Overtone Music Network

a common space for harmonic overtones

kiva
  • Female
  • Prague
  • Czech Republic
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kiva

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Biography

Kiva is a Canadian overtone singer/ keyboardist (now based in Prague) with international recognition as a western pioneer, combining overtone singing with world beat/jazz/pop music. She is frequently called upon for live and recorded vocal improvisation with other artists. These include Tanya Tagaq, Lisa Walker (improvisation with whale song), The Yellow Sisters, New Millennium Orchestra, Olla Vogala Orchestra, The Ormidales, Live Ullmann, Ring Cycle Orchestra, Strange Angels, Vladiswar Nadishana, and Wimme. She is a tenor member of the European Overtone Choir, Spektrum overtone choir and the International Choir of Prague. She also composes music for overtone choirs.

Her diversified career, starting around 1978, began with a solid basis of classical and jazz piano training. The early professional years included stints in several rock, pop and R & B bands. Later on, she performed extensively as a solo act, including a jazz circuit in Japan. As a writer, she cites influences from a wide variety of artists: Jane Siberry, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Ferron, Sting, Yma Sumac, Claude Debussy, Bobby McFerrin, Bulgarian women’s choirs, East Indian classical, and Tuvan singers.

Ongoing attention for her innovations in harmonic overtone singing has led to some unusual performance situations. International appearances have included: guest vocalist with orchestra »Olla Vogala« in Brugge, Belgium (2002), main stage artist at KIEKU throat singing festival in Helsinki, Finland and Nordic House in Reykjavik, Iceland (’01), and only foreign female artist at the International Symposium of Throat Singing in the Republic of Tuva, Russia (1995). In May /08 she performed at the International Polyphonic Festival of Albania (in ancient ruins with her laptop). She was also world tour member with the Crash Test Dummies at the height of their fame, in support of »God Shuffled His Feet« in 1994-1995, where she demonstrated overtoning at each concert. Venues included the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, and appearances on Saturday Night Live and David Letterman in New York City.

Her debut »The Ladder« (1998) has dreamy, metaphorically rich offerings and elements of jazz, pop, impressionism and worldbeat. Cultural influences such as Tuvan, East Indian, Celtic, Balinese and Japanese are apparent. Roughly half the tracks on »The Ladder« contain some form of this technique. Lyrically, it’s an expression of her personal, theoretical and global ponderings, full of lush imagery and wordplay.

This all comes together with hair raising harmonies and highly melodic vocals that are simultaneously sweet, powerful, innocent and exotic.;

Kiva continues to stretch musical boundaries with the release of »Pulse«. It falls into the category of 'otherworldly worldbeat'. She creates layers of textural vocals with mostly imaginary language (»vocables«), sometimes imitating instruments, combining this with rhythms from several different cultures. Latin, African, East Indian, Caribbean, and even a little Klezmer, are influences that appear in »Pulse«.

The uplifting results are unique hybrids that meld East and »new« West. From »The Ladder«, »Pulse« and beyond, all her work documents an unorthodox history of study, performance, world travel and experimentation.

Profile Information

Instruments:
keyboards, voice
Influences:
Bobby McFerrin, Issa, Lisa Gerrard, Huun-Huur-Tuu, Sheila Chandra, Yma Sumac, Tanya Tagaq, Kevin Breit, Imogen Heap, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Steely Dan, Bjork, Sun Ra, Bulgarian choirs, East Indian Classical, Cuban ...
Homepage:
http://harmonicovertones.com
2nd Website:
http://www.myspace.com/kivamusic

Kiva's Blog

kiva

Contemporary overtone choir music & telematic real-time internet concert for peace (Nov 20)

As a composer of overtone choir music, I am looking for this type of choir with at least a few capable polyphonic singers who understand the numbered notation system. I have several pieces available that do not fall into the category of ethereal, new age or meditative music. There are a lot of quick paced rhythmic passages in many cases.
For some of these, even if there are no overtone singers in the choir, the overtone parts may be replicated by having the harmonics sung in regular singing voic… Continue

Posted on October 28, 2009 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

kiva

New workshop series and choir

Kiva has been signed with the Prague Overtone Festival organization to teach a series of workshops throughout 2009 titled 'Vocal Freedom through Overtone Mastery'. The opening event took place on Feb 13-14 with showcase concerts and lectures. 2009 marks the first year that year-round activities will take place in the form of intensive workshop weekends. She will also be forming her own overtone choir with original compositions and experimental works. There will be approximately 14 rehearsals, wi… Continue

Posted on February 21, 2009 at 10:30am —

kiva

Kiva's new website

Kiva is pleased to announce that her newly designed website is now online.

Please visit :
www.kivaweb.com

Your remarks are always appreciated!

Posted on November 26, 2008 at 10:55am — 1 Comment

kiva

Overtone arrangements offered

I am offering my services creating vocal overtone arrangements for your songs (or somebody else's!). The notation is written both with the upper melody in standard notation and with the numbered harmonics above the bass line. The arrangement will be as close as possible to the original, given the restrictions of the harmonic series. (Certain small alternatives for fundamental/bass pitches may be required). It is singable by an experienced polyphonic overtone singer. If desired, a demo mp3 may be… Continue

Posted on November 26, 2008 at 10:52am —

Latest Highlights

A song by kiva was featured
 play Sedna - Kiva
unreleased
02:30
on Friday
Back from Munich, Monochord workshop Friday, preparing for Berlin Concert Nov 17.
on Friday
An event by kiva was featured
Kiva (solo concert) at Dodohaus, Berlin- Moabit
November 17, 2009 from 8pm to 10pm
Kiva performs solo with keyboards/ vocals, specializing in overtone singing with world beat/ jazz/ pop/experimental originals.
on Thursday
Mario Molle left a comment for 'kiva'
November 2
A video by kiva was featured
November 2
Paul Terrell is now in contact with kiva
October 30
October 30
wolfman left a comment for 'kiva'
October 30

Comment Wall (56 comments)

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At 4:43pm on November 2, 2009, Mario Molle said…
Hi Kiva!
All pitches/ keys will be probably possible on Tabla. That day I´m on work, don´t know when it´s finish, but I´ll ask Rainer from Dodo-house when you´re about to come.
Best greetings, Mario
At 3:10pm on October 30, 2009, Mirkaledo Dreeston said…
hi kiva,
thank you for the hint .. I spread the word. Don't know yet whether I'll manage to come. I'll try. See you hopefully at the Dodo.
Robert
At 2:20pm on October 30, 2009, wolfman said…


dear kiva,

thank you for your nice comment. i am glad, that you like my work. let stay in contact.

best wishes

wolfman
At 7:32pm on October 20, 2009, Daniel Pircher said…
ola Kiva I'm looking forward to meet you at the 17th and I really enjoy
your music it's beautiful.

All the best from berlin
At 6:11pm on October 20, 2009, Mario Molle said…
Hi Kiva!
Thanks for your comment. I could come to Dodo House on Nov. 17th.
I know Dodo House & Rainer a little. It would be good if we can meet before, my phone Nr. is +49 (0)151-18136887. I have some different pitches of Tabla, maybe choose two.
Wish the best, greetings Mario
At 5:03pm on October 20, 2009, Anna said…
do`nt find it at their wedside (Dodohaus)

At 12:43pm on September 22, 2009, Sarah Hopkins said…
Hi Kiva,
Lovely to hear from you ! I visited your website a year ago .....& it was great to look over your updated website yesterday. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your music soon.
Now that you're living in Prague I guess that you know Filip Rydlo ? He recently sent me a video link of a rehearsal of my choir piece 'Past Life Melodies' which includes overtone singing .... Did you happen to hear it ?
Have you written & recorded any pieces for choir which include overtone singing ? I'm looking forward to hearing much more overtone singing in many different genres now that I've joined the OMN !!
Have a great day !
Sonic Blessings, Sarah
At 8:21pm on September 18, 2009, wolfsheart said…
nice tunes, listen to my radio shows on Native Indian Music Channel
24 hours, 7 days a week non stop.
www.woodroot-radio.eu
Best wishes from Vienna
Wolfsheart
At 7:12pm on April 22, 2009, Barbara Lübben said…
one by one is still their in the air... Thank you! I hope to sing more of this next year :-)))
Barbara
At 2:01pm on February 26, 2009, Arjopa said…
Shagaa Bile dear Kiva!!

We wish you a happy, healthy, fruit- & successful New Year of the Earth Cow!!
May all your wishes & plans come true in this year of butter & cream!!

Shagaa Bile!!

Khoomei Throatsinging Country Punk Greetings from Berlin!!

Arjopa & The Master U-like

 
 
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