Erika Kulnys

Erika Kulnys sings with emotion: simple and devoted to the present moment; indulging in sensuous depths and joy; encompassing beauty and sorrow. There is an immediate sense of undaunted openness in her expression, a delicious taste of freedom. She embodies that vital quality that we look for in our artists, that we seek out in our own lives. Simply put: this girl’s got heart [regarding Kulnys’ debut album: “Hurricane”] The songs in this collection slip like polished stones into the hand, a welcome gift.

Morrigan MacLean, Nova Scotian Fiddler, Harpist, Poet, and Arts Reviewer

[Regarding “Hurricane”]
Through song and music, she is dealing with the hard topics, not an easy task in these times, but a worthy one. Her songs kept my attention and her voice, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, was full of beautiful and surprising turns.

Ferron, Canadian Singer-Songwriter

Erika is fantastic! Her pure voice and natural presence expresses her heart and touches all the tender, hidden places in the hearts of the audience. Through guitar, piano, voice, and poetry, Erika shines like the sun and we are lucky to feel her warmth!

Diana Torbert, Pianist for Symphony Nova Scotia and member of the Rhapsody Quintet

Erika has such a compelling voice, with a range of timbres from warm and heart-piercing to light and carefree to beer-soaked blues. Her guitar playing is easy and assured and not only sets the mood but occasionally adds something to make a song especially artistic. Her covers are well done, but her originals offer something special: she occasionally inserts something unexpected, like a dynamic change to the subtle side—a break, a ritard, a sudden pianissimo—that gently but irresistibly pulls the listener in and quietly says, "listen to this." Her songs are not only songs, but are poems, treating a wide range of topics and emotions.

Arnie Cox, Professor of Music Theory and Aural Skills, Oberlin College

Erika is a gifted writer and musician whose unique creations touch the very heart of you. Richly blended melodies and harmonic structures give way to romantic lyrics and some of our times’ best songs. Erika is going to reach a lot of people and I am a big fan.

Duncan Macmillan, President Ander Music, Songwriter, Composer, Jazz Percussionist


- Various

1. You graciously traveled from Oberlin to play at Lydia's for the NOW Fat Tuesday Fundraiser, are you involved in NOW?
1. I am not formally involved in NOW, but am interested in becoming involved. I want to attend the April 25th March To Save Women’s Lives in Washington. In the past I have been involved with women’s organizations in Canada, such as The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, and I play benefits for RAINN (the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network). I was thrilled to come out for the fundraiser, both because I support the cause, and because it’s great to get out of the isolated college environment and into community.

2. Oberlin is quite a ways from home; how did you get there?
2. Yes, Oberlin is quite a ways! Whenever people at home (Nova Scotia) discover that I study in Ohio, they inevitably make some comment about cornfields. But I feel very lucky to be here. I found out about Oberlin from an old friend, Giles, who is also from Nova Scotia. He went to Oberlin and came home raving about a magical place where everyone was an artist and an activist and it was more normal to be queer than straight! It sounded ideal and I applied right out of high school, but then ended up attending the United World College in New Mexico. The United World College is an international school where you study and live with students from 80 countries and do crazy things like mobilize a search and rescue team at 3 am to go out into the mountains and find lost hikers. I applied to Oberlin after New Mexico and they gave me enough financial aid to move here to study music composition and creative writing.

3. Your stage presence speaks of quite a bit of experience, or an uncanny innate comfort with performing. Which is it?

3. I’ve had quite a bit of performing experience. I’ve been singing at peace protests and Take Back the Night Marches since I was a kid with my mother and my grandmother who are both singers and feminist leaders. I only started pursuing a professional career in music when I took a year off from Oberlin and worked in Nova Scotia. I played a lot of queer events as I was working for a queer youth NGO at the time. My band happened to be all straight guys, so we jokingly called ourselves Erika and the Lesbians. Takes a certain sense of humour, I think.

4. Lyrically, you cover a gamut from lesbian love/relationship to women finding their voice (including a song written for your mother). What is your writing process?

4. I think there are two ways I write. The first is when I’m feeling particularly impassioned, whether it’s about a larger injustice, or my own bleeding heart, and it just pours out of me. I often write music and lyrics almost simultaneously at these times and my writing functions more as a release than any kind of intellectual activity. These songs tend to be either my best or my worst songs, because they are so wrought with emotion. The second type of songs are usually more narrative and I spend more time thinking about the lyrics and the music. Often, I’ll come up with a guitar lick I like, and separately do a lot of journaling, which I’ll then condense into lyrics. Finally, I’ll put them both together.
I am most inspired to write songs when I am in a community of song-writers, and when I am alone with the ocean.

5. How do you see music in terms of your life's calling?

5. I have always been happiest when playing music. And I’ve always wanted to work towards social justice through music and art and poetry. I think that music can not only educate, but also can mobilize people to action and create a kind of solidarity that is awe-inspiring. I went through a period of time when I felt that music was not an active enough way to fight oppression, but I think that just providing people with joy, whether or not they find a political message, is good for the world. So in response to your question, I think music is my life’s calling, whether it’s performing, or teaching music to children.
I had an incredible composition professor in New Mexico named Patrice Repar who showed me the power of music. She wrote pieces about apartheid in South Africa, and created an incredible interactive piece performed by all the students from the Balkans served to unite them, and to educate the rest of us through stories and song about their lives. Patrice instilled in me the sense that music can be a way of life and encouraged me to continue my study of composition.

6. Suggestions/advice for women trying to find their voices (through
whatever medium):

6. That’s a big question for someone so young! I guess I’d say this: everyone’s voice is important. Everyone has something different to say and you don’t need to be scared to say it. As women, we are always told to be modest and meek and not to express our stories and emotions. I think that just having the courage to do so can be an incredibly transformative experience. And finding a community of artists who will support you helps. Even if - National Organization for Women

REVIEWS

ERIKA KULNYS Profile Article on Filly.ca January 2007
by Shannon Webb-Campbell (The Coast, ARR, Filly.ca)

Ex-pat Nova Scotian songwriter/spoken word poet Erika Kulnys is artfully cementing her place in the history books of unsung artistic heroes of our time.

Erika Kulnys recently found a new sense of home in New York, yet it is the omnipresence of lost love which tugs at her heart strings and not necessarily the relocation which keeps the language pouring from her pen. "Heartbreak to me means the opening of the heart," the fiery, pixie-haired blonde muses. "The appearance of fault lines, the cracking, the painful and pleasurable combination of creativity and letting go of control. Heartbreak is a common theme in my life."

Kulnys is one seasoned globe-trotter, as the worldly artisan has lugged her library of songs, poems and ideas from South Korea, Ireland, Spain and Latin America, to various nooks and crannies around North America. "New York is a crazy place," she explains. "I have sung in the subway all night to make my rent. At the same time, I meet famous people and renowned social activists daily, who inspire me to keep going. Halifax is a much warmer and easier place, but New York is like cappuccino with Kahlua every day of the week."

By possessing the ingenious intellect and activist zeal of Ani DiFranco combined with the poetic scepticism of Leonard Cohen, Kulnys is artfully cementing her place in the history books of unsung artistic heroes of our time. Perhaps her mass appeal is too political, too edgy, or too vulnerable for the average listener, yet she has the ability to tackle heavy-handed issues which even newspaper headlines seem to steer clear from. Some of her lyrical subject matter boldly comments on social issues such as sexism, racism, rape, and homophobic leanings. Unfortunately mainstream radio doesn't necessarily seem ready to let the passionate, activist cats out of the bag. "I do not seek to incorporate my sexuality, gender and so forth into my artistic vision; rather, they are integral to my work and integral to my core as a person and the core of erotic creativity," says Kulnys. "I believe that all creative work stems from a letting go of identity and opening to the world. Once we open our hearts and eyes to the beauty and suffering around us, we are freed from our own egos and open to digesting the world as it is really is."

The ferocious songwriter is unapologetic about herself as a creator and as a person. Her latest album Hurricane tampers with the ballad-aesthetic of early Tori Amos, as her achingly honesty, yet beautifully created craftsmanship is as vast as the North Atlantic Ocean. Spin the cheekiness of Dolly Parton with the overt sexuality of Kinnie Starr, then dash the toe-tapping rhythms of Newfoundland's Colleen Power to conjure up a sense of her multi-dimensional musical talents.

"I do not juggle song writing and poetry, they do acrobatics inside of me on a unicycle," she says. "I often write songs which morph into poetry and vice versa. I often derive inspiration from a single line or seed of an idea, either found in nature, found in my experience, observed in the world around me, or given by a fellow artist. I write in a number of ways. Sometimes, when I am in acute pain, a song makes its way out of the birth canal and arrives in perfect, bloody simplicity into my hands. Crying out to be held. Other times, writing is an extremely intellectual and discursive process."

Mother's soothe their children with the phrase 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger;' nothing could ring more true for this achingly talented writer and musician. Kulnys bravely speaks about being raped by a close friend in Venezuela, being gay-bashed and nearly gang-raped at age eleven while living in Guatemala. "All these experiences have shaped my perception of what it is to be female musician in a male-dominated industry," she says. "My Buddhist friend took a deep breath after hearing my story, and said, 'You, my dear, are a survivor.' His words really rang true to me. I have survived much in my life, and have also been incredibly privileged and lucky. I believe it is important not only for women, but for men, to combat sexism. First in their personal lives, and then in the public arena, and specifically in the world of music. I appreciate men who take action and address sexism in their songs and in the way they interact with women."

Kulnys views artists as composers, soldiers with the extreme virtue and duty to take the debris of daily life "through time and care and awareness, and cipher it down to its essential beauty and wisdom." - Shannon Webb-Campbell (Halifax's Weekly, The Coast)

The Music Room in Halifax was packed to overflowing last Friday night for the cd launch of Hurricane by the amazing Erika Kulnys. Erika and her group of talented musicians wowed us for two and a half hours of music, most of it written by Erika. This 25 year old Halifax daughter is destined to be our next Sarah McLachlan.

For the last 8 years Erika has been travelling the world, going to school and experiencing the depths of human delight and suffering. Her songs reflect the pain, the ecstasy, and the hope of people everywhere. She sings song-stories about music on the streets of Northern Ireland, desperate hardship of a man in Brazil, the gratitude she felt in surviving a bus accident in Ohio, the heart break of leaving her girlfriend, and much more. Her music is a blend of folk and jazz, with some classical riffs mixed in too. She is an accomplished guitarist and an incredible pianist. And her voice is beautiful and unique. Combine that with charismatic stage presence and a winning smile, and Erika Kulnys will go far in the music world.

So where does the courage come in? Erika is very open about being a lesbian, having somewhat radical left-of-centre political views, and she goes to the poorest parts on this planet to search out people to sing about, to learn about, to share her life with. She is a petite woman with a huge drive to help others and to spread love and music everywhere. She is now living in Brooklyn NY, trying to have her music heard there. I sure hope many people hear her, because her message is important, and her music is world-class.

At the concert Scott MacMillan played a mean guitar to several of Erika's songs. Her Sister Aniko Lewton-Brain played violin, and she is also a major upcoming Halifax star. Her brother Nicky Veltmeyer, just 15 years old, blew us away with a song he wrote about being free. What a voice and personality! Other accompanists were Ryan Kotler, Keith Mullens, Matt Myer, and Shannon Lynch - all very professional. My only complaint is that Erika had to play the "tuning song" too many times. But the homemade cookies and apple cider made up for any lags in the show.

I've owned the cd Hurricane for several months and play it often on my program on CKDU. (88.1fm Sundays at 2). My favourite song is Thank You, but all of them are great. From the incredible photography, to the excellent musicianship, to the great production, this is a cd you want to own. To get a copy go to www.erikakulnys.com. And to hear a song go to www.myspace.com/erikakulnys. You will not be disappointed in this young woman who has the courage to express her views, and experience life in its fullness. Five stars for Erika Kulnys. - Various

Nova Scotian songwriter/spoken word poet Erika Kulnys is artfully cementing her place in the history books of unsung artistic heroes of our time.

Erika Kulnys recently found a new sense of home in New York, yet it is the omnipresence of lost love which tugs at her heart strings and not necessarily the relocation which keeps the language pouring from her pen. "Heartbreak to me means the opening of the heart," the fiery, pixie-haired blonde muses. "The appearance of fault lines, the cracking, the painful and pleasurable combination of creativity and letting go of control. Heartbreak is a common theme in my life."
Kulnys is one seasoned globe-trotter, as the worldly artisan has lugged her library of songs, poems and ideas from South Korea, Ireland, Spain and Latin America, to various nooks and crannies around North America. "New York is a crazy place," she explains. "I have sung in the subway all night to make my rent. At the same time, I meet famous people and renowned social activists daily, who inspire me to keep going. Halifax is a much warmer and easier place, but New York is like cappuccino with Kahlua every day of the week."

By possessing the ingenious intellect and activist zeal of Ani DiFranco combined with the poetic scepticism of Leonard Cohen, Kulnys is artfully cementing her place in the history books of unsung artistic heroes of our time. Perhaps her mass appeal is too political, too edgy, or too vulnerable for the average listener, yet she has the ability to tackle heavy-handed issues which even newspaper headlines seem to steer clear from. Some of her lyrical subject matter boldly comments on social issues such as sexism, racism, rape, and homophobic leanings. Unfortunately mainstream radio doesn't necessarily seem ready to let the passionate, activist cats out of the bag. "I do not seek to incorporate my sexuality, gender and so forth into my artistic vision; rather, they are integral to my work and integral to my core as a person and the core of erotic creativity," says Kulnys. "I believe that all creative work stems from a letting go of identity and opening to the world. Once we open our hearts and eyes to the beauty and suffering around us, we are freed from our own egos and open to digesting the world as it is really is."

The ferocious songwriter is unapologetic about herself as a creator and as a person. Her latest album Hurricane tampers with the ballad-aesthetic of early Tori Amos, as her achingly honesty, yet beautifully created craftsmanship is as vast as the North Atlantic Ocean. Spin the cheekiness of Dolly Parton with the overt sexuality of Kinnie Starr, then dash the toe-tapping rhythms of Newfoundland's Colleen Power to conjure up a sense of her multi-dimensional musical talents.

"I do not juggle song writing and poetry, they do acrobatics inside of me on a unicycle," she says. "I often write songs which morph into poetry and vice versa. I often derive inspiration from a single line or seed of an idea, either found in nature, found in my experience, observed in the world around me, or given by a fellow artist. I write in a number of ways. Sometimes, when I am in acute pain, a song makes its way out of the birth canal and arrives in perfect, bloody simplicity into my hands. Crying out to be held. Other times, writing is an extremely intellectual and discursive process."

Mother's soothe their children with the phrase 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger;' nothing could ring more true for this achingly talented writer and musician. Kulnys bravely speaks about being raped by a close friend in Venezuela, being gay-bashed and nearly gang-raped at age eleven while living in Guatemala. "All these experiences have shaped my perception of what it is to be female musician in a male-dominated industry," she says. "My Buddhist friend took a deep breath after hearing my story, and said, 'You, my dear, are a survivor.' His words really rang true to me. I have survived much in my life, and have also been incredibly privileged and lucky. I believe it is important not only for women, but for men, to combat sexism. First in their personal lives, and then in the public arena, and specifically in the world of music. I appreciate men who take action and address sexism in their songs and in the way they interact with women."

Kulnys views artists as composers, soldiers with the extreme virtue and duty to take the debris of daily life "through time and care and awareness, and cipher it down to its essential beauty and wisdom." - Shannon Webb-Campbell (The Coast, ARR, Filly.ca)

Erika Kulnys is back in action with not one, but two new albums that remind us what we loved about her. In WINGS and Revolution, this Halifax native is running on all cylinders and drawing from a broad range of musical genres to create a pastiche of songs that speak with passion, with humor and above all, with love.

Kulnys brings the big-spirited melancholy of Margo Timmins (of The Cowboy Junkies) in heady numbers like "Water to Wine" but keeps her sense of humor and irony in more political musings like "Revolution." It's songs like "Had to Come Home" though that really offer up a keyhole into Kulnys' heart. Songs extolling the virtues of home abound in the folk cannon and songs about the hardships of the road are nearly as plentiful, but Kulnys manages to do something new here. We always know when a singer croons about their hometown
it's not a plug by the local tourism board, that home is special because it's home. Kulnys takes this easy to forget fact and makes it the centerpiece of the songs: "I had to come home to get better" is where she lets the meditation finally rest.

Of course, much about these albums that is almost pure fun. "Oh My Baby" (off WINGS) is a romantic romp through Blue Grass with just a splash of raunch that echoes across Revolution. Just as coy, "Good Time Gangster" takes on a cool, 1940s swing and you can almost smell the smoky nightclub as a lover is called out for their caddish ways.

A lesser musician wouldn't be able to pull off half the tricks Kulnys can. Brief flirtations with new genres don't tend to work out well for novice songwriters. But Kulnys is, among other things, a consummate songsmith. Her musical ideas are done justice by veteran producer Mark Thayer and Kirk Comstock, a well-respected musician in his own right.

There's sorrow, resentment and anger in WINGS and Revolution. But none of these feelings sink her songs and none of them, we can't help but believe, sink Kulnys herself. While Kulnys has clearly grown as an artist, there is something that has remained constant throughout her recording career. "Keep Your Feet Moving" is a callback to her earlier work in the album Hurricane, a reminder of an authentic, cheerful resilience that characterizes her entire euvre.

Erika Kulnys has opened for such artists as Josh Ritter and Richard Thompson and performed at venues including Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival, Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and the Oberlin Folk Festival. She is scheduled to tour WINGS across Canada, the United States as well as Ireland and Scandinavia. - Sam Schreiber

The Music Room in Halifax was packed to overflowing last Friday night for the cd launch of Hurricane by the amazing Erika Kulnys. Erika and her group of talented musicians wowed us for two and a half hours of music, most of it written by Erika. This 25 year old Halifax daughter is destined to be our next Sarah McLachlan.

For the last 8 years Erika has been travelling the world, going to school and experiencing the depths of human delight and suffering. Her songs reflect the pain, the ecstasy, and the hope of people everywhere. She sings song-stories about music on the streets of Northern Ireland, desperate hardship of a man in Brazil, the gratitude she felt in surviving a bus accident in Ohio, the heart break of leaving her girlfriend, and much more. Her music is a blend of folk and jazz, with some classical riffs mixed in too. She is an accomplished guitarist and an incredible pianist. And her voice is beautiful and unique. Combine that with charismatic stage presence and a winning smile, and Erika Kulnys will go far in the music world.

So where does the courage come in? Erika is very open about being a lesbian, having somewhat radical left-of-centre political views, and she goes to the poorest parts on this planet to search out people to sing about, to learn about, to share her life with. She is a petite woman with a huge drive to help others and to spread love and music everywhere. She is now living in Brooklyn NY, trying to have her music heard there. I sure hope many people hear her, because her message is important, and her music is world-class.

At the concert Scott MacMillan played a mean guitar to several of Erika's songs. Her Sister Aniko Lewton-Brain played violin, and she is also a major upcoming Halifax star. Her brother Nicky Veltmeyer, just 15 years old, blew us away with a song he wrote about being free. What a voice and personality! Other accompanists were Ryan Kotler, Keith Mullens, Matt Myer, and Shannon Lynch - all very professional. My only complaint is that Erika had to play the "tuning song" too many times. But the homemade cookies and apple cider made up for any lags in the show.

I've owned the cd Hurricane for several months and play it often on my program on CKDU. (88.1fm Sundays at 2). My favourite song is Thank You, but all of them are great. From the incredible photography, to the excellent musicianship, to the great production, this is a cd you want to own. To get a copy go to www.erikakulnys.com. And to hear a song go to www.myspace.com/erikakulnys. You will not be disappointed in this young woman who has the courage to express her views, and experience life in its fullness. Five stars for Erika Kulnys. - Terry Paul Choyce

Kulnys is one seasoned globe-trotter, as the worldly artisan has lugged her library of songs, poems and ideas from South Korea, Ireland, Spain and Latin America, to various nooks and crannies around North America. "New York is a crazy place," she explains. "I have sung in the subway all night to make my rent. At the same time, I meet famous people and renowned social activists daily, who inspire me to keep going. Halifax is a much warmer and easier place, but New York is like cappuccino with Kahlua every day of the week."

By possessing the ingenious intellect and activist zeal of Ani DiFranco combined with the poetic scepticism of Leonard Cohen, Kulnys is artfully cementing her place in the history books of unsung artistic heroes of our time. Perhaps her mass appeal is too political, too edgy, or too vulnerable for the average listener, yet she has the ability to tackle heavy-handed issues which even newspaper headlines seem to steer clear from. Some of her lyrical subject matter boldly comments on social issues such as sexism, racism, rape, and homophobic leanings. Unfortunately mainstream radio doesn't necessarily seem ready to let the passionate, activist cats out of the bag. "I do not seek to incorporate my sexuality, gender and so forth into my artistic vision; rather, they are integral to my work and integral to my core as a person and the core of erotic creativity," says Kulnys. "I believe that all creative work stems from a letting go of identity and opening to the world. Once we open our hearts and eyes to the beauty and suffering around us, we are freed from our own egos and open to digesting the world as it is really is."

The ferocious songwriter is unapologetic about herself as a creator and as a person. Her latest album Hurricane tampers with the ballad-aesthetic of early Tori Amos, as her achingly honesty, yet beautifully created craftsmanship is as vast as the North Atlantic Ocean. Spin the cheekiness of Dolly Parton with the overt sexuality of Kinnie Starr, then dash the toe-tapping rhythms of Newfoundland's Colleen Power to conjure up a sense of her multi-dimensional musical talents.

"I do not juggle song writing and poetry, they do acrobatics inside of me on a unicycle," she says. "I often write songs which morph into poetry and vice versa. I often derive inspiration from a single line or seed of an idea, either found in nature, found in my experience, observed in the world around me, or given by a fellow artist. I write in a number of ways. Sometimes, when I am in acute pain, a song makes its way out of the birth canal and arrives in perfect, bloody simplicity into my hands. Crying out to be held. Other times, writing is an extremely intellectual and discursive process."

Mother's soothe their children with the phrase 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger;' nothing could ring more true for this achingly talented writer and musician. Kulnys bravely speaks about being raped by a close friend in Venezuela, being gay-bashed and nearly gang-raped at age eleven while living in Guatemala. "All these experiences have shaped my perception of what it is to be female musician in a male-dominated industry," she says. "My Buddhist friend took a deep breath after hearing my story, and said, 'You, my dear, are a survivor.' His words really rang true to me. I have survived much in my life, and have also been incredibly privileged and lucky. I believe it is important not only for women, but for men, to combat sexism. First in their personal lives, and then in the public arena, and specifically in the world of music. I appreciate men who take action and address sexism in their songs and in the way they interact with women."

Kulnys views artists as composers, soldiers with the extreme virtue and duty to take the debris of daily life "through time and care and awareness, and cipher it down to its essential beauty and wisdom." - Shannon Webb-Campbell