Tanya Tagaq Plans Third Album, Fundraising Efforts Via Indiegogo Currently Underway to Complete the Project

Fearsome, strident and elemental, Tanya Tagaq’s music is a genre unto itself. Tagaq’s unique vocal style may be rooted in traditional cultural form, but her expression also aligns with avant-garde improvisation, classical Expressionism and electronica influences, which inform her startling originality and powerful creative vision.

The New York Times describes Tagaq’s performances as "fiercely contemporary, futuristic even." Inuit throat singing is traditionally performed by two women as form of game. Tagaq transforms the call-and-response construct into solo vocal performances that explore head and heart, experimentalism and physicality, often backed by a mix of contemporary players who add synths, strings and more.

Alongside her renowned and distinguished collaborations with new music masterminds Kronos Quartet and Bjork, Tanya Tagaq has released two Juno-nominated solo records (Sinaa and Auk/Blood). Her third album is in the works, and the new project follows Tagaq's precedent of collaboration with like-minded improvisational and avant-garde artists. Thus far, the record includes Vancouver violin/viola virtuoso Jesse Zubot, Toronto-based percussionist Jean Martin and Michael Red, who adds field recordings from Nunavut to the live performances. All three artists explore the use of experimental electronic processes in their music. Spanish producer Juan Hernandez, who worked on both of Tagaq's previous records, has also returned for this album.

Tagaq is currently raising money via Indiegogo in order to bring Belgian-based opera singer Anna Pardo Canedo to the album, and to complete the project.

Tagaq hints at the new album’s direction and inspiration as follows: It has been put together from a gleaning of information that has come from my extensive travels. It is my baby. It is a political and spiritual spelunking into the depths of this existence. We have put together a base recording of massive proportions, including heavy electronic beats, punkish percussion, and soaring viola. We also have some French horn players in the mix.

For more information and to support Tanya Tagaq’s fundraising campaign, please visit: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tagaq-new-cd

http://www.tanyatagaq.com/

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UPCOMING SHOWS:

WINNIPEG, MB: Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration, The Forks, June 22, 9pm
TORONTO, ON: Canada Day, Harbourfront WestJet Stage, 9:30pm

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PRESS QUOTES:

- “Her emotional, rhythmic re-working of Inuit culture involved frantic panting and heavy breathing mixed with grunts, growls and wails.” – The Guardian

- “Recalling animal noises and various other nature sounds, she was a dynamo, delivering a sort of gothic sound art while she stalked the small basement stage with feral energy.“ – New York Times

- “A stark introduction to the primal expressiveness of the art form.” – Boston Phoenix

- “Calling Tanya Tagaq an Inuit throat singer is like calling Yo-Yo Ma a cello player. Sure, it’s accurate, but it’s not the whole of what he does. Like Ma, Tagaq is the best of what she does – innovative, inspired.” - National Post

- “A virtuoso Inuit throat singer and experimentalist.” – FFWD Weekly

- “Carnal fury.” – Exclaim