He who sings thinks no evil.
Influence:
Funk, Motown, New Wave, Punk, Techno, Jazz, Classical, Rock, Hip-Hop, Communism, Existentialism, Realism, Materialism...
Reference:
Garbage, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Kills, The Ting Tings, U2, Radiohead, Portishead, PJ Harvey, Hooverphonic, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Teddybears, Sonic Youth, Sneaker Pimps, Doves, LCD Soundsystem, The Killers, Ladytron, Kasabian, Goldfrapp, Brazilian Girls, The Chemical Brothers, Gorillaz, Chicks On Speed...
Description:
CHIWAWA's music can be labeled as alternative/pop/rock. The musicians' wide musical background however, constantly drives Chiwawa into prolific, rich and seductive territories. The infectious grooves and luscious melodies, topped by Laurie’s unforgettable, five octave range voice, define Chiwawa’s unmistakable sound.
Some call it post modern post punk electro-acoustic hybrid. Others call it simply Rock or Pop.
In studio, CHIWAWA plays vocals, bass, guitars, synths, drums and percussion. They can be experimental at times in their songwriting, but always have an ear for a good catchy pop tune.
On stage, CHIWAWA electrifies as a duo as well as a full 4-5 piece band.
Players:
Laurie Gordon - vocals, keyboards
Krassy Halatchev - bass, vocals, percussion, guitar, programming
Christina Dupre - guitar, vocals
About:
CHIWAWA is a pop-rock electronic duo with Laurie Gordon (vox, keys, gits, bass, toys), the daughter of Hungarian immigrants, and Krassy Halatchev (bass, gits. drums, knobs), born and raised in Communist Bulgaria.
In studio, CHIWAWA's approach in songwriting is a process with the objective of creating a good tune! The band's forte is heavy grooves and visceral melodies.
On stage, CHIWAWA electrifies as two and sometimes multiply into four or more bodies dabbling with instruments, computers and electronic knobs, topped with a solo violin or trumpet...
Laurie met Krassy in 1991 when she answered a classified ad which read: "International Band Seeks Female Vocalist." What "International" really meant was four young Bulgarian immigrant musicians defecting Communist Bulgaria in a band called Ping-Pong. With Laurie they became Short Confession.
Within three months of their meeting, Krassy was being deported and Laurie had "no choice" but to save the band. What started out as a "greencard marriage" blossomed from desperate measures into true love; Laurie and Krassy settled into the Bohemian culture of Montreal, Canada.
in 1994 Laurie started her own band CHIWAWA with Luc St. Pierre (keyboards, programming). For a TV gig, Krassy now playing in The Clouds (former Ping Pong), filled in as a drummer for CHIWAWA. A couple of years later he became a permanent member (bass, programming). Soon after Eric Willis (guitars) also joined the band. CHIWAWA's debut album, "The Sick World Of Yona", was released in 1998; produced by Steve Whitfield (The Cure, The Mission.) and became a hit with the critics. Despite a diagnosis with early breast cancer a week before the debut release, Laurie continued to perform and front CHIWAWA, writing songs and releasing Chimeres (2002) and Bright (2005).
Laurie came through louder and bolder then ever and made a full recovery.
CHIWAWA continued to write songs (not all released) with different songwriters and musicians including Camelle Hinds (Paul Weller) Russ Broom (Jann Arden) and UK garage king Mikey Benn.
CHIWAWA also worked with the late Oscar nominated animator Ryan Larkin on his final animation film Spare Change, which Laurie directed on Ryan's behalf after his death in 2007. Ryan was considered "the Frank Zappa of animation."
Laurie's company MusiVision and The National Film Board of Canada are the producers of "Spare Change", which is based on Ryan's experience as a panhandler begging for spare change on the streets of Montreal. Ryan moved in with CHIWAWA in the last years of his life and came back to his art. A feature documentary film of how Ryan Larkin and CHIWAWA became friends, and together performed a small miracle, will air on CTV Television early 2011.
Delicious CHIWAWA's music is featured in both films.
CHIWAWA's new album "Watermark" will be out in September, 2010.
Two new singles were released on July 15, 2010 ("Runaway Train" and "Don't Twist My Mind").
Currently CHIWAWA is scoring the soundtrack for academy award winner Co Hoedeman's new animation film "55 Socks". The band is also preparing to comence work on a brand new feature film by a 3-time Oscar nominee Gerald Potterton.
Discography:
Watermark - LP/Album - 2010 - SRC
Songs For The Cure - Compilation - 2010 - CancerDrive.org
Music To Game By - Compilation - 2009 - SonicBids
Bus Stop Chinese Buffet - LP/Album - 2009 - SRC
Spare Change - Soundtrack - 2008 - SRC/MusiVision/NFB
Always About You - Remixes - 2007 - SRC
God's Children - SP - 2006 - SRC
Bright - LP/Album - 2005 - SRC
Somebody To Love - Remix - 2004 - SRC
Love's Got Heart - SP - 2004 - SRC
Trinity UK - Compilation - 2003 - Darkcell
B-Bits (Vol. 1) - B-Sides - 2003 - SRC
Chimeres - LP/Album - 2002 - SRC
Utah - SP - 2001 - SRC
Never Feed The Alligators - SP - 2000 - SRC
Dream Sequence - Remix - 1999 - SRC
The Sick World Of Yona - LP/Album - 1998 - SRC
CHOM L'Esprit - Compilation - 1997 - Universal
The new album:
"Watermark" is Chiwawa's 6th full-length album. The disc includes the singles Calma, Calma and Don't Twist My Mind. It is scheduled for release on September 15th, 2010. Exclusive preview of the album will be available here, MySpace, FaceBook, BandCamp and ReverbNation starting August 15th.
Spare Change - A Small Miracle:
Laurie co-directed Spare Change posthumously on Ryan's behalf after his death on Valentine's Day in 2007. Ryan was considered "the Frank Zappa of animation."
The National Film Board of Canada and Laurie's company MusiVision are the producers of "Spare Change", a short animation film based on Ryan's experience as a panhandler begging for spare change on the streets of Montreal. Ryan was depicted in the short animation film "Ryan" which won an Oscar in 2005. Ryan moved in with CHIWAWA in the last years of his life and came back to his art. A feature documentary film of how Ryan Larkin and CHIWAWA became friends, and together performed a small miracle, will air on CTV Television in early 2011.
Delicious CHIWAWA music is featured in both films.
