For those unable to experience experimental Inuk artist Tanya Tagaq’s sonic contribution to National Maritime Museum’s “Polar Worlds” exhibit in London, UK, Tagaq announced the work will be released as an EP titled “Toothsayer”. Set to release on March 1st, the record is a 5-track soundscape created for the exhibit, which expands Tagaq’s compositional work with ambient electronic and piano-driven textures.
In the meantime, Tanya release “Snowblind” as a sneak peek. You can stream/purchase the song here. “Snowblind” expresses the sensory experience of snowblindness, a condition that can produce colourful pulsating shapes amidst darkness. The contrast of brightness and darkness, a recurring theme in Tagaq’s work, is at once environmental, physical, emotional and political.
About the track, Tagaq explains:
“I named this “Soothsayer” because I always liked the term soothsayer, to look into the future and to speak wisely. Teeth represent protection and hunting in nature. We are going to have to get our fists up and our teeth out to carve our way to survival in this world.”
Tanya Tagaq will be soon touring across Canada, with a few dates in the US and Europe, full list of dates below. For more information, you can visit Tagaq’s website.
WINNIPEG, MB: WECC, Jan 22
SASKATOON, SK: Persephone Theatre, Jan 24
GUELPH, ON: River Run Centre, Jan 25*
SEATTLE, WA: Meany Centre for the Performing Arts, Feb 8
OTTAWA, ON: Southminster United Church, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Feb 15
KINGSTON, ON: Isabel Bader Theatre, Mar 6, w/ NAC Orchestra
OTTAWA, ON: NAC, Mar 8 w/ NAC Orchestra
LONDON, UK: The Garage, Mar 27
WASHINGTON, DC: Millennium Stage, April 5
CALGARY, AB: Jack Singer Concert Hall, April 27 w/ Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
SAMUELSBERG, NORWAY: Riddu Riddu, Jul 10-14