Vivek Shraya

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Vivek Shraya
Born February 15, 1981
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Electro, Dance, Rock
Labels Skinsongs
Website Official Website

Vivek Shraya (born February 15, 1981 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian singer songwriter, short story writer, and visual artist. She currently lives in Toronto.[1]

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)[2] until recording her 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[3] on the independent release of the THROAT EP in 2003. During this time, a quietly intense, single voice and single guitar project titled 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,[4] and its single, Logic Vs., was the winner of We Are Listening's 2005 International Singer/Songwriter Awards.[5]

In 2007, Shraya changed direction entirely, releasing an electropop record titled 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,[6] Of Montreal[7] and Justin Timberlake.[8] This was shortly followed by the release of an electro dance cover of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" as a free download[9] on MySpace and Shraya's website.

Shraya has toured across North America, sharing the stage with Tegan and Sara,[10] Dragonette, Melanie C, Team Dresch, Melissa Ferrick, Brian Byrne and Greg MacPherson. She released her follow up to If We're Not Talking in the fall of 2009, titled Keys & Machines.

In 2010, Shraya released the short story collection God Loves Hair.[11] She identifies as queer,[11] and the collection explores gender politics, queer theory, religion and regionalism. The book was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in the Children's/Young Adult category at the 2011 Lambda Literary Awards.

In 2013 she served alongside Amber Dawn and Anne Fleming on the jury of the Dayne Ogilvie Prize, a literary award for LGBT writers in Canada, selecting C. E. Gatchalian as that year's winner.[12] She was subsequently awarded an Honour of Distinction at the 2015 Dayne Ogilvie Prize.[13]

Her 2014 novel She of the Mountains was launched on a joint book tour with Raziel Reid, whose debut novel When Everything Feels Like the Movies was published around the same time.[14]

In 2016 Shraya released her debut poetry collection, even this page is white, which addresses everyday racism and colonialism in Canada.[15]

On February 15, 2016 Shraya announced via her Facebook account that she is now using the pronouns she and her.

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)

Books

  • God Loves Hair (2010)
  • She of the Mountains (2014)
  • even this page is white (2016)

References

  1. ↑ "8½ things to do this week". Edmonton Journal, October 18, 2007.
  2. ↑ Vivek Shraya presskit
  3. ↑ Vivek Shraya discography
  4. ↑ "A Reflection on Christmas, Music, and the Art of Thinking for Yourself". Soul Shine, December 22, 2005.
  5. ↑ We Are Listening
  6. ↑ "On Store Shelves: If We're Not Talking by Vivek Shraya". Torontoist, May 15, 2007.
  7. ↑ Now Magazine
  8. ↑ "Vivek Forever". i (heart) music, May 18, 2007.
  9. ↑ Arjan Writes
  10. ↑ "Vive Le Shraya". SEE Magazine, August 24, 2006.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Vivek Shraya launches his first collection of short stories". Xtra!, May 5, 2010.
  12. ↑ "C. E. Gatchalian wins Dayne Ogilvie Prize". National Post, June 27, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Alex Leslie wins 2015 Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBT Emerging Writers". Quill & Quire, June 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Raziel Reid & Vivek Shraya -- Dual Book Launch". McNally Robinson, October 1, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Review: Vivek Shraya's even this page is white".

External links

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