Susan Hyatt

Listen to Susan Hyatt

The singer on the business end of that Luna Dragonfly acoustic guitar is Seattle native Susan Hyatt. She burst on the music scene in late-70s L.A., just in time to sample the influences the likes of Debbie Harry and Blondie, disco diva Donna Summer and the UK's Sex Pistols. So appealing was the Brit new wave, in fact, that Susan eventually followed it all the way to London after earning an art history degree from UCLA. "I was playing various instruments in several LA bands, working as a freelance journalist and I just felt London calling to me," she says.

After an early solo venture, Hyatt's career took off when she joined grunge/punk/rock group Pillbox, and the band's debut single landed in the UK's Top 20. Today, Pillbox tunes are still finding the airwaves through licensing agreements with television shows such as Fear Factor and The Apprentice. During her time in England, Hyatt gained a following as a VJ on London's MP3TV. When actress Gina Gershon needed a guitarist/rock star consultant for the movie Prey For Rock n' Roll, Hyatt fit the bill perfectly.

Overseas, Susan found herself in impressive company. Here's how she's described that time: "I found myself backstage at every show, interviewing Sting for my own personal fanzine, snogging Bob Geldof so I could get on a BBC music documentary, and holding the rhythm section of XTC's hands while we watched Andy Partridge have a nervous breakdown, never to tour again. I took an airplane to Scotland and found myself befriending Bono [who asked] me if I thought he [would] ever meet Mick Jagger. When I was lucky enough to go on a date with Mick I found myself completely mute!"

More recently, a new band - Stimulator - has given Hyatt a chance to try her hand at new wave and disco sounds. The group's latest CD debuted in the spring of 2006. "In Stimulator," she says, "I get to live out all my childhood fantasies." Who could ask for more than that?

The versatile, non-stop musician hasn't let her gig with Stimulator interfere with her solo aspirations, though.

Soon, fans will be able to get their hands on a Hyatt solo album that she's doing with Jeremy Ruzumna (Macy Gray), Steve Sidelnyk ( Madonna) and Josh Fields. The artist credits Roxy Music, Prince, Duran Duran and the Eurythmics as her influences for this "sophisticated pop music" disk. For the latest on Susan see susanhyatt.net

Luna is pleased to call Susan Hyatt a Luna Artist.