Erika Kulnys

Erika Kulnys is a classically trained, outspoken queer singer-songwriter, poet, composer and performance artist who challenges boundaries and opens the heart. Erika is courageous and takes musical and personal risks in order to understand the world more fully and cultivate compassion.Erika's background in Nova Scotian folk music, classical music, world music, poetry, and an abiding concern for social issues combine to create an original folk idiom that defies easy categorization and yields carefully crafted songs robust with passion. Her musical scope ranges from sultry love songs to lyrics tackling issues such as neo-colonialism and homophobia and she has the gift of writing meaningful songs that remain intimate while being political. Erika is not limited by genre, playing guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, and organ and moving fluidly between styles ranging from trova to pop-rock. In the story-telling folk tradition, Erika writes about real human experiences and the fierce conviction in her voice can move the stiffest of hearts. Erika's goal is to spread healing and love throughout the world through sharing her love for music.Erika grew up in Nova Scotia singing in choirs and then went on to study music composition and creative writing at the United World College (NM), Oberlin College and Conservatory (OH), and won a 2005-6 Watson Fellowship to participate in groups working for social change through music in Ireland, England, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Brazil, and India. She worked with revolutionary bands in Venezuela, recording and touring through small villages in the Andes, performed with Battakare, an ensemble of low-income youth who create and perform samba and hip hop. She volunteered at a school for disabled children in India, and visited with her writing idol, Jeannette Winterson in England.Erika's composition, "Salt", scored for bassoon, oboe, cello, and soprano was chosen to be featured at the 2004 Midwest Composers Symposium and was featured on Oberlin Conservatory's 2005 CD. Erika has collaborated with such renowned artists as Ferron, Lucie Blue Tremblay, and Scott MacMillan, has opened for artists such as Emm Gryner, Rose Vaughan, and has shared festival stages with Dar Williams, Richie Havens, Guy Davis, Josh Ritter, and Richard Thompson (Oberlin Folk Festival).Her band has included Sara and Kamila, Daniel Gale, Guy Mendilow, Stefan Amidon, Duncan MacMillan, Naomi Morse, Scott Macmillan and Elvie Miller. Erika has played in Canada and the U.S., South Korea, Spain, Ireland, Jamaica and Latin America Selected Appearance list for Erika Kulnys:The Music Room, St. Matthew's, Brunswick Street United, Ginger's, Halifax (2008) The Living Room Lounge, Pete's Candy Store, CBGB's, Brooklyn Lyceum, Telephone Bar, Rockwood Music Hall, Bar 4, The Bitter End, NYC (2007) Central Cultural, Sao Paolo (2006) The World Social Forum, Caracas (2006) Sin E, Dublin (2005) Laveries, Belfast (2005) Oberlin Folkfest, Oberlin OH (2005, 2004, 2002, 2001) Michigan Womyn's Music Festival performing with Lucie Blue Tremblay (2004) Cleveland Music Festival, Peabody's, Cleveland, OH (2004) The John S. Knight Convention Centre, Lydia's, Akron, OH (2003) RAINN Benefits, The Dionysus Club, Oberlin College (2003) The Ship and Anchor, Calgary, Alberta (2003-5) Freetimes Cafe, Toronto (2003) Woodstock, Seoul, South Korea (2003) BattleAxe Folk Pride Show: The Marquis Club, Halifax, NS (2002) The Khyber Club, Halifax NS (2002, 2008) The Cat in the Cream, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH (2001-06)