (best British newcomer, best British female), and the Mercury Music Prize in 1997, was well received by critics, and sold modestly, selling 300,000 copies and reaching sixty-eight in the U.K. The album was produced by Andrew Weatherall, whom she selected based on his production of one of her favourite records at the time, Primal Scream's "Screamadelica".

Central Reservation, her second album (proper), released in 1999, helped Orton build on the success of her debut. Although retaining the electronic edge of the former, this record showed a notably more acoustic side with several tracks consisting purely of Beth's vocal accompanied by a solitary acoustic guitar, with subject matters becoming more introspective. The album also featured notable contributions from folk musician Terry Callier, Dr Robert, and Ben Harper. Several tracks were produced by Ben Watt of Everything but the Girl. ...show less