Inga Liljeström

Inga Liljestrom is an Australian-Finnish experimental singer-songwriter. Her musical style is broad and crosses many genres, from electronic to rock, folk, country, and avant garde. Originally from Bellingen on the north coast of New South Wales in Australia, Inga Studied jazz vocals at Southern Cross University, and it wasn't until moving to Sydney that she discovered an aptitude for composing. Her first group 'Helgrind' explored avant-garde rock with co-composer Felicity Fox. This led to solo explorations into electronics and string instruments for her two first albums 'Urchin' and later her critically acclaimed album 'Elk' on the Groovescooter[1] label. She has been given four grants from the Australia Council for the Arts to compose her original music. She has performed and toured as guest singer with numerous groups such as jazz experimental group 'd.i.g' (Directions in Groove) for their album Curveystrasse; with Australian iconic group The Church, for their album El Momento Siguiente; made vocal contributions to "Dust Me Selecta" by Gerling which became a hit song and remixed Gotye's Mixed Blood. Since 1998, Liljestrom has released 5 albums (with a new one almost completed for release in 2013), one DVD and has performed many shows, including sold out performances at The Studio, Sydney Opera House; The Vanguard; 505; Sydney and Adelaide festivals; and also festivals in Europe including Czech Republique, Poland, France and more. Liljestrom toured and composed with the Branch Nebula production 'Paradise City', touring South America and regional Australia. In 2009 she relocated to Paris, France, and recorded 'Black Crow Jane', which resulted in a publishing and record deal with Emergence music, based in France. Her compositions and voice has also contributed to many films and television programs including feature 'Left Ear' by Andrew Wholley; and ABC's Rake series. In the last few years, she has been teaching University students in Europe and Australia as part of Residency programs, creating multi-media shows with art, music and film students.

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Discography

Albums

4 Stars "Inga Liljestrom’s voice tickles angels’ ears… her sultry voice of yesteryear is the mesmerising centerpiece...raises gooseflesh." (Chloe Sasson, Metro, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia)

CD of the Week "...dripping in emotion it is nothing short of magic...Phoenix is the stand out track; imagine being tossed around by a storm of strings, bass and drums, all held together by a voice that expresses so much with so little effort. Inga’s voice is a fresh sound that is crying to be heard; this album will not disappoint."(Benjamin Chinnock, The Brag Magazine, Australia)

Drenched in a narcotic otherworldliness, it’s as much an interior journey to the deepest extremes of Inga’s musical well – a sort of seductive one-on-one with an inspired mind...the 12 songs are like weather stations in a sea of emotion, to chart a course thru shifting moods and dreamscapes...That unique voice of Liljestrom is what brings it all together. Blessed with a fragile/strong feel that can whisper intimacies even when filling the soundscape with primal cries, it’s a voice that focuses listeners and draws them in. Inga Liljestrom has something sensual and artistic all her own. Highly recommended. (Perry Kilmer, Drum Media Magazine, Australia)

"She manages to balance her dark and emotive songwriting with an orchestral depth, with neither dominating the other… In a league of her own…" 5/5 (Hamish Ta-Me, Crema Magazine, Australia)

"Something truly happens when beautiful voices of the north attack folk music...Inga Liljestrom masters a sense of space and ambience, treacherously calm. The ettiquette is strange, with a distant legacy of Kate Bush on Black Crow Jane, alternating between perfect nursery rhymes for adults and unnerving rock epics. [She]… has appropriated some American heritage, but it is barely recognisable here, under an assault of fire and ice. A small marvel of poetry who caresses as much as she cuts." (Journal Ventrilo, France)

"…an undeniable mastery in writing, composition, production, arrangements, visual - a breath and power that does not evaporate, as in many others….Black Crow Jane alternating climates, hot, cold, hit, appeased (skeletal lament Drowning Song, rock and thick skinned Mascara Black, Bloodstain, almost folk delicacy Wishing Bone Hands, Wildest Horse, or …) Between rock and cabaret Gothic Inga Liljeström with her ominous incantations, she reminds us that before her, another Australian came to Europe to impose his unique vision under high influence of tortured crooner: Nick Cave."(Telerama, Hugo Cassavetti, France)

Citations and references

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