Alias Grace were formed in 1996 in Cambridge, England by Irish vocalist Sandra O'Neill and multi-instrumentalist Peter Chilvers. They started out concentrating on imaginative interpretations of songs by artists such as Joni Mitchell and Boo Hewerdine, delivering emotive live performances arranged purely for voice and piano enhanced by occasional synth and guitar.
The following two years saw their own song-writing take centre stage, culminating in their debut album "Embers", where Peter's understated production places Sandra's lyrical, silken-toned vocals against a backdrop of classical pian... (+) expand

Alias Grace were formed in 1996 in Cambridge, England by Irish vocalist Sandra O'Neill and multi-instrumentalist Peter Chilvers. They started out concentrating on imaginative interpretations of songs by artists such as Joni Mitchell and Boo Hewerdine, delivering emotive live performances arranged purely for voice and piano enhanced by occasional synth and guitar.
The following two years saw their own song-writing take centre stage, culminating in their debut album "Embers", where Peter's understated production places Sandra's lyrical, silken-toned vocals against a backdrop of classical piano, atmospheric guitar and the occasional loping backbeat.
Their distinctive style, an ethereal blend of sublime semi-acoustic pop and experimental folk, has resulted from a diverse range of influences, and a strong emphasis on improvisation.

Their second album "Storm Blue Evening" has a more acoustic feel and saw Sandra's writing come to the fore. The duo were complemented on several tracks by Rob Jackson (guitars) and Myke Clifford (saxophone).
Chilvers collaborations include several albums with No-Man singer Tim Bowness and he is now working on a ground breaking generative music project with U2 Producer and Ambient pioneer Brian Eno. In 2001 he co-founded burningshed.com, a successful online shop and experimental record label.

In addition to her studio albums with Alias Grace, Sandra is recording a solo album show-casing her layered vocals and guitars, and has contributed backing vocals to numerous albums. Her guest appearance with ambient collective A Marble Calm, was described by Brian Eno as 'heart-breakingly beautiful'.

The duo have recently released an EP of reinterpreted folk standards, and are now recording a third album, further refining their distinctive sound. (-) collapse