Collaborators

Mira Calix

Commissions

Biography

Mira Calix composes and produces music. She is signed to Warp Records, on which she has released five albums, the most recent being 3 commissions: the elephant in the room, the follow up to 2005’s 3 commissions She began her musical adventure by djing, performing at club nights, and as support on several tours, playing with a diverse selection of artists from Radiohead to Squarepusher.

Early in 2004 Mira was commissioned to write a site-specific piece of music for an installation in the conservatory of the Barbican in London for the re-opening of the Gallery. In September of that year, this piece was released along with Nunu; a collaboration with the London Sinfonietta, and some willing insects. (3 commissions LP) Nunu Premiered at the Royal Festival Hall and subsequently toured Europe extensively including performances at the Concertgebouw, Parca Della Musica and the Mariinsky Concert Hall in Moscow.

In 2005, Mira Calix formed a new ensemble called Alexander’s Annexe with pianist Sarah Nicholls and David Sheppard. Their live debut was at the Ravello Festival, followed by concerts at Transmediale, Sonar and Koko’s in London. The ensemble released Push Door To Exit, an EP on Warp Records, in late 2006. She regularly performs and collaborates with cellist Oliver Coates; most recently on an installation piece, Natures, with video artist Quayola commissioned by the Faster Than Sound Festival.

As well as performing and recording her own solo material, Mira has created several installations, film soundtracks and pieces for dance and theatre. Her many recent works include, the setting of one of Shakespeare’s Sonnets commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the soundtrack to Onibus, a documentary directed by Augusto Contento.

In 2007 she completed a very modern opera; Elephant And Castle, in partnership with composer Tansy Davies, with a libretto by Blake Morrison and directed by Tim Hopkins for the Aldeburgh Festival. Later that year Opera North commissioned her to compose the soundtrack to renowned puppeteers; Faulty Optic’s take on Monteverdi’s Orpheu for the Manchester International Festival. The production, titled; Dead Wedding, went on to the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, The Sage and a successful week’s run at the Barbican.

In autumn 2008 Mira created a new a surround mix of Nunu featuring the London Sinfonietta for a SACD; Recovery to Discovery released by the BMIC. The album includes rare work by Jonathan Harvey, Harrison Birtwhistle and Jose Alvarez. She also performed two new pieces with the London Sinfonietta, including her Sinfonietta Short; Ort-Oard.

December 2008 saw the premiere of My Secret Heart, her collaboration with British video artists Flate-E and sound designer David Sheppard. The piece features a 100 strong choir, cellist Oliver Coates, and viola player Xandi Van Dijk. My Secret Heart, commissioned by Streetwise Opera, received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award and continues its worldwide tour in 09/10 Mira won a British Composers Award in 2009 for My Secret Heart in the Community/Education Category.

Early in 2009 she created the soundtrack to Chorus, an installation by United Visual Artists, commissioned by Opera North to celebrate the opening of the Howard Assembly Rooms in Leeds. The piece, comprising of 8 swinging pendulums, will be situatated in Durham Cathedral during November 2009. Mira Calix has recently collaborated with Scottish singer-songwriter Malcolm Middleton (ex Arab Strap) for a Late Junction session on BBC radio 3. The Duo are currently working on new material.

Recordings

IIlanga - limited edition 10” – Warp Records – 1996
Pin skeeling – EP– Warp Records – 1998
One On One – LP – Warp Records – 2000
Peel Sessions – mini Lp – Warp Records – 2000
Prickle Ep – EP – Warp Records - 2001
Nunu – Limited Ediiton cd & t-shirt by Catherine Haines – 2003
Skimskitta – LP – Warp Records- 2003
3 Commissions – LP – Warp Records – 2004
Eyes Set Against The Sun- Lp -Warp Records - 2007
The Elephant In The Room –Warp Records -2008

Alexander’s Annexe:

Push Door To Exit – mini lp – Warp Records – 2007