kiva profile picture

kiva

overtone singer/ world beat artist

About Me

Kiva is a Canadian singer/keyboardist who has gained international recognition as a harmonic overtone singer. She incorporates this ability (to sing 2 or more pitches simultaneously) into her 'otherworldly' world beat/pop/folk/jazz. She is frequently called upon to collaborate with other musicians, especially contributing improvised vocalizations; most recently with Tanya Tagaq (Inuit throat singer), and a whale from Raratonga.She has lead a very diverse career so far. Trained in classical and jazz piano, she explored other genres such as rock, pop, and R&B, and found her calling in a blend of cultures and musical styles that is way beyond labels.Kiva has performed with the Olla Vogala Orchestra in Brugge, Belgium and to stages in Finland, Japan, Russia and Iceland, as a main stage artist at the KIEKU throat singing festival in Helsinki ('01), and the only female foreigner to perform at the International Symposium of Throat Singing in the Republic of Tuva ('95), appearing as a judge in the documentary 'Genghis Blues'.Kiva toured the world as a supporting member of the multi-platinum selling Crash Test Dummies (for CD 'God Shuffled His Feet') at the height of their fame, playing to sold out audiences each night. This included performances at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, and the Today Show.Her most recent CD ‘Pulse’ was critically acclaimed by Uptown Magazine receiving a rare ‘A’ rating. Former Winnipeg Folk Festival Artistic Director, Rick Fenton, wrote, “Kiva is an artist of rare vision and talent, whose music transcends both musical and geographic boundaries.”Kiva’s ‘Pulse’, companion to debut ‘The Ladder’, stretches musical boundaries again, exploring her fascination with global music, rhythms, complex harmonies, melody and highly textural vocalizations. East fuses with ‘new’ west as layers intertwine and influence each other, creating a distinctive hybrid.For more details, please refer to the official websites: http://www.kivaweb.com http://www.harmonicovertones.com

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/24/2006
Band Website: kivaweb.com
Influences: Yma Sumac, Issa (Jane Siberry), Bobby McFerrin, Sheila Chandra, Lisa Gerrard, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Loudmilla Khandi, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Imogen Heap, Tanya Tagaq, Bjork, Cuban music, East Indian classical, Bulgarian choirs, Tuvan folk music, Cuban music
Sounds Like: Some bizarre mixture of all those influences put in a blender with one more special ingredient
Type of Label: Indie