Vivek Shraya
Encyclopedia
Vivek Shraya is a Canadian singer songwriter and short story
writer. He currently lives in Toronto
.
Shraya began writing songs at the age of 13, went on to perform and have success at various talent competitions (including winning the 2001 Futuresfest competition and finalist at 2002 Northern Alberta Singer/Songwriter Competition) until recording his debut alternative pop rock record THROAT in 2002 featuring instrumentation by Jann Arden
’s chief collaborator, Russell Broom. Three songs from THROAT were remixed by John Wozniak
from Marcy Playground
and were included on the independent release of the THROAT EP in 2003. During this time, a quietly intense, single voice and single guitar project entitled Samsara: The Sketches was also recorded and released.
Shraya moved to Toronto in 2003, playing at local venues and music festivals including Canadian Music Week
and NXNE and released A Composite of Straight Lines, a six-track EP featuring a guest performance by Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara
. It was named the #5 record of 2005 by Soul Shine Magazine, and its single, Logic Vs., was the winner of We Are Listening's 2005 International Singer/Songwriter Awards.
In 2007, Shraya changed direction entirely, releasing an electropop record entitled If We’re Not Talking, featuring Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara
and produced by Meghan Toohey
, which was reviewed and showcased positively on numerous music blogs with comparisons to Prince
, Of Montreal
and Justin Timberlake
. This was shortly followed by the release of an electro dance cover of The White Stripes
' "Seven Nation Army
" as a free download on MySpace and Shraya's website.
Shraya has toured across North America, sharing the stage with Tegan and Sara
, Dragonette
, Melanie C, Team Dresch
, Melissa Ferrick
, Brian Byrne
and Greg MacPherson
. He released his follow up to If We're Not Talking in the fall of 2009, entitled Keys & Machines.
In 2010, Shraya released the short story collection God Loves Hair. He identifies as queer
, and the collection explores gender politics, queer theory, religion and regionalism.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer. He currently lives in 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...
.
Shraya began writing songs at the age of 13, went on to perform and have success at various talent competitions (including winning the 2001 Futuresfest competition and finalist at 2002 Northern Alberta Singer/Songwriter Competition) until recording his debut alternative pop rock record THROAT in 2002 featuring instrumentation by Jann Arden
Jann Arden
Jann Arden is a Canadian singer-songwriter.-Life and career:Arden was born and raised near Calgary in Springbank, Alberta and attended Springbank Community High School. Her breakthrough came with her critically acclaimed 1993 debut album Time for Mercy and her first single "I Would Die For You"...
’s chief collaborator, Russell Broom. Three songs from THROAT were remixed by John Wozniak
John Wozniak
John Keith Wozniak is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band Marcy Playground. He is the son of a developmental psychologist dad and a free spirited Bohemian mother....
from Marcy Playground
Marcy Playground
Marcy Playground is an American alternative rock band consisting of three members: John Wozniak , Dylan Keefe , and Shlomi Lavie . The band is best known for their 1997 hit "Sex and Candy".-Early years:...
and were included on the independent release of the THROAT EP in 2003. During this time, a quietly intense, single voice and single guitar project entitled Samsara: The Sketches was also recorded and released.
Shraya moved to Toronto in 2003, playing at local venues and music festivals including Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is an industry conference and music festival held over four days in various venues throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
and NXNE and released A Composite of Straight Lines, a six-track EP featuring a guest performance by Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
. It was named the #5 record of 2005 by Soul Shine Magazine, and its single, Logic Vs., was the winner of We Are Listening's 2005 International Singer/Songwriter Awards.
In 2007, Shraya changed direction entirely, releasing an electropop record entitled If We’re Not Talking, featuring Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
and produced by Meghan Toohey
Meghan Toohey
Meghan Toohey is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, producer and performer from Massachusetts who resides in Los Angeles. She is currently recording the debut album for her new musical project The Cold and Lovely.-Education:...
, which was reviewed and showcased positively on numerous music blogs with comparisons to Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, Of Montreal
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
. This was shortly followed by the release of an electro dance cover of The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
' "Seven Nation Army
Seven Nation Army
"Seven Nation Army" is the first track on the album Elephant by American alternative rock band The White Stripes. It was released as a single in 2003. "Seven Nation Army" reached #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks for three weeks and won 2004's Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The song is known for its...
" as a free download on MySpace and Shraya's website.
Shraya has toured across North America, sharing the stage with Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
, Dragonette
Dragonette
Dragonette is a Canadian electropop group active since 2005. Dragonette consists of singer-songwriter Martina Sorbara, bassist and producer Dan Kurtz and drummer Joel Stouffer....
, Melanie C, Team Dresch
Team Dresch
Team Dresch is an American punk band from Portland, Oregon, originally formed in Olympia, Washington, which was initially active from 1993 until 1998. The band made a significant impression on the do-it-yourself movement queercore, which gave voice through zines and music to the passions and...
, Melissa Ferrick
Melissa Ferrick
-Early life:Ferrick was raised in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Herfather John was a well-liked public school teacher who managed several free-jazz bands on the side. As a child, Ferrick would often accompany her father to clubs on Boston's North Shore to watch the bands play. She began taking...
, Brian Byrne
Brian Byrne
Brian Byrne is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, best recognized as the second vocalist for I Mother Earth.-Biography:...
and Greg MacPherson
Greg MacPherson
Greg MacPherson is a Canadian singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. MacPherson performs both as a solo performer and as part of a band...
. He released his follow up to If We're Not Talking in the fall of 2009, entitled Keys & Machines.
In 2010, Shraya released the short story collection God Loves Hair. He identifies as queer
Queer
Queer is an umbrella term for sexual minorities that are not heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary. In the context of Western identity politics the term also acts as a label setting queer-identifying people apart from discourse, ideologies, and lifestyles that typify mainstream LGBT ...
, and the collection explores gender politics, queer theory, religion and regionalism.
Discography
- Samsara: The Sketches (2002)
- THROAT EP (2003)
- A Composite of Straight Lines (2005)
- If We're Not Talking (2007)
- If We're Not Talking Single (2008)
- Keys & Machines (2009)