Raised between the United States and Zimbabwe, Africa, Calder relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to work as a dancer for Prince in 1994. Cast in the New Power Generation (NPG)'s "Get Wild" video, she was later awarded a studio apprenticeship with NPG keyboardist Morris Hayes [2]. Upon completion, she served as a label intern with Twin/Tone Records, marketing side projects of Information Society and Semisonic.
Post Twin/Tone, Calder assembled electro-kitsch trio TELEPHONE! and introduced the comedic character Lolly Pop. Circa 2006, Pop was re-positioned as a solo artist and produced by Fink, Moir and Autobahn. In 2007, the video for "Elevator Operator" was featured on RockAmerica while the single was used in the Dash Mihok film, Loveless in Los Angeles.[3]
That same year, Pop appeared at Winter Music Conference, guested in the Paul Moering short film, Climbing Trees,[4] and worked closely with First Avenue.
Next recruited as the female vocalist for British outfit POP INC, Calder continued to contribute vocals to and/or produce U.S. acts Afraid Of Americans (A*O*A), glean (guesting Rick McCollum of The Afghan Whigs), The Red Hour as well as U.K. units Cuban Boys and The Rude Awakening. With The Rembrandts' Phil Solem, Calder co-wrote the theme song for the Launch TV comedy Graham Crackers.
In 2019, Jerome Benton, she and several next-generation artists appeared in the video for Jellybean Johnson's "Put Some Jelly On It"[5]. Calder then co-wrote lyrics for the Johnson-helmed Regal The Rare collaboration "Blue Goo",[6] bookending decades of creating with members of The Minneapolis Sound. As a result of her long-term contributions, she was elected an honorary board member of the Minneapolis Sound Museum in 2024[7].
Calder most recently collaborated with BBC award-winning director Martin Gooch on Everybody Loves Dancing,[8] co-founded Manual Control Records[9] and runs Calder Creative (a music consulting firm) in Philadelphia.
Charitable efforts
During 2019, Calder helmed a suitcase and donations initiative for survivors of the Drake fire.[10] Throughout 2017, A*O*A donated their sales profits to the NODAPL Legal Fund and continue to provide a $1 royalty to RAICES for each maxi-single sold.[11] In 2004, Calder partnered with First Avenue to raise money for the Tubman Alliance,[12] and organized a female-fronted festival dubbed Girlfest.
Discography
1999: BURNING SHAKESPEARE - No Juliet EP - Self Released
2000: THOUSAND VOID CRUSH f. BURNING SHAKESPEARE - "Radio Free" - Sursumcorda Records
2001: BROWN RAINBOW - Underground Soundtracks (Various tracks) - Self Released
2002: TELEPHONE! - Love... EP - Self Released
2003: TELEPHONE! - *69 EP - Self Released
2003: CHUCK LOVE - Continuous (Song: "Perfect") - Om Records
2004: TC ELECTROPUNK VOLUME 1 (Song: "Life on Hold")
2004: DORY/1DJ - 8Bits (song: "Encore") - Self Released
