Lindi Ortega

Lindi Ortega
Ortega performing in Paris, France February 24, 2012
Background information
Genres	Alternative rock, acoustic music, folk music
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, ukulele
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Last Gang Records
Website	www.lindiortega.ca

Lindi Ortega (born May 28) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. Now living in Tennessee, her voice has been described as a blend of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Emmylou Harris.^[1] She spent nearly a decade as an independent artist in the Toronto music scene,^[2] releasing two albums and an EP in that time. She has been described as "Toronto's best kept secret"^[3] and nicknamed "Indie Lindi".^[4] Ortega is currently signed to Last Gang Records where she has released three albums, most recently Tin Star in October 2013.

At the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011, Ortega toured extensively as a backup singer for Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of The Killers, in support of his solo album, Flamingo. This tour included dates in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Mexico, as well as televised live performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Later... with Jools Holland and at Abbey Road Studios. There were also a number of festival dates in the United States and Europe, including Coachella, T in the Park and Oxegen.

On February 7, 2012, Ortega was nominated for two Juno Awards - New Artist of the Year and Roots & Traditional Album: Solo.^[5]

On June 14, 2012, Ortega's album Little Red Boots was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize.^[6] In June 2013, her album Cigarettes & Truckstops was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.

Family

Her mother is of Irish descent and her father is of Mexican descent. Her father often could be found at her early shows supporting his daughter, well-known to and interacting with fans.

Charity work

A self-described bird lover, Ortega organised and was the featured performer at a benefit concert for the World Parrot Refuge in Coombs, British Columbia on 3 March 2010.^[7] The concert was held at The Supermarket in Toronto and featured a collection of local musicians that included Sara Kamin, Mandippal Jandu, The Framework, Emma-Lee, The DoneFors, and Dylan Murray.^[8]

Career

The Taste of Forbidden Fruit

Ortega's debut album, The Taste of Forbidden Fruit, was released in 2001. In her review of the album, Coreen Wolanski of Exclaim! described Ortega's voice as "the closest thing to vocal perfection" she had heard in a long time.^[9] CBC Radio 3 described the album as follows:

Lindi seasons her musical scores like a deranged chef whipping up a culinary creation. A dash of country, a pinch of folk, a sprinkle of rock, and a smidgeon of jazz! Last but not least, to add a little spice, how about some vaudeville cabaret? No, this is not a textbook recipe, but rather a mystical scribbling from an ancient scroll. Lindi is enigmatic and enchanting with a voice that can be cheeky and brassy or haunting and ghostly. Her music derives from the metaphysical in a sphere that warps time and defies orthodoxy. This madness is a pure passion that has never met the technicalities of music theory.^[10]

The song Nothing At All from this album was used in the online campaign for the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty.^[11]

Fall from Grace

In late 2005 Ortega began advertising her new album as coming in the autumn of 2006^[4] having declared, "People kept pushing and prodding and finally I saw the light".^[12] Fall From Grace was released on 6 February 2007.^[13] In reviewing the album Oxyfication.com described Fall From Grace as "the quintessential album of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of life as an indie singer."^[3]

The EPs

In 2007 Ortega collaborated with Juno Award winning producer Ron Lopata on "I Need", a song for the compilation album Year of the Monkey - 68. Lopata has since produced Ortega's two EPs and occasionally tours with her as her keyboardist. Ortega's eponymous EP was initially sold at concerts and on 5 March 2008 was made available online from independent music retailer killthe8.com.^[14] When the initial run sold out the EP was discontinued. After being signed to Cherrytree Records / Interscope Records in August 2008 Ortega released her second EP, The Drifter E.P., to critical success. Ortega then began an extensive touring schedule which included touring with Noah & the Whale in the autumn of 2008,^[15] performing at the 2009 SXSW festival in Austin, TX in March,^[16] and opening for Kevin Costner & The Modern West's tour in July.^[17][18] In September 2009 Ortega performed on a cross-Canada tour as opening act for Keane's North American tour.^[19][20] After the success of labelmate Lady Gaga, Cherrytree decided they would focus on dance / pop acts and Ortega signed with Last Gang Records.

Little Red Boots

Ortega announced on her blog that a new full length album with Juno Award winning producer, Ron Lopata, would be released on 7 June 2011 on Last Gang.^[21] A release party was held at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto on 6 June 2011. The album and song, Little Red Boots, are named after her signature red boots that she got while on tour with Kevin Costner and his rock country band Modern West. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for two Juno Awards as well as a place on the Polaris Music Prize Long List.

Cigarettes & Truckstops

In December, 2011, Ortega moved to Nashville, TN where she began working with producer Colin Linden to record her album Cigarettes & Truckstops. The album was released on Last Gang Records on October 2, 2012. In support of this album, Ortega toured the United States and Canada, opening for Southern California punk legends Social Distortion. In June 2013, the album was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.

Tin Star

Ortega released her third album for Last Gang, Tin Star, on October 8, 2013.

Discography

Studio albums and EPs

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US Heat [22]	US Country [23]
The Taste of Forbidden Fruit[24]	Release date: 2001 Label: Independent	—	—
Fall from Grace[3]	Release date: 2007 Label: Independent	—	—
Lindi Ortega E.P.	Release date: 2008 Label: Independent	—	—
The Drifter E.P.[25]	Release date: September 23, 2008 Label: Cherrytree Records/Interscope Records	—	—
Little Red Boots	Release date: June 7, 2011 Label: Last Gang Records	27	—
Tennessee Christmas E.P.	Release date: November 21, 2011 Label: Last Gang Records	—	—
Cigarettes & Truckstops	Release date: October 2, 2012 Label: Last Gang Records	42	71
Tin Star	Release date: October 8, 2013 Label: Last Gang Records	35	56
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilations and soundtracks

Date of Release	Title	Song(s)	Label
2004	Maybe This Christmas Tree[26]	Fairytale of New York (duet with Pilate)	Nettwerk
2005	The Surreal Gourmet - A Feast For Your Ears[27]	Tomorrow You'll Say Goodbye	Warner Music Canada
2007	Year of the Monkey - 68[28]	I Need	independent
2010	Major Lazer - Lazers Never Die EP[29]	Good Enuff (Featuring Collie Budz & Lindi Ortega)	Interscope Records

Music videos

Year	Title	Director
2011	"Little Lie"[30]	Margaret Malandruccolo
	"Black Fly"[31]	Michael Maxxis
	"Christmas Eve with You"[32]	David Foss Ricci
2012	"The Day You Die"[33]	Ante Kovac
2013	"Murder of Crows"[34]	Lindi Ortega
	"Tin Star"[35]	Michael Maxxis

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Result
2011	2012 Polaris Music Prize	Polaris Music Prize Long List – Little Red Boots	Nominated
2012	2013 Polaris Music Prize	Polaris Music Prize Long List – Cigarettes & Truckstops	Nominated
2012	Juno Awards of 2012	New Artist of the Year	Nominated
		Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo – Little Red Boots	Nominated
2013	Canadian Country Music Association	Roots Artist or Group of the Year	Nominated
2014	Juno Awards of 2014	Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo – Tin Star	Nominated

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lindi Ortega.

• LindiOrtega.ca
• Lindi Ortega on Myspace
• Lindi Ortega's profile on Last Gang Entertainment

Authority control VIAF: 101539716

Persondata
Name	Ortega, Lindi
Alternative names
Short description	Canadian musician
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death