ANTONIA grew up in the New Mexican mountains with Hungarian parents who force-fed gypsy fiddle on her, but she said "Hey mom, buy me a guitar".

Soon a taste for Led Zeppelin, the Cure, Madonna, Guns N' Roses and George Michael, as well, made her want to be a PopRocker.

Whilst at college, Antonia self-released records, busked on the street and toured with her band around the southwestern states in a dodgy converted school bus.

By spring 2001 she was appearing directly before co-headliners Cheap Trick and The Cult at Nashville's massive Riverstages Festival and also made an appearance on VH1's Band On The Run.

Offers to play at Truck and Guildford festivals in England that summer saw her leave the comfort of the US and hit the London circuit playing solo electric shows and appearing on Nu Music (the TV prog presented by Mani). Everyone loved her but said "Hey you need to get a band".

When she decided to move to England for real in Jan 2002 she did get a band - a shiny, loud trio with hard-hitting Eric Lavansch on drums and Korean-Dane-in-London, Lars Andersen, making up a most cosmopolitan three-piece.

Their first gig was at the Windmill Brixton at the end of February 2002. Since then they've played the Monarch, Metro, Underworld and some out-of-town shows including five festivals.

The first single 'Ride The Bullet', came out in July 2002 on Ben Popp Records via Shellshock. It was recorded at Truck Studios in Oxfordshire. Joe Bennett from Goldrush added a lush arrangement of 17 strings to the third track 'Reservoir'.

'Ride The Bullet' gained airplay and support from Steve Lamacq and Gary Crowley. The press response included a rare review for a a micro-indie label record from Music Week, who tipped her as one to watch, and TOTAL GUITAR which was moved enough to acclaim Antonia "New Artist of the Month", possibly an even rarer accolade for a girl guitarist!

Autumn sees more gigs including In The City, more songwriting, rehearsing and recording.