Kirby Ian Andersen
Encyclopedia
K.I.A. is a cross-genre pop electronica
producer from Toronto, Canada. Like much of the Toronto
and Montreal
music scenes, Kirby Ian Andersen, the writer and producer of the songs, involves many people in his recordings—six or seven different vocalists (from rappers to opera singers) on each release. However, unlike the usual post-rock
sound (with artists such as Broken Social Scene
and Arcade Fire) for which those cities are known, his music is a mix of downtempo
(chillout) and uptempo (dance), and has a hybrid style similar to artists like the Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack
, Thievery Corporation
, and the Buddha Bar series'. The contributors are from mixed and intermixed cultures, a reflection on the international population of Toronto.
K.I.A. also records under the name Shinjuku zulu. (Shinjuku is one of the downtowns of Tokyo
--the visual inspiration for the sci-fi movie Blade Runner
); the Zulu are an African tribe...and so that moniker reflects the producer's interest in mixing not only genres, but in combining elements from the past and from the future. This stems from the experiences of living in Tokyo, L.A. and Toronto—and traveling throughout the world—into music that he describes as "Somewhere between Grandmaster Flash
, Philip Glass
and Johnny Cash
".
K.I.A. comes from a visual-arts background, creating large remixable paintings and sculptures http://web.mac.com/neuphoria/K.I.A._-_Art that, like the music, have technological and tribal themes, and his art shows have been reviewed in such publications as the Toronto Star and Lola. This 'fine art' background leads to having many idea-based songs, ala Boards of Canada
and Aphex Twin
. Some examples of this are "Mrs. Major Tom", in which the story from David Bowie
's tracks "Space Oddity" and "Ashes to Ashes" is continued, but now told from the perspective of the wife left at home; "Box the Gnat", a country music/collage which can only be described as Timbaland
meets Loretta Lynn
; "Large Slow River" which samples Venice Bienalle award-winning artist Janet Cardiff; "Rise Up" which pairs a choirboy with dub reggae, and "Shanghai Masai" which is probably the first song to ever include the phrase "xenophile wildstyle". Some tracks have strong pop influences, and some songs have appeared in American television programmes "America's Next Top Model", "Felicity", "Queer as Folk" and "The Real World".
The music is released on Neuphoria Recordings. All songs can be heard on iTunes. The music has received four-star reviews in the Globe & Mail, Montreal Gazette, The Herald, and the Toronto Star.
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
producer from Toronto, Canada. Like much of the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
music scenes, Kirby Ian Andersen, the writer and producer of the songs, involves many people in his recordings—six or seven different vocalists (from rappers to opera singers) on each release. However, unlike the usual post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
sound (with artists such as Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
and Arcade Fire) for which those cities are known, his music is a mix of downtempo
Downtempo
Downtempo is a laid-back electronic music style similar to ambient music, but usually with a beat or groove unlike the beatless forms of Ambient music. The beat is sometimes made from loops that have a hypnotic feeling...
(chillout) and uptempo (dance), and has a hybrid style similar to artists like the Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation is a Washington, D.C. based recording artist and DJ duo consisting of Rob Garza, Eric Hilton, and their supporting artists, including current drummer Jeff Franca...
, and the Buddha Bar series'. The contributors are from mixed and intermixed cultures, a reflection on the international population of Toronto.
K.I.A. also records under the name Shinjuku zulu. (Shinjuku is one of the downtowns of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
--the visual inspiration for the sci-fi movie Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
); the Zulu are an African tribe...and so that moniker reflects the producer's interest in mixing not only genres, but in combining elements from the past and from the future. This stems from the experiences of living in Tokyo, L.A. and Toronto—and traveling throughout the world—into music that he describes as "Somewhere between Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
, Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
".
K.I.A. comes from a visual-arts background, creating large remixable paintings and sculptures http://web.mac.com/neuphoria/K.I.A._-_Art that, like the music, have technological and tribal themes, and his art shows have been reviewed in such publications as the Toronto Star and Lola. This 'fine art' background leads to having many idea-based songs, ala Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin...
and Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
. Some examples of this are "Mrs. Major Tom", in which the story from David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's tracks "Space Oddity" and "Ashes to Ashes" is continued, but now told from the perspective of the wife left at home; "Box the Gnat", a country music/collage which can only be described as Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
meets Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
; "Large Slow River" which samples Venice Bienalle award-winning artist Janet Cardiff; "Rise Up" which pairs a choirboy with dub reggae, and "Shanghai Masai" which is probably the first song to ever include the phrase "xenophile wildstyle". Some tracks have strong pop influences, and some songs have appeared in American television programmes "America's Next Top Model", "Felicity", "Queer as Folk" and "The Real World".
The music is released on Neuphoria Recordings. All songs can be heard on iTunes. The music has received four-star reviews in the Globe & Mail, Montreal Gazette, The Herald, and the Toronto Star.
K.I.A. & Shinjuku Zulu
- F-1 Papillons - 'Best Of' K.I.A. & Shinjuku Zulu (2009) (includes singles "Baby U Got" and "Make Me Shake"
- DXLR8 - Downtempo 'Best Of' K.I.A. & Shinjuku ZuluDXLR8 - Downtempo 'Best Of' K.I.A. & Shinjuku ZuluDXLR8 - Downtempo Best-of K.I.A. and Shinjuku Zulu is a 2008 album, compiling the best chillout tracks by electronica artist Kirby Ian Andersen, known variously as Shinjuku Zulu and K.I.A.. The 13 tracks are taken from the previous two releases by Shinjuku Zulu and the two releases by K.I.A...
(2008) (includes singles "Allelujah" (K.I.A.), "Coal Coal Black" (Shinjuku Zulu) )
K.I.A.
- Sonorous SusurrusSonorous SusurrusSonorous Susurrus is a double CD 22-track recording by K.I.A., released on the Canadian electronic music label Neuphoria Recordings in 2004. This artist also has released a 14-track recording entitled Adieu Shinjuku Zulu. K.I.A. also records as Shinjuku Zulu, and has released a 19-track recording...
(2004) (includes single "Nevermine") - Adieu Shinjuku ZuluAdieu Shinjuku ZuluAdieu Shinjuku Zulu is a CD by electronic music artist K.I.A., released on Neuphoria Recordings, a record label located in Toronto, Canada, in 2003...
(2003) (includes single "Mrs. Major Tom")
Shinjuku Zulu
- Kiss the Honey, HoneyKiss the Honey, HoneyKiss the Honey, Honey is an album by electronica artist Kirby Ian Andersen, also known as Shinjuku Zulu and K.I.A., released in 2007. The album is available from Neuphoria Recordings, an electronic label from Toronto, Canada....
(2007) (includes singles "SXYLV", "Kiss the Honey, Honey") - Various ChimerasVarious ChimerasVarious Chimeras is a 2006 album by electronica artist Shinjuku Zulu on Neuphoria Recordings. This artist also has released the recordings Sonorous Susurrus and Adieu Shinjuku Zulu under the name K.I.A.-Track listing:# "Tombouctou, Adieu!"...
(2006) (includes singles "Scarborough Fair (A True Dub of Mine", "Make Me Shake (Gimme Some Crush)") - Shinjuku ZuluShinjuku ZuluShinjuku Zulu is an album by electronica artist Shinjuku Zulu aka Kirby Ian Andersen, released in 2000. The album is available from Neuphoria Recordings, an electronic label from Toronto, Canada. See also the releases F-1 Papillons - 'Best Of' K.I.A. & Shinjuku Zulu, DXLR8 - Downtempo 'Best Of' K.I.A...
(2000) (includes single "That Groove")