Ipecac Recordings
Artists Tanya Tagaq
Biography
Auk/Blood
In just six short years, ground-breaking Inuk throat singer, Tanya Tagaq Gillis, has brought an ancient Inuit vocal game to the heights of the experimental music scene. She’s collaborated with Bjork and the Kronos Quartet, and toured with some of the world’s leading global artists.
When Tanya Tagaq Gillis’ music fills your ears—either in person or on her new CD Auk—she is genuinely one of those rare artists whose sounds and styles are truly groundbreaking. ‘Inuit throat singer’ is one part of her sonic quotient. So are descriptions like ‘orchestral’, ‘hip-hop-infused’, and ‘primal’, but these words are not usually used collectively. In the case of Tagaq, however—especially on her sophomore disc Auk—they are.
Auk is a considerable expansion upon the work she created with her debut, Sinaa; while that was largely focused on her individual chants and vocals, this new record is perhaps more reflective of what Tagaq brings to her passionate and powerful live performances, specifically the energy and beauty that comes from collaboration. This new CD—recorded in Pontovedra, Spain and Calgary, Alberta—brings an assortment of guest vocalists to the mix, from Juno Award-winner Buck 65 to Faith No More/Lovage frontman Mike Patton (who is releasing Auk in the U.S. on his own Ipecac label) to dynamic human beat box artist Shamik. Juan Hernandez once again produces the disc, as he did for Tanya’s debut. The collaborative process is like oxygen for Tagaq, who has flourished recently cowriting and throat singing with the Kronos Quartet on a project aptly titled Nunavut. A rare and recent performance of the work was described by a Los Angeles Times reviewer as “extraordinary” and “remarkable.”
The diversity and sum composite of creative collaborations have clearly provided Tagaq with the opportunity to grow and expand the musical landscape upon which she treads; Auk is proof positive of that. Ranging from whispers and haunting melodies to fullforce passion and power, the diversity and depth on Auk is self-evident: the thread that ties it all together is Tagaq’s candor and passionate commitment to her music. “I’m interested in baring everything that to me is reality, and hopefully other people can sense that.”
- Mike Patton and Buck 65 are featured guests.
‘Fire-Ikuma’ - Mike Patton
‘Gentle’ - Buck 65
‘Want’ - Buck 65 - Having already appeared on Björk’s Medúlla CD in 2004 and accompanied her on the Vespertine tour.
- Tanya has recently recorded once again with Björk on the soundtrack for the Matthew Barney film, ‘Drawing Restraint 9’
- In 2007, another monumental collaborative project came to fruition when the world-renowned Kronos Quartet invited Tanya to participateas co-writer and performeron a project aptly titled Nunavut.
- ‘Sinaa’ was nominated for a Juno Award (Best Aboriginal Recording) and won in three categories at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, including Best Female Artist.
Releases
