Kaya Fraser

Wise beyond their writer’s years, Kaya Fraser’s songs search out the dark corners of the heart, illuminating them with lightning-flashes of clarity. Her brand of literate folk-pop draws on elements of roots, blues and soul, supporting smart lyrics with infectious melodies and compelling grooves.
Kaya was born in Toronto to a decidedly artistic family. Her parents, singer-songwriter Allan Fraser (formerly of folk duo Fraser & DeBolt), and vocalist / visual artist Donna Louthood, gave her the means and the genes to become a musician. On her fifteenth birthday she received an acoustic guitar as a gift and she began playing guitar and writing songs of her own. Receiving formal musical training throughout her adolescence in Montreal, she chose to study English literature in university; this education honed her skills in writing both music and lyrics. But her most important lessons about the craft have come from careful listening--listening to life, and to the best music that has been written about it.
Over the past year and a half Kaya’s music has been garnering more and more attention. She has been broadcast nationally on CBC Radio One and Two, locally on university radio in London and elsewhere, and globally on streaming net radio. She was a prizewinner in the University of Western Ontario’s “Original and Unplugged” singer-songwriter competition, and was recently nominated for both a London Music Award and a Jack Richardson Music Award. Meanwhile, she has been playing at various venues across Canada and in New York City to enthralled audiences; she has shared the stage with such artists as Royal Wood, Justin Rutledge, Penny Lang and Ron Sexsmith. Having won a FACTOR Grant, she recorded a demo at Willyboy Recordings in London, Ontario with the assistance of engineer Will Haas and producer Jason Hakin; this demo was expanded to an EP and released in November, 2007 under the title “Tremor and Slip.” Reviews have been unanimously positive: as James Reaney of the London Free Press says, “you should hear what Kaya’s Tremor and Slip EP has to say about life and love.”
Her immediate plans include continuing to tour in North America in support of her record, with a possible European tour in the works. She is seeking management to help her reach the next level of her career, and is working on the songs for her next recording project, a full-length album tentatively entitled “Open Horizon.”
La valeur n'attend pas le nombre des années... Emplies de maturité, les chansons de Kaya Fraser explorent les plus sombres recoins du cœur afin de mieux les mettre en lumière. Ses compositions folk-pop s'enracinent dans le blues et la soul, mettant en valeur des mots élégants qui sonnent justes, le tout sur des mélodies imparables aux sonorités groovy.
Native de Toronto, Kaya est issue d'une famille d'artistes. Son père, le songwriter Allan Fraser (du duo folk Fraser & DeBolt) et sa mère, Donna Louthood, chanteuse et artiste visuelle, lui ont transmis le goût de la musique. Dès son quinzième anniversaire, elle se voit offrir une guitare acoustique et commence à écrire ses premières chansons. Durant son adolescence à Montreal, elle suit une formation de musique classique avant de s’orienter vers des études de littérature anglaise à l'université. Un choix qui aiguise indéniablement ses dons, aussi bien dans l'écriture que dans la composition même si Kaya puise essentiellement son inspiration de la vie. Inspiration elle-même bercée par nombre de chansons déjà écrites par ses idoles sur le sujet.
Depuis an et demi, Kaya se fait un nom. Ses chansons sont diffusées sur des radios nationales (CBC Radio One et Two) et universitaires locales ainsi qu'en streaming sur diverses webradios. Elle remporte le prix de l'université d'Ontario (meilleure œuvre originale acoustique) et a récemment été nommée aux London Music Awards et Jack Richardson Music Awards. Parallèlement, la jeune artiste donne des concerts à travers tout le Canada et a récemment joué à New York devant un public de plus en plus séduit et charmé. Elle a partagé la scène avec des artistes tels que Royal Wood, Justin Rutledge, Penny Lang et Ron Sexsmith. Une subvention "Factor" lui a permis d'enregistrer une première démo aux studios "Willyboy Recordings" à London (Ontario) avec l'aide de Will Haas à la réalisation et de Jason Hakin à la production. Cette démo a ouvert la voie à un EP intitulé Tremor and Slip, sorti en novembre 2007. Les critiques sont élogieuses et comme l'affirme James Reaney du London Free Press : "Vous devriez écouter ce que le disque de Kaya peut nous dire sur la vie et l'amour".
Actuellement, Kaya continue de tourner en Amérique du Nord pour promouvoir son disque. Une tournée en Europe est en projet. Elle est à la recherche de l'aide nécessaire pour lui permettre d'atteindre la prochaine étape de sa carrière et travaille actuellement sur son prochain album provisoirement baptisé Open Horizon.
ABOUT "TREMOR AND SLIP" (2007):
"Tremor and Slip is Kaya Fraser’s debut recording. Return to that sentence after you’ve listened to the CD (and you must listen to the CD) and read it again until it sinks in." -Bess Hamilton, ARTSCAPE MAGAZINE
"Fraser's voice is warm and engaging, displaying the sexiness of Carlene Carter with a bit of the world weariness of Lucinda Williams in her delivery. The songs are killer ... Fraser is an exciting new voice that deserves a listen." -Dave Clarke, SCENE
"It's a lovely piece of work, beautifully recorded at Hyde Park's Willyboy Studios [in London, Ontario]." -John Sharpe, SCENE
"This London, Ont., based artist distinguishes herself from the school of singer-songwriters matriculated by Joni Mitchell with jazz-inflected phrasing that allows her to navigate this waltz-time rumination with admirable agility." -John Sakamoto, THE TORONTO STAR
"Tremor and Slip stops at seven songs so she calls it an EP. Maybe that is one reason it sounds so rounded & realized. No songs and moments she wasn't absolutely sure about." -James Reaney, THE LONDON FREE PRESS
"Here's a great example of a diamond in the rough, and not so rough at that. ... [Fraser's] voice is mature and seductive, and these rootsy gems are yearning to be heard. Elements of country, soul, and sultry acoustic pop are combined with sophistication and polish. Fraser's moving songs don't really need anything more, except to be discovered. [Four stars]" -T'Cha Dunlevy, THE MONTREAL GAZETTE
"Fraser applies her love of language to intelligent folk-pop which she expresses through sultry vocals that bring to mind Leslie Feist." -Robert Reid, THE RECORD
"Fraser's independently released seven-song EP Tremor and Slip is shockingly good. Her voice is intimate, arresting and mature; the songs are moving; and production is polished enough to sound professional without sacrificing authenticity. For quick reference, think Joni Mitchell or Sarah McLachlan. At such an early stage in her career, Fraser has the potential to one day hover in their midst." -T'Cha Dunlevy, THE MONTREAL GAZETTE
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