Tina Grace

Please click below to buy my album 2+2=april: .. Husky Pup Productions presents:A collection of new songs by Tina Grace, produced by Nitin Sawhney, Valgeir Sigurdsson (Bjork) and Tim Holmes (Death In Vegas), compiled in 2004 / 2005 in London, Iceland and Rio de Janeiro from her forthcoming debut album. Combining sultry strings from Rio, Ice(landish)-cool pop and Barcelona's Rhumba beats, the songs are sensual and raw.Shona Hamilton accompanied Tina on location, filming endless hours of mesmeric Icelandic landscape and Rio street life. This footage has been designed to create a visual narrative to Tina's live set and was shot over a two year period as a self financed project.The story follows the pursuits of 5 year old Paloma, an orphaned child from Rio, throughout a day in her life. A blend of surreal dreamscapes where she evades her reality to delve into dislocated visions of Icelandic landscapes, religious icons and Brazilian TV trash.Tina's recent collaborations include; Fink(ninja tunes) Stanton Warriors(V2)Spek(echoe) Cirque du soleil(Varekai; with Nitin Sawhney and Terry Callier)I discovered a love of performance whilst training in a circus school in sao Paulo; at the age of 19; from there I performed in circuses in and around Rio and formed a circus troupe touring north east brazil. these early experiences set me on the road to experimenting with opposing creative genres..After living/travelling Brazil for a few years; I returned to europe;eventually settling in Barcelona. There I worked in theatre and tv for a fewMORE years as an actress;finally returning to these dusky islas to pursue my meanderings as a vocalist...early collaborations include; Simon Raymonde(Cocteau Twins) and Moby,Badmarsh shri;subsequently cementing a 5 year work ethic with maverick Sawhney; co writing and performing on his last 5 albums.. .My solo project 2+2=april. (This project;a collection of songs and accompanying film; is a culmination of all my experiences as a performer ;influenced by the different enviroments/cultures i have lived..languages/weather. smells,sounds, background tv noise from the neighbours on a broody summer evening in the citysummer;shouty random snippets of dialogue,arguemnts;laughter and tears; everyones life on display for all to hear;spanish/Brazilian..places I spent my late adolescence and early adult years..Then the sudden need; after spending most of my life in the sun; to return blighty-bound..to this strange self-absorbed little island; where strangers rarely exchange a warm glance, where conversations take place behind closed doors;where extraordinary random opposites collide and often uncanny miracles occur;and often cynical bitterness thrives..my love and hatred of the blightly isla; shall ne'er be resolved..returning to Rio in 2003 to record my songs with maestro string arranger Roger Henri(check out his arrangements on Nitin Sawhneys Prophecy album 2000)this was a very special time...to hear my songs come to life as the 17 piece orchestra lifted the melodies into a wonderland i could'nt have dreamed of.. filming on location around Rio with Shona and julio(from city of god film scool Nos Do Cinema)completed the experience..Discovering Iceland was like discovering a new chocolate that does'nt make you fat or sick..!! ?Valgeir Sigurdsson; is the most affable person I have ever collaborated with in a studio; and oh my holy Madre; whata studio.. designed by his brother; you feel you are out in the country, even after 10 hours locked inside..Its true what everyone says.. visiting icelands landscape is like another planet.. its an ancient fairytale; a place of no night summers,and hardrinking women who will whisk your boyfriend away from you, with the swiftness of a vodka shot..and still leave you feeling charmed..!the fairies and melting glaciers..endlessly...so many brilliant people have assisted me on this project; I could'nt have done any of it without their support ( you know who you are x)So.. this rather big labour of love that has become 2+2=april..has financially pinched my pockets..but has to be worth every penny and smile and thrill and tear and heartbreak ..loss and gain..my soul remains.. in tact..I wanted it so much.. that i forgot to enjoy the journey..so heres a phrase to keep by your side;;; DON'T FORGET TO ENJOY THE RIDE