Via Tania
Encyclopedia
Via Tania is an Australian-born, Chicago-based musician named Tania Bowers. Tania originally started performing in Sydney during the 1990s with her sister Kim Bowers in noise outfit named Spdfgh
.
After relocating to Chicago at the end of the 1990s, Tania set about piecing together an album as Via Tania, with producer Casey Rice and various Chicago musical luminaries. Her first release "Dream Of" was through seminal Chicago record label Chocolate Industries in 2002. This was followed by a 12" vinyl release (also through Chocolate Industries) of "Lightning and Thunder" which was backed with a cover of New Order
's "Temptation".
In 2003, Tania released her critically acclaimed full-length album "Under A Different Sky". The album featured artists like Prefuse 73, Casey Rice, Tortoise
, Howe Gelb
and Tim Kinsella
. Pitchfork gave the album a glowing review and decreed "Via Tania will be a major contender". The album received coverage in CMJ
and Venus Zine, and Tania was featured on the cover of Anthem Magazine. Tania played shows with artists such as Tortoise
, Junior Boys
, Lisa Germano
, and My Brightest Diamond
.
When returning to Australia, Tania met Texan producer Craig Ross, who has worked with many artists including Emmylou Harris
, Daniel Johnston
, Patty Griffin
and Spoon
and followed Craig to Austin to work on her new album "Moon Sweet Moon". While she was there she also performed at the SXSW Music Festival in 2007.
"Moon Sweet Moon" was first released in 2007 by Australia record label Love & Mercy. The album was also released in Japan through Easel Recordings in the same year. The Japanese version featured an exclusive track, "Do You Believe". "Moon Sweet Moon" features contributions from an array of skilled players including members of Tortoise
, Lara Meyerratken
(El May & Ben Lee’s band), Shearwater
and Melbourne’s Ground Components.
In Australia the album received great acclaim from community radio and was an "album of the week" at FBI, 2SER and 4ZZZ. Two singles were released off the album in Australia: "Our Wild Flight" (2007), which featured remixes by Mountains in The Sky; and "Become Forest" (2008), which featured remixes by Grafton Primary and J Nitti. Tania carried out two national Australian tours, one touring with Clare Bowditch
in late 2007 and also the Laneways Festival in early 2008.
In 2009 Tania signed in the United States to New York/Paris based label The Hours in 2009, when she was subsequently released in the United States in October. The U.S. version of "Moon Sweet Moon" featured new artwork, a new track list and a new track called "Fields". The first single off "Moon Sweet Moon", "Wonder Stranger," was remixed by influential Warp
artist Plaid
.
Tania will be playing SXSW in 2010, and will be releasing the second single "Fields" in early 2010.
Spdfgh
Spdfgh were an all-female rock band from Sydney, Australia in the 1990s. The founding members were* Kim Bowers * Liz Payne...
.
After relocating to Chicago at the end of the 1990s, Tania set about piecing together an album as Via Tania, with producer Casey Rice and various Chicago musical luminaries. Her first release "Dream Of" was through seminal Chicago record label Chocolate Industries in 2002. This was followed by a 12" vinyl release (also through Chocolate Industries) of "Lightning and Thunder" which was backed with a cover of New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
's "Temptation".
In 2003, Tania released her critically acclaimed full-length album "Under A Different Sky". The album featured artists like Prefuse 73, Casey Rice, Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
, Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.-Projects:Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of side projects...
and Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella is a musician from Chicago, Illinois. He has been a part of many bands including Cap'n Jazz, The Sky Corvair, Joan of Arc, Owls, Friend/Enemy, Everyoned, and Make Believe...
. Pitchfork gave the album a glowing review and decreed "Via Tania will be a major contender". The album received coverage in CMJ
CMJ Music Marathon
CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival is put on by CMJ Network. CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2010 is scheduled for October 19–23 and will be headquartered at New York University and other downtown NYC venues.- History :...
and Venus Zine, and Tania was featured on the cover of Anthem Magazine. Tania played shows with artists such as Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
, Junior Boys
Junior Boys
-History:Junior Boys formed in 1999 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as a duo of Jeremy Greenspan and Johnny Dark. Years of collaboration followed and a demo was produced, but after many rejections and near-misses, they were resigned to being bedroom beat constructors. Soon after, Johnny Dark left the...
, Lisa Germano
Lisa Germano
Lisa Germano is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released seven albums featuring her often-hushed vocal style, confessional lyrics, and distinctive violin. Her 1994 album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim, including being featured as a top album of...
, and My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond is the project of singer–songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shara Worden. The band has released two studio albums, 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse and 2008's A Thousand Shark's Teeth, along with a remix album Tear It Down and a download-only release through iTunes...
.
When returning to Australia, Tania met Texan producer Craig Ross, who has worked with many artists including Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin, born Patricia Jean Griffin, March 16, 1964, is an American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. She is especially known for her down-home crafting of songs and her connection to musicians including Emmylou Harris, Ellis Paul, and the Dixie Chicks, who have played with...
and Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
and followed Craig to Austin to work on her new album "Moon Sweet Moon". While she was there she also performed at the SXSW Music Festival in 2007.
"Moon Sweet Moon" was first released in 2007 by Australia record label Love & Mercy. The album was also released in Japan through Easel Recordings in the same year. The Japanese version featured an exclusive track, "Do You Believe". "Moon Sweet Moon" features contributions from an array of skilled players including members of Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
, Lara Meyerratken
Lara Meyerratken
Lara Meyerratken is an Australian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer who currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Lara is most commonly associated with her longtime collaborator Ben Lee.Meyerratken is a notable session musician and songwriter...
(El May & Ben Lee’s band), Shearwater
Shearwater (band)
Shearwater is an American indie rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 1999 by Okkervil River members Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff, although Sheff is no longer with Shearwater.-History:...
and Melbourne’s Ground Components.
In Australia the album received great acclaim from community radio and was an "album of the week" at FBI, 2SER and 4ZZZ. Two singles were released off the album in Australia: "Our Wild Flight" (2007), which featured remixes by Mountains in The Sky; and "Become Forest" (2008), which featured remixes by Grafton Primary and J Nitti. Tania carried out two national Australian tours, one touring with Clare Bowditch
Clare Bowditch
Clare Bowditch is an Australian musician from Melbourne, Victoria. She released her fourth album Modern Day Addiction via Island Records on 13 August 2010. It became both 3RRR Album of the Week and ABC Radio National's Album of the Week. MDA is the first of Bowditch's album's to enter the Top Ten...
in late 2007 and also the Laneways Festival in early 2008.
In 2009 Tania signed in the United States to New York/Paris based label The Hours in 2009, when she was subsequently released in the United States in October. The U.S. version of "Moon Sweet Moon" featured new artwork, a new track list and a new track called "Fields". The first single off "Moon Sweet Moon", "Wonder Stranger," was remixed by influential Warp
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
artist Plaid
Plaid (band)
Plaid is a London-based British electronic music duo comprising Andy Turner and Ed Handley. They are former members of The Black Dog and used many other names, such as Atypic and Balil , before settling on Plaid...
.
Tania will be playing SXSW in 2010, and will be releasing the second single "Fields" in early 2010.
Discography
- Dream Of...(CD EP - CHLT023) released 2002
- Lightning & Thunder (12" EP - CHLT036) released 2002
- Under A Different Sky (CD/LP Album - CHLT038) released 2003
- Boltanski (CD/12" EP - CHLT043) released 2003
- True (CD/12" EP - CHLT054) released 2005
- Our Wild Flight (Digital/Promo CD) released 2007
- Moon Sweet Moon (Digital/CD - BRIAR016) released 2007
- How Come (Promo CD) - released 2007
- Become Forest (Digital/Promo CD) released 2008
- Wonder Stranger (Digital) released 2009
- Moon Sweet Moon - US Version (Digital/CD) released 2009
- Fields (Digital) - released 2010