Before launching her solo career, Lili Haydn established herself as a violinist to reckon with (no less than George Clinton pronounced her "the Jimi Hendrix of violin") by playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Porno for Pyros, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Hootie & the Blowfish, Victoria Williams, Tom Petty, and Page & Plant. Haydn, the daughter of actress and comedian Lotus Weinstock and video artist David Jove, began playing violin as a child. She had previously been pursuing a career as a child actress, landing roles in various films and television shows, but when she was eight she decided to play violin. She began studying classical music and attended college as a music student. Following her graduation, she began working on original material. Simultaneously, she became one of the most sought-after professional violinists in Los Angeles, performing at a number of live and studio sessions. In 1994, she and her band began a two-year residency at the Viper Room, during which they worked on her original songs. By the time she landed a record contract with Atlantic in 1997, she had worked with a number of different musicians; in addition to the previously mentioned artists, she had played with Brandy, Tony! Toni! Toné!, and No Doubt. Haydn's debut album, Lili, was released in the fall of 1997 by Atlantic. Light Blue Sun appeared in 2003 from BMG/Private Music, with a pair of releases from Nettwerk Music Group, the EP Goodbye Stranger and the full-length Place Between Places, arriving in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Haydn has also had success with film scores, contributing to She's the One and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and composing the scores for Jacklight, The Horse Boy, and The Lightmaker. After the release of Place Between Places, Haydn's life and career took an unexpected and punishing left turn when a chemical contamination incident destroyed her home, nearly all her belongings, and left her with a small amount of brain damage. Haydn was able to teach herself how to play the violin again, which in turn helped her regain her memories and stability; the experience informed her EP How I Got My Brains Back, released in April 2014, as well as a subsequent album, Lililand, which was scheduled for release in September 2014. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Steve Leggett