Tiger the Lion

Artist Information

Biography

Japanese Koto, Indian Tabla and Harmonium, Folk Guitar and three vocals. Inspired songwriting...Tiger the Lion delivers a sound like no other.


Tiger the Lion – a name that immediately conjures up familiar images of mystical creatures from far away places. For the members of this unique East-meets-West band, Asia in particular reserves a special place in their hearts. Tiger the Lion continued their prolific quest for ‘music without borders’ in 2006 with the launch of their second album, “When you’re in there”, winning praise already from Couleur 3, Le Courrier and iRadio LA, amongst others. Following that: selection for the Swiss Final for entry to Eurockéennes de Belfort; a second UK tour and a music video in collaboration with award winning director Vincent Loubère. Currently at work on a new album, Tiger the Lion is on the move...


History....

They may say that all roads lead to Rome, but it was in Geneva, Switzerland, that Daniel, Lucy and David’s paths crossed.

Dan and Lucy had just returned to Europe after two years of music study and English teaching in Japan. There, Dan had got to grips with the shamisen and shakuhachi, Lucy the koto and taiko, and both had entertained the locals in various accapella, rock and folk set-ups. This chapter saw the fruition of Dan’s remarkable song writing talents in the guise of “Kazuma’s Guitar”, a double album recorded in his bedroom.

David, on the other hand had just unpacked after his return from India, his ears still ringing with its intoxicating rhythms and melodies, his legs still stiff after twelve months of cross-legged tabla apprenticeship with his guru.

And so it happened that after a chance meeting, our three voyagers met for a tentative jam one evening in May 2003 and Tiger the Lion was born.

With a nod to the Canadian band The Tragically Hip, whose song of the same name talks of the contradictions and difficulties in communication and the relationship between life and art, the band name also refers to symbols recognised the world over. The tiger is particularly prominent in Asian culture, which occupies a special place in the group’s collective heart.

Not long afterwards came the band’s first album, “Healing Songs” (released December 2003), featuring 7 original songs chosen from their extensive repertoire.

Tiger the Lion ensured its presence on the international stage from the outset, by way of a two week tour of the UK in 2004 when even the venerable BBC’s interest was piqued enough to interview them live on air and give the track “Something About Nothing” airtime.

Following the recording of a new 5 track EP entitled "When You're In There" (released early April 2006), Tiger the Lion have been receiving airplay on a number of UK, US and Swiss radio stations, have been chosen as one of Couleur 3 Radio's top four up-and-coming Swiss bands and were selected to play in a battle of the bands to win a place at France’s most prestigious open-air festival, “Les Eurockéennes”.

April 2006 also saw Tiger the Lion embarking on their second UK tour, taking in ten venues in twelve days from London to Inverness including two nights at Jools Holland's lauded "Jamhouse". Most recently, Tiger the Lion are thrilled to have been invited to support Michael Franti (of Spearhead fame) at his only Swiss appearance.

Their new recording features Indian harmonium in addition to the original instrumentation, with Dan on acoustic guitar and vocals, Lucy on koto, harmonium and vocals and David on tabla and other percussion.

“Oriental Rock”, “Indi”, “Pop-World-Folk”, “Celtic Curry” – the music impresarios desperately try to squeeze Tiger the Lion into a snug-fitting box! But that is, after all, part of what Tiger the Lion is all about…

With their irrepressible spirit of adventure, Tiger the Lion are set to change the face of popular music.

Watch this space!

Instrumentation

Daniel Shaw - Guitar, Vocals
Lucy Shaw - Koto (Japanese harp), Harmonium (Indian reed organ), Vocals, Percussion.
David Cotting - Tabla (Indian drums), Percussion, Harmonium, Vocals.

Discography

Healing Songs - 7 Track Album (2003)
When You're In There - 5 Track EP (2005)
Compilations:
-Meilleurs auto-produits (best of Swiss self-produced music), FNAC, 2006
-Casa Allianza, 2006
-Best of World, Couleur 3, 2006
-Roger (Betterer) single 2007
-Benefizsampler, 2007 - disc compiling the best independent music from either side of the linguistic divide.
-'En fan de' - (to be released) 2008 - specially comissioned Social awareness CD for children.

Audio

• Pins and Needles
  Listen  
• Roger (Betterer)
  Listen  
• Tabloid
  Listen  
• When you're in there
  Listen  
• Woman will save the world
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Glint
• Dark Matter/Pathosphere
• Without Drums
• Roger (Betterer)
• When you're in there
• Bullies
• They're renovating the city
• Pins and Needles
• Woman will save the world
• Throw yourself wide open

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Fantastic World/Folk Music [+ Show ]
  

  Tiger the Lion - a fantastic World/Folk music band all the way from Switzerland. Theri sound is dif...Tiger the Lion - a fantastic World/Folk music band all the way from Switzerland. Theri sound is difficult to define so I won't try, all I'll say is that after one listen to "When You're In There" I found myself humming it all week long!

• Un Tigre-lion carressant [+ Show ]
  

  On ne tombe pas tous les jours sur un CD d'une telle qualité produit sous nos lattitudes. Du packag...On ne tombe pas tous les jours sur un CD d'une telle qualité produit sous nos lattitudes. Du packaging cartonné à la prise de son épurée, en passant par le soin apporté à une musique pop-folk aux accents orientaux, Tiger the Lion fait mouche avec ce premier album 5 titres (...). "Your music will do me just fine" chante l'Anglo-Romand Daniel, d'un filet limpide et trempé d'émotion qui n'est pas sans rappeler celui du chanteur de Manic Street Preachers ou, plus près de nous, d'un Demilliac. Quant au tabla du Genevois David et au Koto de l'Ecossaise Lucy, qui chante également fort joliment, ils renforcent la touche cosmopolite d'un groupe dont les membres ont apparamment beaucoup voyagé et dont on n'a pas fini d'entendre parler.

• When you're in there [+ Show ]
  

  Attention : saveurs inconnues au menu, langues oubliées depuis longtemps : oubliez donc tout ce que ...Attention : saveurs inconnues au menu, langues oubliées depuis longtemps : oubliez donc tout ce que vous croyiez connaître. Il est fort présomptueux de vouloir résumer l’alchimie épicée de ce trio brisant avec un plaisir non dissimulé les barrières musicales, à la manière des artistes folk psychédéliques 70’s comme The Incredible String Band.
  Mélange subtil entre world, folk et pop, carrefour d’influences entre le Japon, l’Inde et l’Angleterre, Tiger The Lion revendique les influences des Tragically Hips, Bob Dylan, mais aussi la musique traditionnelle de l’Inde ou du Pakistan. Ambitieux programme en perspective(...)
  Tiger The Lion s’est peu à peu démarqué et intrigue. Ne serait-ce d’abord par le choix de ses instruments : le Koto (sorte de longue harpe japonaise), les tablas (percussions indiennes) l’harmonium et la guitare acoustique. Entre hymnes tribaux (la chanson éponyme) et ballades folkysantes («Pins and Needles»), l’univers défriché sent bon les tonalités boisées et parfumées(...)
  Ep fort prometteur malgré sa brieveté, When you’re in there constitue LE hors d’œuvre que vous avez toujours voulu goûter, avec juste ce qu’il faut là où il faut.

• 'When You're In There' selected for airplay [+ Show ]
  

  "...you pretty much rock our socks off...and I have to say...this track is outstanding!" - Jason Eva..."...you pretty much rock our socks off...and I have to say...this track is outstanding!" - Jason Evangelho
  

• Le "Massala pop" de Tiger the Lion [+ Show ]
  

  Comme un poisson marinant dans le curcuma, les mélodies de Tiger the Lion baignent doucement dans le...Comme un poisson marinant dans le curcuma, les mélodies de Tiger the Lion baignent doucement dans les sonorités ondulantes de l'Inde. Une once de tablas, deux doigts d'harmonium,des voix qui s'entrelacent... Au final, un goût prononcé pour les mélanges du bien nommé "massala pop"...
  ...Ce pourrait être du folk anglo-saxon tel que joué en Inde par des musiciens venus de Genève.
  Suivant une recette dégottée dans un vieux grimoire connu de lui seul, le trio avance sans se presser au gré de ballades chaloupées et entêtantes, un peu carressantes, pas mal emballantes.

• Acoustic Fuel Radio selects 2 Tiger the Lion songs for airplay
  

  "...a perfect fit for Acoustic Fuel Radio!"

• America's #1 Independent Radio Station select 3 Tiger the Lion songs for airplay
  

  "CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for your submission."

• 'We Are Listening' songwriting talent scout impressed [+ Show ]
  

  "Dear Daniel,...enjoyed listening to "Small Enough"...and look forward to hearing great things f..."Dear Daniel,...enjoyed listening to
  "Small Enough"...and look
  forward to hearing great things from you!"
  

• 'When You're In There' selected for UK airplay [+ Show ]
  

  "I am pleased to say your track has been selected for air play. Celtica Radio is receivable worldwi..."I am pleased to say your track has been selected for air play.
  Celtica Radio is receivable worldwide, and has an audiance figure over 60 thousand listeners a month." - Steve Edge, Head of Music
  

Setlist

Tiger the Lion play two sets of 45 minutes each, but can play longer and/or shorter sets upon request. They have a large repertoire of over 40 original songs and so don't play covers.

Songs:

A Song Without Drums
Bullies
Catch A Wave
Clouds
Croon/Slip Away
Dark Matter/Pathosphere
Escape From Your Head In The Morning
Driftwood
Flinch of Recognition
Glint
Healing Song
Islands of Time And Space
(Island Hopping)
Look at Me!
Mother & Son
Muriel and Jimmy
On Your Way To Once-Upon-A-Time
Our Yet-To-Be
Perfect Little Day
Piers Die on Beaches
Pins and Needles
Reflections off Windows
Roger (Betterer)
Sidelong Loving Glance
Something About Nothing
Sorry
Step Outside
Tabloid
Take it from the top
Tangerine
The Last Song?
The Most Breakable Shadow
There's Something Out There
The Serial Killer
They're renovating the city
Throw Yourself Wide Open
Touch a Life
Tree Music
When you're in there
Why? Why? Why?
WMD
Woman Will Save The World
Your Weakness is a Great Strength

Basic Requirements

Calendar