The USA-based rising industrial darkwaver I Ya Toyah has dropped another single/video, "Fraud", from her upcoming album, Drama, due on 4 October. Drama is co-produced with/mixed by Stabbing Westward's Walter Flakus and features new material and a few previously available tracks from her recently released EP, I Am The Fire.
I Ya Toyah on "Fraud": "'Fraud' is a dance-floor anthem with a dark twist. It blends soft vocals, intense screams, synth-wave, alt-rock and dubstep, creating a unique clash of upbeat rhythms and serious lyrics. This track will have you dancing away your imposter syndrome!"
In other news, I Ya Toyah has been confirmed for European tour dates as support for electro-industrial icons Front Line Assembly. She will also play as part of the premier United States darkwave event of the year, the Cold Waves Festival (XII), on 29 September in her adopted hometown of Chicago at Metro.
I Ya Toyah is not just a musical act - she's a movement. When spoken out loud in her native Polish, the words "I Ya Toyah" translate to "It's just me" and "I am who I am". These simple but powerful words act as an unwavering mission statement that guides every aspect of her career. In just a few short years, the Chicago-based singer/songwriter/guitarist has released several recordings, organized the creation of multiple music videos, and toured the United States multiple times, most recently with Stabbing Westward. I Ya Toyah combines elements of industrial, pop, electro, darkwave, and alternative rock into a unique aural tapestry that acts as the perfect backdrop for her intensely personal lyrics but it's the power and versatility of her voice that really sets her apart. Her potent vocal performances effectively deliver a message that is modern and relatable and speaks to the paranoia of everyday reality.
While she truly embodies the spirit of DIY, I Ya Toyah also actively embraces the collaborative nature of the industrial/darkwave music scene. Recent musical releases include projects with Raymond Watts (PIG, KMFDM), Julian Beeston (Nitzer Ebb, Cubanate), Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium), Tim Skold (Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM, Marilyn Manson, Motionless In White), Phil Owen (Skatenigs), and Stabbing Westward, whose remix of her song "Pray" quickly brought her name to the top of the industrial electronic charts on Bandcamp. She is also an active member of The Joy Thieves, a 50+ member supergroup whose roster includes musicians who have worked with Ministry, Depeche Mode, Killing Joke, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Nitzer Ebb, White Zombie, and more.
I Ya Toyah is a fierce advocate for mental wellness and human and animal rights. Not content to simply raise awareness for these causes, she has donated 15% of the proceeds from the sales of her music and merchandise directly to organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation. Most recently, she participated in the recording of a version of the Beatles' classic "Come Together" to raise funds for the people of the war-torn country of Ukraine. The project was arranged and mixed by legendary music producer John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins). Participants included members of Faith No More, Stabbing Westward, Ministry, Rammstein, Filter, The Joy Thieves, Agnostic Front and more. Link
I Ya Toyah European tour dates supporting Front Line Assembly:
26 November, Prague, Czech Republic, MeetFactory
27 November, Budapest, Hungary, A38 Hajo
29 November, Leipzig, Germany, Hellraiser
1 December, Oberhausen, Germany, Kulttempel
2 December, Berlin, Germany, Gretchen
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