New CD from K.I.A. Features Genetically Modified Songs

The latest release from mad sonic scientist K.I.A. contains songs that are half math, half human: futuristic dance and ambient electronic soundscapes mixed with warm reggae, blues, folk, choral, pop and tribal elements. The new work, K.I.A.'s third, is a double-CD entitled 'Sonorous...Susurrus', and it continues his explorations in 'eclectronica'.

Toronto, ON., December 11, 2003--Mad sonic scientist K.I.A. has just released a double-CD of Frankensongs entitled 'Sonorous...Susurrus'. Nearly all the songs are genetically modified hybrids mixing electronica with dub reggae, choral music, the blues, folk or world elements. 'Sonorous' is comprised of uptempo and danceable electronica, while 'Susurrus' is downtempo chill-out. K.I.A. uses vocalists from Jamaica, Africa, Europe and North America, and they range in age from 13 to 73 years old. Ideas abound across both discs: the song 'Rise Up' mixes a children's choir soprano with languid dub reggae, while 'Freedom' splices work-song vocals with a rhythm created from breakbeats, marching drums and soft-shoe sounds. For 'Large Slow River' he sampled a work from Venice Biennale award-winning audio artist Janet Cardiff, and 'Music is My DNA' moves smoothly from Eastern bloc ska to Indian funk to Latin dub all within four minutes.

This eclecticism perhaps stems from K.I.A.'s background; in addition to being a visual artist (he makes massive, remixable paintings) he has lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Tokyo. (His first release, in fact, was recorded under the name Shinjuku Zulu. Shinjuku is one of the downtowns of Tokyo, and was the inspiration for Bladerunner's city scenes.) Whatever the inspiration, in these times of iPod playlisting and personalized mix CDs, his music perfectly captures our era's hybridization of sounds, cultures and ideas. Every song is a highly compressed combination of information and emotion.

"It's most important though for me to engage people on a feeling level," K.I.A. says. "If you can make someone think, you might have them for two listens, but if you can make them cry or feel euphoric, you'll have them for twenty, So 'Sleep', which has this Billy Holidayesque vocalist singing around handclaps and minimalistic sounds, or 'Hummingbird', which is practically acapella, are very heart-based. I love the human voice, which is why I have so many different types of vocalists. Plus I sound like crashing glass when I sing, so I have to use other vocalists."

K.I.A.'s eclectic mix certainly has an audience; his releases have received four-star reviews in major papers (Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, The Herald, etc.) and his tracks can be heard on major networks such as CBS and MTV, in programs like Queer as Folk, Designer Guys, and Felicity.

'Sonorous...Susurrus' by K.I.A. is available now from Neuphoria Recordings.

Individual tracks are available for 99¢ via iTunes, Napster, other online retailers.

Neuphoria Recordings has two other releases by this artist:
'Adieu Shinjuku Zulu' (2002)
'Shinjuku Zulu'* (2000) *released under the recording name Shinjuku Zulu

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For more information, hard-copy press kits, review copies, interview/review requests, etc (including high color, high-resolution .tiff images of K.I.A. in front of one of his huge remixable paintings,) please contact:

Neuphoria Recordings
t. (416)504-8286
http://www.nu4ya.com