CHIWAWA

Artist Information

Biography

The core of CHIWAWA is Laurie, the daughter of Hungarian immigrants, and Krassy, born and raised in communist Bulgaria. The two first met when Laurie unwittingly auditioned for a newly arrived in Canada, Bulgarian band called Ping-Pong (later becoming The Clouds).
Within 3 months of their meeting Krassy was being deported and Laurie had no choice but to save the band. What started out as a "greencard marriage" blossomed from desperate measures into true love and the couple settled into the Bohemian culture of Montreal, Canada.
CHIWAWA was formed in 1994 by Laurie Gordon (vocals, keyboards) and Luc St. Pierre (keyboards, programming). In 1996 Krassy Halatchev (bass, programming) joined the band, followed by Eric Willis (guitars), in 1997. Their debut album, The Sick World Of Yona, was released in 1998. It was produced by Steve Whitfield who has worked with artists like The Cure and The Mission.
By 1999 Chiwawa was essentially a duo (L. Gordon & K. Halatchev). The band has recorded 4 full length albums and several EPs since 1997. Their latest album is called Bus Stop Chinese Buffet. It is scheduled for release in early 2009. Chiwawa was also featured on a few compilation releases (CHOM's Esprit, Darkcell). The band has its own record label, Satellite Records Canada (SRC).
CHIWAWA's songs Do It For Me and God's Children are the soundtrack for Oscar nominee, NFB wunderkind, Ryan Larkin's new film Spare Change. Laurie is the producer and co-director of this famous animator's comeback film.

Instrumentation

Laurie Gordon - vocals, keyboards
Krassy Halatchev - bass, vocals, percussion
Christina Dupré - guitar, vocals

Discography

4 full-length albums (LPs) and a number of EPs, SPs, compilations - between 1998 and 2009. Please visit our web site for details - http://www.chiwawa.ca

Official Website

http://www.chiwawa.ca

Audio

• Below Zero
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• Love's Got Heart
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• Innuendo
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• God's Children
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• Do It For Me
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• Don't Wanna Talk
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• Tell Me Lies
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• Arctic
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• Cue Me
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• Hell Sweet Hell
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• Junkies Of The Rhythm
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• Tempo 69
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• Precious
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• Somebody To Love
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• This Is Why
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• Runaway Train
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Lyrics

• Below Zero
• Love's Got Heart
• Innuendo
• God's Children
• Do It For Me
• Don't Wanna Talk
• Tell Me Lies
• Arctic
• Hell Sweet Hell
• Junkies Of The Rhythm
• Tempo 69
• Precious
• Somebody To Love
• This Is Why

Video

Don't Wanna Talk

Photo Gallery

Press

• Chiwawa bites! [+ Show ]
  

  Chiwawa is capable of competing on an international playing field, which is where they are determine...Chiwawa is capable of competing on an international playing field, which is where they are determined to go!
  - Jamie O’Meara, Hour Magazine

• Here comes Chiwawa! [+ Show ]
  

  Here's a Chiwawa that barks loud enough, thank you! This band has a young and catchy sound - perfect...Here's a Chiwawa that barks loud enough, thank you! This band has a young and catchy sound - perfectly adopting their own style. (Voilà un Chiwawa qui aboie assez fort, merci! , cette formation locale sait produire une sonorité jeune et accrocheuse, parfaitement adaptée à son style.)
  - SOCAN Magazine

• The Sick World Of Yona [+ Show ]
  

  Chiwawa is a very solid and creative musical force. I think this is a CD that they can be very proud...Chiwawa is a very solid and creative musical force. I think this is a CD that they can be very proud of, soothing melody and great hooks fill the CD, and almost every song is a hit with me. If you like Garbage, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Annie Lennox, Blondie, Radiohead and the Smashing Pumpkins, that's right, you will love this CD! (The Sick World Of Yona)
  - CD Debut

• Chiwawa's new album [+ Show ]
  

  (Chiwawa writes their songs with just the right touch of electronic, ambient alternative and hooky m...(Chiwawa writes their songs with just the right touch of electronic, ambient alternative and hooky melodies. (Chiwawa sait fabriquer des chansons pop avec juste ce qu’il faut d’accent électronique, d’ambiance alterno et de mélodies accrocheuses.)
  - Éric Parizelli, Voir Magazine

• Canada strikes back! [+ Show ]
  

  ... sadder sounding ‘Garbage’ mixed with a gentle & thought provoking voice... then you’re starting ...... sadder sounding ‘Garbage’ mixed with a gentle & thought provoking voice... then you’re starting to get the picture... If Celine Dion wrote interesting music and sang with a little less over-the-top-I’m-going-to-save-the-earth bravado then I would draw a comparison to Laurie. But no, I think Laurie is much more interesting.
  - Andy Chapman, Gods Of Music.com
  

• CHIWAWA live at CMW 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  Hailing from Montreal Chiwawa began the evening with their performance that started like trickery in...Hailing from Montreal Chiwawa began the evening with their performance that started like trickery in a sense. The first song would begin in a very subdued and almost prissy schoolgirl fashion, then would quickly dissipate into a fast muddy guitar sequence as if to say ‘GOTCHA!’ These sequences would lead to some breathtaking guitar solos in songs like ‘Junkies Of The Rhythm’ and ‘Quantum Leap’. As they continued on with their set you could see lead singer Laurie Gordon become more comfortable with the crowd and take center stage to overwhelming applause.

Setlist

12 to 13 songs, typically; always one set of approx. 1 hour. Set would include different songs; Singles and songs that were/are played on the radio almost always make the set list. Those would include: Do It For Me, Love's Got Heart, God's Children, Below Zero, Don't Wanna Talk, Overcaast Skies, Arctic, Dream Sequence, Innuendo.

Basic Requirements

Calendar