Viva Seifert Explained

Viva Seifert
Birth Date:15 April 1972[1]
Birth Place:London, England
Spouse:Mark "Arp" Cleveland
Children:2, including Tipper
Relatives:Joe Gideon (brother)
Module:
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Years Active:1990–present

Viva Seifert (born 15 April 1972)[2] is a British musician, actress, and former gymnast. She first came to attention competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics, and afterwards made a number of television appearances and performed with the WeatherGens. In 1999, she and her brother, Joe Gideon, co-founded the band Bikini Atoll, where she performed as a keyboardist until the group dissolved in 2006.

Seifert and her brother formed the musical duo Joe Gideon & the Shark in 2010, where she serves as a multi-instrumentalist. For starring in the 2015 indie video game Her Story, she earned accolades at the Golden Joystick Awards, The Game Awards, and the New York Game Awards. In 2021, she co-founded the musical duo Lunge (stylized in all caps) with her husband Mark "Arp" Cleveland, where she serves as the primary vocalist.

Early life

Seifert was born in London, England, and currently resides in Cornwall.[3] Her brother is Gideon Joel Seifert, known professionally as Joe Gideon. Her early aspirations were in rhythmic gymnastics.

Career

Gymnastics and television

At the age of 18, she competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and finished fourth in the individual competition, winning bronze medals in the hoop and ribbon disciplines. She went on to participate in the 1992 Summer Olympics,[4] finishing in 29th place in the individual rhythmic gymnastics competition.[5]

Seifert was a part of WeatherGens, a group of several actors who played various characters made to represent the weather in PowerGen's sponsorship of the ITV National Weather between November 10, 1996, and October 27, 2001.[6] [7] She portrayed Aurora, who represented the hot and dry weather.[8]

Bikini Atoll

In 1999, Seifert and her brother, Gideon Joel Seifert, formed the band Bikini Atoll along with two other members, Ché Albrighton and Bastian Juel. In the band, Seifert was a keyboardist.[9] In 2004, they were signed to the Bella Union label, and they released their debut studio album, Moratoria,[10] which was received positively by critics, with The Independent describing it as "...an awesome, soul-searching slice of sprawling Americana."[11] In 2005, they released their second studio album, Liar's Exit, which received positive reviews. In 2006, Bikini Atoll disbanded, and further activities were ceased.

Joe Gideon & the Shark

After the split of Bikini Atoll, Seifert and her brother formed the duo Joe Gideon & the Shark.[12] [13] [14] They released their debut album, Harum Scarum in 2010, which earned a positive reception from critics.[15] [16] [17] Online magazine Louder Than War described the album as "a hell of a find. An extraordinarily colourful collection of psychedelic stories – demented yet sympathetic eulogies to a bunch of fictitious weirdos, set to a fashionably succinct swamp-rock beat."[18] Writing for Clash magazine, Mike Diver deemed Seifert "one of the fiercest, most technically gifted rock 'n' roll drummers around – it's unsettling even to see her crack a smile." Clash also said that she handled her work with "flamboyant precision".[19] In 2013, they released their second album Freakish through Bronze Rat Records.[20] [21] [22] The Quietus said that "…Viva's visual drumming style and Joe's control of any number of effects mangling, fuzzing and boosting an arsenal of crunching riffs to produce an enticing audio-visual package."[23]

Her Story

In 2015, Seifert was cast in the video game Her Story, a crime fiction video game by Sam Barlow, where she portrays the role of Hannah Smith;[24] later on in the game, it is suggested that the character has a twin named Eve,[25] also portrayed by Seifert. Along with acting in the game, she also had a hand in the soundtrack, performing the ballad "The Twa Sisters" and helping alter the music.[26] After previously working with Barlow on the cancelled game ,[27] where she was set to portray the character of Lydia,[28] he contacted her for the role after observing her work, stating that Seifert was "very good at picking up a line and intuitively pulling a lot of the subtext into her performance".[29] She was offered the part after several edits were made to the script, which initially was 300 pages long before being shortened to 80.[30] Filming for Her Story occurred in Seifert's residence, Cornwall, and lasted five days.[31] She stated that the role was difficult to portray, commenting that shooting was "intense" and "rather exhausting"[32] and said that she felt pressure after realizing "the whole game is hinging" on her acting.

Upon release, Her Story opened to instant and critical success, with critics praising the game as well as Seifert's performance. Justin Clark from GameSpot wrote that her performance "anchored" the game,[33] and Andy Keller of PC Gamer stated that her performance was "understated, realistic, and complex".[34] Joe Donnelly of Digital Spy believed her acting had the potential to inspire similar roles.[35] Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times praised her acting,[36] and Adam Cook of GodIsAGeek deemed her performance "stunning".[37] Rich Stanton of The Guardian wrote that "what seals the deal is a wide-ranging performance from Viva Seifert that funnels her character’s inner life into hundreds of intense vignettes" and further credited her for creating "a fictional character with something of the same allure: clearly very intelligent, clearly not telling the whole truth, and full of physical quirks. ... Seifert’s delivery is usually matter-of-fact and emotionally convincing."[38] Chris Kohler of WIRED said "Seifert's performance is so captivating that I couldn't imagine this game working any other way."[39] Katie Smith of Adventure Gamers wrote that she was convincing in the role, and praised her for paying attention to the small details, such as her body language.[40] Polygon listed Hannah Smith on its list of the "70 Best Video Game Characters" and stated that Seifert played the role "superbly".[41]

For the role, Seifert won the Game Award for Best Performance in 2015,[42] [43] [44] where she was mistakenly credited for having appeared in The Witcher 3, which spawned several internet memes and earned the organization criticism.[45] [46] At the 5th New York Game Awards, the New York Videogame Critics Circle awarded Seifert the Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game. She shared the Golden Joystick Award for Breakthrough Game with Barlow, and was also a runner-up for the Performance of the Year Award. At the 12th British Academy Games Awards, critics were surprised to see that Seifert had not been nominated for Best Performer.[47] [48] [49] The actress stated in an interview with BBC that "I was disappointed I can't lie. It was all leading up to this moment, but now there's more awards, actors are taking it [gaming] more seriously." Seifert also presented an award at the ceremony.[50] [51]

Lunge and beyond

In 2018, Seifert voiced the character Merethiel in the video game RuneScape.[52] Also in 2018, she made a guest appearance as Rachel on the British television series Delicious.[53] The same year, Seifert starred in the short film Miss White as the titular character.

Seifert is a part of the electronica musical duo Lunge (stylized in all caps), which she co-founded with Mark "Arp" Cleveland, who was previously a drummer for Archie Bronson Outfit.[54] [55] They released their debut single "Heavy Golden Swim" in March 2022.[56] [57] [58] In July 2022, it was announced that Lunge would make their live debut at the End of the Road Festival in September of that same year.[59] They released their debut extended play EP1 on April 7, 2023, which was preceded by the single "This Idle Motion".[60] [61]

In 2024, Seifert appeared in Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard's film The Extraordinary Miss Flower, which is about Emilíana Torrini. She performs as a dancer with Torrini and Caroline Catz, and musicians such as Nick Cave and Mark Monero.[62] [63]

Personal life

Seifert is married to musician Mark "Arp" Cleveland—once a part of Archie Bronson Outfit—with whom she has two children.[64] [65] Her daughter, Tipper Seifert-Cleveland, is also an actress.[66] [67] [68] [69] She keeps a low media profile, rarely accepting interviews, making public appearances, or speaking of her personal life outside of her creative ventures.[70]

Discography

With Bikini Atoll

With Joe Gideon & the Shark

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996–2001ITV WeatherAuroraMain role
2008Would I Lie to You?HerselfEpisode: "02x01"
2012LydiaCancelled video game
2015Her StoryHannah SmithVideo game
2018DeliciousRachelEpisode: "The Heart"
RuneScapeMerethielVideo game
2019Miss WhiteMiss WhiteShort film
2024The Extraordinary Miss FlowerDancerFilm

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryNominated workResult
Golden Joystick Awards2015Breakthrough AwardHer Story[71]
Performance of the YearHer Story[72]
The Game Awards2015Best PerformanceHer Story
New York Game Awards2016Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a GameHer Story[73]
NAVGTR Awards2016Outstanding Performance in a DramaHer Story[74]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Viva SEIFERT - Olympic Gymnastics Rhythmic | Great Britain. 17 June 2016. International Olympic Committee.
  2. http://www.commonwealthgames.com/ Commonwealth games.com
  3. Web site: Sladeckova . Olga . Bikini Atoll - Interview . 2022-05-31 . www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk . en.
  4. Web site: Viva Seifert Bio . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090106120103/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/se/viva-seifert-1.html . 6 January 2009 . 17 December 2008 . Sports-Reference.com.
  5. Web site: Viva Seifert . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417230304/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/se/viva-seifert-1.html . 17 April 2020 . 28 June 2015 . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com.
  6. Web site: Outlook brilliant for the weather gems; MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE EVERY FORECAST FANTASTIC. - Free Online Library . 2022-07-11 . www.thefreelibrary.com.
  7. Web site: 2019-01-25 . WHAT HEAVENLY CREATURES The Independent . https://web.archive.org/web/20190125125028/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/what-heavenly-creatures-1270723.html . 25 January 2019 . 2022-07-11 . Independent.co.uk.
  8. Web site: Week . Marketing . 2001-05-17 . PowerGen starts agency trawl for £1m ITV weather . 2022-07-11 . Marketing Week . en.
  9. Web site: 2008-06-07. Bikini Atoll. 2020-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20080607113736/http://www.batoll.com/main.php?page=releases. 7 June 2008.
  10. Web site: 2004-01-30 . Album: Bikini Atoll . 2022-07-16 . The Independent . en.
  11. Web site: 2009-02-24. Album: Bikini Atoll - Reviews, Music - The Independent. Independent.co.uk. 2020-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20090224181129/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-bikini-atoll-574944.html. 24 February 2009.
  12. Web site: 20 March 2009. NME Reviews - Album Review: Joe Gideon & The Shark - NME.COM. 28 June 2015. NME.COM.
  13. Web site: The Quietus News LISTEN: New Joe Gideon & The Shark . 2022-07-15 . The Quietus . en-us.
  14. Web site: The Quietus Features Escape Velocity Some-fin Groovy: Joe Gideon & The Shark Interviewed . 2023-03-22 . The Quietus . en-us.
  15. Web site: Great white hopes and alien blues . 2022-05-08 . Times of Malta . 29 April 2012 . en-gb.
  16. Web site: nckprkr . 2020-01-12 . BLIND TASTE TEST: Joe Gideon and the Shark, Harum Scarum . 2022-05-08 . Picky Bastards . en.
  17. Web site: DiScover: Joe Gideon & The Shark . 2022-05-08 . DrownedInSound . en . 8 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508010623/https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/2575720-discover--joe-gideon-amp-the-shark . dead .
  18. Web site: Barding . Andy . 2013-02-25 . Joe Gideon and the Shark: Freakish - album review . 2022-07-15 . Louder Than War . en-GB.
  19. Web site: Joe Gideon & The Shark Interview . 2022-05-08 . Clash Magazine . 16 April 2009 . en.
  20. Web site: Joe Gideon & the Shark: Freakish . 2020-10-02 . www.ft.com.
  21. Web site: The Quietus Reviews Joe Gideon & The Shark . 2022-05-08 . The Quietus . en-us.
  22. Web site: Diver . Mike . 2013-12-11 . Premiere: Joe Gideon & The Shark - 'I'm Ruined' . 2022-07-15 . Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews .
  23. Web site: The Quietus Reviews Joe Gideon & The Shark . 2022-07-15 . The Quietus . en-us.
  24. Web site: Steam Greenlight :: HER STORY . 28 June 2015 . steamcommunity.com.
  25. Web site: Brown . Mark . Her Story explained - the complete story walkthrough (Spoilers!) . 2022-05-05 . www.pocketgamer.com . 25 June 2015 . en.
  26. Web site: Mcke . Kirk . Writer . Contributing . Howdunnit: The making of Her Story . 2022-05-05 . pocketgamer.biz. 13 October 2015 .
  27. Web site: Clark . Tim . 2015-07-09 . The story behind Her Story . 2020-09-22 . PC Gamer . en-US.
  28. News: 2016-05-27 . The Legacy of Kain game that was cancelled three years in . en-gb . Eurogamer.net . 2022-07-05.
  29. Web site: WebCite query result . https://web.archive.org/web/20150815045646/http://gamemob.com/news/his-story-an-interview-with-sam-barlow-creator-of-her-story/ . dead . 2015-08-15 . 2020-09-22 . www.webcitation.org.
  30. News: PC Gamer . en . pcgamer . 2022-05-05.
  31. Web site: 2015-07-10 . Interrogating "Her Story" Creator Sam Barlow and Actress Viva Seifert (Interview) . 2022-05-05 . AppUnwrapper . en-US.
  32. Web site: 2015-07-10 . Interrogating "Her Story" Creator Sam Barlow and Actress Viva Seifert (Interview) Page 2 of 2 . 2020-10-02 . AppUnwrapper . en-US.
  33. Web site: Her Story Review . 2020-10-02 . GameSpot . en-US.
  34. Web site: Kelly . Andy . 2015-06-22 . Her Story review . 2020-10-02 . PC Gamer . en-US.
  35. Web site: Donnelly . Joe . 2015-06-22 . Her Story review . 2022-03-12 . Digital Spy . en-GB.
  36. Web site: 2015-07-04 . The Player: Head games in 'Her Story' will make you feel almost like a true detective . 2022-03-12 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2015-07-07 . His Story: An Interview with Sam Barlow . 2022-05-19 . GodisaGeek.com . en-US.
  38. Web site: 2015-06-25 . Her Story review – a new breed of narrative video game . 2022-03-12 . the Guardian . en.
  39. Her Story Is a Game Made of Video Clips, and I'm Obsessed . en-US . Wired . 2022-05-05 . 1059-1028.
  40. Web site: 2015-07-03 . Her Story review . 2022-05-19 . Adventure Gamers . en.
  41. Web site: Staff . Polygon . 2019-11-27 . The 70 best video game characters of the decade . 2022-03-12 . Polygon . en-US.
  42. Web site: 12 November 2015 . Nominees The Game Awards 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151114024126/http://thegameawards.com/nominees/ . 14 November 2015 . 13 November 2015 . . . dmy-all.
  43. Web site: 2015-12-04 . Viva Seifert from Her Story Takes Best Performance at The Game Awards . 2022-03-12 . Twinfinite . en-US.
  44. Web site: Sarkar . Samit . 2015-12-03 . Here are the winners of The Game Awards 2015 . 2022-03-12 . Polygon . en-US.
  45. Web site: 2015-12-04 . Best Performance Award Went to The Witcher 3 And/Or Her Story, No One Really Knows . 2022-03-12 . Twinfinite . en-US.
  46. Web site: 2020-11-19 . GOTY Flashback: The Witcher 3 Bewitched the Jury at the 2015 Game Awards . 2022-03-12 . Video Game Canon . en-US.
  47. News: 2016-04-08 . Bafta Games Awards: Actors are taking gaming roles more seriously . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-05-19.
  48. Web site: Bafta Game Awards reactions: 'it was a good night for women in games' Games The Guardian . 2022-05-19 . amp.theguardian.com.
  49. Web site: 2016-04-16 . Achievements A-Plenty at the BAFTA Game Awards 2016 . 2022-05-19 . Exeposé Online . en-GB.
  50. Web site: 2016-04-07 . Games Awards Ceremony 2016 . 2022-05-19 . www.bafta.org . en.
  51. Web site: I'm presenting an award at @BAFTAGames on Thursday @HerStoryGame is up for a whopping 7 awards. Hope i get to present one to @mrsambarlow! . 2022-05-19 . Twitter . en.
  52. Web site: On way home from a fun day in the studio with @DCockle Thanks everyone @Jagex for looking after us. Loving my new character! #runescape Ps. Hot tip of the day...don't go in the vocal booth straight after Mr Cockle #geralt #thewitcher ...sweaty headphones!!! . 2022-03-12 . Twitter . en.
  53. Web site: Viva Seifert . 2022-05-18 . IMDb . en.
  54. Web site: Like Tom Tom Club had they been remixed by Hot Chip, 'Heavy Golden Swim' is the debut single from Lunge (Viva Seifert and Mark "Arp Cleveland). Mixing punk energy, electro sheen and imaginative melodies, there's something for everyone #onthestereo . 2022-05-08 . Twitter . en.
  55. Web site: 2015-02-08 . Album Review: Duke Garwood - Emerald Palace / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208170508/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/8857/reviews/1696176- . 8 February 2015 . 2022-05-08.
  56. Web site: 2022-04-12 . Eclectic Picks: Batch 443 . 2022-05-08 . Fresh On The Net . en-GB.
  57. Web site: News – LUNGE – Heavy Golden Swim Romu Rocks . 2022-05-08 . fr-FR.
  58. Web site: 2022-05-01 . On The Stereo: April 2022 – Songwriting Magazine . 2022-05-08 . en-GB.
  59. Web site: Have been listening to some #EOTR2022 to get us in the mood for the weekend. Shoutout to @Lunge_____ this afternoon - can't wait for their debut performance in Sept. . 2022-07-25 . Twitter . en.
  60. Web site: 2023-02-08 . NEWS: Lunge share single This Idle Motion, mixed by Dan Carey, and announce their debut EP, EP1. . 2023-03-22 . Backseat Mafia . en-GB.
  61. Web site: Promonews . Lunge 'This Idle Emotion' by Simon Owens Videos . 2023-03-22 . Promonewstv . en.
  62. Web site: 2024-06-19 . Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Wrap Performance Film ‘The Extraordinary Miss Flower’ Starring Icelandic Artist Emilíana Torrini & Caroline Catz; Richard Ayoade, Nick Cave, Alice Lowe, Mark Monero & More Play Supporting Roles . 2024-09-17 . Deadline.
  63. Web site: 2024-07-18 . First look at Doc Martin star Caroline Catz's new movie . 2024-09-17 . Yahoo News . en-GB.
  64. Web site: Viva Seifert . 2022-05-08 . IMDb . en.
  65. Web site: Quietus . The . 2023-04-03 . Happy Accident: An Interview With Lunge . 2024-09-17 . The Quietus . en-GB.
  66. Web site: 2021-05-03 . Disney Reveals Cruella's Origin In New Video . 2022-05-10 . ScreenRant . en-US.
  67. Web site: 2021-05-26 . Cruella's Tipper Seifert-Cleveland shares what it's like to play a young Emma Stone . 2022-05-08 . Young Entertainment.
  68. Web site: Change . Agents of . 2021-09-16 . 'Cruella' Is Mad, Bad, and About Family . 2022-05-08 . A Parent Is Born . en.
  69. Web site: This Tweet is from a suspended account. . 2023-04-03 . . en.
  70. Web site: Mcke . Kirk . Writer . Contributing . 13 October 2015 . Howdunnit: The making of Her Story . 2022-05-18 . pocketgamer.biz.
  71. Web site: Leon Hurley . 2015-10-30 . The Golden Joystick Awards: all the winners this year . 2022-05-08 . gamesradar . en.
  72. Web site: Reynolds . Matthew . 2015-09-01 . Golden Joystick Awards 2015 voting now open to the public . 2022-05-08 . Digital Spy . en-GB.
  73. Web site: 2016-02-12 . The Witcher 3 slaughters the competition at New York Video Game Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20160212054028/https://www.geek.com/games/the-witcher-iii-slaughters-the-competition-at-new-york-video-game-awards-1646899/ . 12 February 2016 . 2022-05-05.
  74. Web site: NAVGTR Awards (2016). 2020-10-02. IMDb.

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