Kai Altair

Kai Altair
Born 1984
Genres Electronic rock
Occupation(s) Singer, musician
Instruments Vocals, Live Electronics, Guitar
Years active 2004–present
Labels Unsigned
Associated acts Circles for Hearts, The Switch, Sera Solstice, Flambeaux Fire
Website Kaialtair.com
Notable instruments
Vocals Guitar

Kai Altair is an American singer/songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York.[1]

Artist info

Kai Altair's professional music career began with the founding of the electro rock band The Switch in 2004. The numerous stages at which they played laid the foundation for her solo career in 2009, which began with the release of the EP Star of the Sea on October 31. Following this release, her career widely expanded as she played venues across New York and gained an international following. Altair is a classically trained musician, and attended Manhattan School of Music and Brooklyn Conservatory.[2]

Hailed by CBS News[3] as a “modern day mermaid,” Altair is influenced by dance culture, myth, storytelling, and dreams when creating her music and multimedia stage shows, and trains with world-renowned tribal fusion bellydance coach Sera Solstice. Altair's passion for storytelling, imagination, and adventure lead her to many collaborations with artists from around the world. She appeared in a Flambeaux Fire production of “The Calling,” a fire musical set in the heart of industrial Brooklyn starring Altair as a young witch on a journey through the spirit world.[4] Altair is the founder of the Mermaid Lagoon Ocean Benefit: a variety show, with underground circus acts, burlesque performances, music performances and DJs. Altair herself performs both her own music and as a mermaid.[5]

A student of ancient musical, movement, and healing traditions, Altair is a published author of articles on meditation, transformation, and sacred creativity. She is known for inspiring connection to dreams and the multiverse with her music, videos, and live performance.[6]

In early 2015, Altair finished recording her first full length album "Dreamwalker", with Dave Sharma and Dhruva Ganesan of Sub Swara. The album is influenced by 'a planet in communication,' and includes global rhythms, melodies, and electronic frequencies of the ancient past and distant future. The album was released on June 23, 2015.[7]

Career details

Kai Altair's solo career officially began on Halloween 2009, when her debut EP Star of the Sea was released at the House of Yes concert "13 Moons", featuring performers Veronica Varlow, Sera Solstice, Copal, and Lady Circus.[8]

After the launch of her solo career, Altair composed three original songs along with Michael Pflug for the award-winning independent movie Exposed.[9]

In February and March 2010, Altair starred as the main character 'Hailey' of Ali Luminescent's musical The Wonderneath. The Swarovski Crystal-sponsored show featured aerial stunts, fire breathing, acrobatics and music by the NYC-based blues band Tin Pan. The show was sold out for all seven nights.

On October 15, 2010, a short film directed by Zina Brown of Thousand Names Production entitled "The Hidden Sister" was released, featuring Kai's new single "Shine". The film was officially selected at 11 film festivals internationally.[10][11]

As a reaction to the Gulf Oil Spill, Altair created a benefit concert for the clean-up efforts in July 2010. It was entitled Mermaid Lagoon: A Benefit for The Oceanic Preservation Society & The Gulf Coast. The show consisted of musical performances, including a burlesque act by 'siren' Veronica Varlow, and other performances from House of Yes (Brooklyn) regulars Ali Luminescent, Desert Sin and Lady Circus. The show raised over US$2,000. It also garnered attention from the local press.[12][13][14]

The Mermaid Lagoon became an annual event and in 2015 Altair hosted the 5th annual Mermaid Lagoon Ocean Benefit on February 5 in Brooklyn. The show featured music, circus performances, magicians, and interactive art installations,[15] and has now raised over $10,000 for ocean conservation since it began.

Kai Altair performed as one of the Butterfly Queens in the award-winning short film, Dreams of the Last Butterflies. She also wrote and created the theme song "Change" for the film. Altair and the filmmakers partnered with environmental conservation organization SavingSpecies to help raise awareness of species extinction and butterfly loss.[16] Dreams of the Last Butterflies, directed by Zina Brown, has been accepted at 42 film festivals in 11 countries and will be released in July 2015.[17]

Altair won the award for "Best Original Song" at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards,[18] and "Best Short Film Score" at New York City's 2014 VISIONFEST Film Festival for her song "Change", featured in Dreams of the Last Butterflies.[19]

On January 13, 2015 Kai released a video for 'The Calling' on FDRMX.[20]

Kai Altair released "Dreamwalker", her first full length album, on June 23, 2015.[21]

Musical style

Altair's musical style is most often classified as electronica or rock, though it also often contains influences from world and folk music.

Discography

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kaialtair.com/kais_story.php
  2. ↑ "Miroir Magazine".
  3. ↑ "CBS Local".
  4. ↑ "Miroir Magazine".
  5. ↑ "Brooklyn Downtown Star".
  6. ↑ "Elephant Journal".
  7. ↑ "Gadfly Magazine".
  8. ↑ http://www.kaialtair.com/kais_story.php
  9. ↑ http://michaelwpflug.com/?page_id=16
  10. ↑ http://brooklynrocks.blogspot.com/2010/10/zina-brown-releases-hidden-sister-video.html
  11. ↑ http://www.deadtilltuesday.com/
  12. ↑ http://www.kaialtair.com/kais_story.php
  13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20121021123329/http://www.nypost.com/f/local_event/news/local/brooklyn/mermaid_lagoon_xwhqgSsGTBiFl99UHFavjN. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ http://www.bust.com/jcalpro/2010-07-25/mermaid-lagoon-at-house-of-yes-nyc.html?tmpl=component
  15. ↑ "Brooklyn Paper" (PDF).
  16. ↑ http://www.savingspecies.org/2013/a-dream-partnership-between-savingspecies-and-a-new-york-movie-production-company/
  17. ↑ http://dreamsofthelastbutterflies.com/
  18. ↑ http://laiffawards.com/may-winner.html/
  19. ↑ http://www.visionfest.com/film_festival/awards/
  20. ↑ http://fdrmx.com/kai-altair-calling/
  21. ↑ http://kaialtair.com/2015/05/dreamwalker-release-date/
  1. Kai's Story
  2. The Brooklyn Paper (Article on The Mermaid Lagoon Benefit)

External links

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