[1] She is also known for her unusual fashion style, which included a hairstyle made of spikes and ankle-length braids and a nose chain piercing.
Child was born in Toronto, and is the daughter of noted Canadian classical musician Ricky Hyslop, while her mother was a singer and pianist.
The first record she ever owned was the Beatles' Rubber Soul, purchased by her father so that she could learn the arrangement of "Michelle".
[4] At age 12 she joined the Canadian Opera Company's children's chorus, and soon after studied piano briefly at the Royal Conservatory of Music under Samuel Dolin.
It was a touring rock and roll band of Deadheads known as Summerhill that played remote northern Canadian towns, and paid her $25 a week.
[4] Eventually Child cut a demo tape in Hamilton, Ontario with the engineer who owned the studio where she had been recording jingles.
The album and its singles were commercial failures, and she was dropped from the label and kept a low profile for the rest of the decade, though releasing a few collaborations with Japanese artists in that country.
Child's look was inspired by African and East Indian cultures, as well as the punk movement, which came from living amongst these diasporas in Toronto.
Her notable hair style, which she started at the age of 17,[8] would be redone once a month by 3 women taking 14 hours to do.
For tours her gear included a Minimoog, a Solina (ARP String Ensemble), a Mini-Korg, a Hammond B3 with a Leslie 145, and a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand.