# Jill Bryson

Jill Bryson is a Scottish musician and songwriter, best known as one half of the new wave band Strawberry Switchblade.

## Early life and background

Jill Bryson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Growing up in a culturally rich city, she was exposed to a diverse range of musical influences from an early age. Her passion for music developed during her teenage years as she performed in local bands and engaged with Glasgow’s vibrant punk and post-punk scenes. These early experiences were instrumental in shaping her musical career.
Bryson grew up in Shawlands, Glasgow. Her mother ran a flower shop in a rundown area near a homeless shelter. Before attending art school, Bryson was deeply involved in Glasgow's early punk scene from 1976–77. Inspired by punk's creative freedom and cultural engagement, she decided to pursue art after attending a degree show at Glasgow School of Art. Bryson was also influenced by the vibrant 1960s fashion she found at jumble sales, which contrasted with the limited and often uninspiring fashion choices available in stores at the time. Her experiences with punk music and alternative culture shaped her approach to art and fashion, leading her to blend these influences into her work.
The punk movement was expanding rapidly in the United Kingdom in 1976. At the time, Bryson and Rose McDowall were part of the bohemian art scene and were fans of the New York Dolls. They followed Scottish punk band Nu-Sonics (later Orange Juice) during their career, with McDowall playing and recording with Paisley punk band The Poems.
At age 14, Bryson had been suffering from agoraphobia, due to constant judgement by adults, Bryson claimed that the judgements were sometimes good and other times bad. Bryson was interviewed in The Herald in 2016, and stated in the interview: "It's anxiety and depression really," Bryson explained, "but it manifests as you're terrified to go out. But I was terrified to stay in as well. I was just terrified generally because you're so anxious. "The anxiety level becomes crippling and, of course, back then there was not so much written about it so I did not have a clue what was happening".
Bryson reflected on her experiences growing up in 1980s Glasgow, noting its economic decline compared to its earlier cultural vibrancy. She recalls using inspiration from the city's past, such as vintage dresses and historical ballroom fashion, in her art and performances. At art school, Bryson created a performance that blended music, theatre, and fashion, featuring Victorian poses and contrasting modern elements like a polka dot dress.
The performance was designed more for personal exploration than for exhibition, with no final product intended. Bryson’s early work combined music and fashion in innovative ways, including a planned fashion show performance that was ultimately not realized due to departmental objections. Her engagement with broader artistic and musical scenes was limited, involving occasional trips to London and Edinburgh.
In her late teens, Bryson began making relationships with other musicians, leading to the formation of Strawberry Switchblade in 1982. The original lineup included Bryson (backing vocals, lead guitar), Rose (nee, Porter) McDowall (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Janice Goodlett (bass), and Carol McGowan (drums). Goodlett and McGowan later left the band.
As friends, McDowall and Bryson socialized in Glasgow pubs, attending local bands, including Orange Juice, fronted by Edwyn Collins. Members of New pop and Orange Juice recorded a live version of "Felicity" as a flexi-disc and intended to release it. A fanzine titled Strawberry Switchblade was planned to promote the flexi-disc but never materialized. The "Felicity" flexi-disc was eventually released alongside Orange Juice's debut single, "Falling and Laughing".
Bryson had a diverse range of fashion influences, blending her love for punk with a fascination for older styles like Dior’s New Look and Ossie Clark. She was particularly drawn to the romantic and vibrant aspects of 1960s fashion, which she found at jumble sales in the late 1970s. Bryson recalls acquiring a turquoise blue lamé dress and coat set from that era, reflecting her eclectic style and appreciation for colourful, vintage clothing.

## Art career

Bryson's visual art career began at Glasgow School of Art, where she studied from 1979 to 1983 alongside contemporaries like Steven Campbell and Ken Currie. Her art often explores themes of control, invisibility, and the intersection of object and subjectivity.
After Strawberry Switchblade disbanded, Bryson shifted focus back to visual arts, working with media such as Super 8 film and performance art. She collaborated with Atelier E.B, a 2007 collaborative fashion, textiles, and public art project by Lucy McKenzie and Beca Lipscombe, and with Panel, an independent curatorial practice led by Catriona Duffy and Lucy McEachan, promoting design through exhibitions and cultural projects like The Inventors of Tradition II.

## Strawberry Switchblade

In 1982, Bryson and McDowall formed Strawberry Switchblade, initially comprising Bryson (backing vocals, lead guitar), McDowall (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Goodlett (bass), and McGowan (drums). The band's debut single, “Since Yesterday,” became a hit in the UK and internationally, earning them a dedicated following. The band's sound was characterized by Bryson and McDowall’s distinctive vocal style and a fusion of catchy pop melodies with a darker, post-punk edge.
The two most iconic guitars in this band are the 1968 Fender Coronado II, used by Rose and the Fender Jaguar in red used by Jill.
The band released their first single "Trees and Flowers" in July 1983 through 92 Happy Customers, an independent record label run by Will Sergeant from Echo & The Bunnymen, and sold over 10,000 copies. It was featured at number 47 in John Peel's 1983 Festive 50. "Trees and Flowers" was written by Bryson about her anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and featured Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera on guitar, produced by Bill Drummond. They were then signed to the Korova label in the same year.
Strawberry Switchblade played a John Peel gig in Scotland and recorded sessions for his BBC Radio 1 show in October 1982 and David Jensen’s Radio 1 show three days later. The band was augmented by James Kirk from Orange Juice on bass and Shahid Sarwar from The Recognitions on drums.
In 1985, she attended the Brit Awards where she encountered Prince, who was accompanied by bodyguards. Bryson, seated at the same table as Prince, recalled the experience as surreal and amusing, noting Prince's dark glasses and the presence of his security.
The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 1985 and included notable tracks such as “Since Yesterday” and “Jolene.” When the band released their hit song "Since Yesterday", they became an instant sensation in Japan and most of England. Despite their critical success, the band disbanded due to personal disputes and industry pressures in 1986.
Before the disbandment, Bryson had conceptualized and recorded a few songs meant for a second Strawberry Switchblade album, which was never released. In December 2005, Warner Bros. Platinum Records released a career retrospective of the band, featuring sixteen different tracks from various recordings.
In 2013, Bryson returned to the music scene by forming a new band, The Shapists, with her daughter Jesse Frost and musician Craig Hood.