They first met in 2002 when his band the Animators played an open mike night at Red Rock coffeehouse in Mountain View, and ended up hanging out after the gig. Like Teng, he’s a New York transplant from the Bay Area. Just as important for Teng’s recent musical evolution is her creative relationship with percussionist Alex Wong, who produced “Inland Territory.” “You’re surrounded by people who’ve immigrated from all over the world, with very specific identities, and it kind of seeps into your subconscious.” “New York is a very dense space, and there’s a certain ever-pervasive awareness of all the different perspectives and cultures at any given time,” Teng says. Teng, who accompanies herself at the piano, credits her New York experience with inspiring her first venture into thematic songwriting, exploring politically charged issues such as illegal immigration and the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. While some of the “Inland” songs explore familiar Teng territory in using romantic relationships as metaphor for the existential condition, she also gets far outside of her own head. “The tempos kicked up a few notches, something to do with running after subway trains,” says Teng, 30, who performs with her new trio at Yoshi’s in Oakland on Friday and Santa Cruz’s Rio Theatre on Saturday. ![]() The Saratoga-raised singer-songwriter relocated from the Bay Area to the Big Apple about two years ago, and you can hear the impact of the teeming city’s bustle all over her ambitious new album “Inland Territory” (Rounder). Vienna Teng is still a Bay Area gal at heart, but she can’t deny that New York City has set her pulse racing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |