JUST IN! Chi2 made a cameo appearance in the San Miguel ad featuring MIKA. Check it out: Mika San Miguel Ad
Liz has just been selected as one of the composers for New Music 20 x 12 working with Andy Leung and Chinatown Arts Space to compose and perform a piece of music as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the London 2012 Olympics!
Says Liz "I'm really excited to be working with Andy and CAS on this New Music 20 x 12 Olympics commission. It's an amazing opportunity and we're planning to pull out all the stops for a ground-breaking composition and hopefully inspirational performances!"
Chi2 is currently working with the fabulous ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION on their current project
The Cutty Sark London to Shanghai Sessions with gigs in London and Spain.
With special guests including 6 dhol drummers (Ministry of Dhol), 3 MC's, Nathan Flutebox Lee, plus the band themselves, this is indeed a unique, fun project!
Look out for their album 'History of Now' out in February 2011. View album trailer.
Chi2 Strings are back on the road touring with chill-out king MOBY on his WAIT FOR ME album European tour in Summer and Autumn 2009 and New Zealand / Australia in Dec/Jan 2010 and South America in April 2010 (see gigs page)
Check out Chi2's brief interview on BBC Radio 4 documentary CHOPSTICKS AT DAWN written and presented by the fabulous comedian Anna Chen about Chinese musical cliches in Western music from Debussy to George Formby to David Bowie. Broadcast on Tuesday 8th June 1.30pm 2010 and repeated Saturday 12 June 3.30pm. Catch it on BBC iplayer for a week after.
After their successful Summer 2008 and Autumn 2009 UK tours, and their sold-out London premiere Chi2 perform a one off show of their MONKEY KING - A MODERN BEIJING OPERA in March 2010 in Shropshire. Based on the classic Chinese tale of Monkey King, they have drawn on the classic Beijing Opera art form for inspiration and have composed an original soundtrack which has been produced by award-winning composer Tom E Morrison (ex Underworld). Their music is complemented by the visual interpretation of filmmakers Michele Rosaus and Steve Teers. The drama, both aurally and visually, is enhanced by actor Tom Wu as he employs spoken word, narration and his expertise in kung fu to convey the thrill-seeking adventures of Monkey. Their live show features exotic Chinese instruments (jinghu, erhu, liuqin etc), Beijing opera-inspired make up (Natasha Huang), costumes by Mao Couture and a stunning light show by Niall Hannell (Gnarls Barkley, Marc Almond etc). Their May 2008 (part of CHINA NOW) and September/October 2009 tours were sponsored by the Arts Council with the National Lottery (see 'gigs' section for dates).
Check out the current SONY WALKMAN Music Pieces TV advert by the makers of the Cadbury's Gorilla and Sony Bravia Play Doh bunnies. If you're quick you might catch them at the end! Click below to watch the Full Length Advert and here for Behind the Scenes courtesy of youtube. Ad info.
The girls have contributed music for the BBC Radio 4 series Chinese in Britain which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 3.45pm on weekday afternoons from April 30th 2007 over two weeks. This ten-part 15 minute series is presented by Anna Chen and was produced by Mukti Jain Campion info.
CHi2 would like to thank (in no particular order) Ben
for building this site, Claire Houlihan (for patience and
perseverance!), British Council (Neil, Leah, Lena, Ker,
Mallika, Jenny, Tracy), CM for their on-going support,
Jenni at Red Stones Designs for clothes (check out her
stalls in Spitalfields and Portobello markets), Paul/Simon at
Bridge Instruments
for our gorgeous instruments, Marcus Perkins, Nick Skinner,
Huw Morgan, Eric Richmond and Iris Garrelfs for wonderful pictures,
Pauline 'A.P.' Kirke, Øyvind
Aamli, Tom Wu,Chinatown
mag, VJ Mox, David Reynolds at Cello,
Simon Phillips, Hamish Stuart, Michael Wells, Toby
at Orangutan Design, Mike D-Fuse, Santamaria Design, Sandrine
Bourg, Alex Athane, Moby and band/crew, Shaun Connon, Rowan Oliver,
Steve Cole, Barry and Mary Kissell, Russ Jones, Nick Jones, Ron
Grace, Martin Neil, Mark Wu, Michael Whitewood and Simon Russell,
Colin Higgs, Alex Simons, Steve Drennan, Andy B, Sue Grant, Moira
Pender, Jimmy Choo & family ...the list is endless... and everyone
else we don't have space to mention for your friendship and support.
Last but not least to J.C., Mum, Dad, Matt, Tom, Oyvz.
JUST IN...
Look out for CHi2's interview in issue 13 of COVER magazine available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and soon on BBC World Service - Chinese section (details to come).
CHi2 recently toured Asia for the second time (sponsored by British Council) headlining at the Singapore Street Festival, MTV Asia/British Council sponsored gig in Bangkok's Bed Supperclub (venue which inspired George Michael's Amazing video), MTV Asia, Singapore and performing at the prestigious Queens Birthday Party Celebrations (yes that's our Queen!) in Singapore and Bangkok in the luscious residences of High Commissioner and British Ambassador respectively. More pics and links under 'gigs'.
Check out their track EYE OF THE NOODLE (collaboration with Rowan Oliver Goldfrapp's drummer) on 'ABDUCTION OF ART OF NOISE'
(Iris Light/Karvavena Records). Other artists include Art Of Silence (J.J. Jeczalik - orig member of Art Of Noise), Kompressor (808 State project), si-cut.db/bit tonic ft. Scanner, Trafik (Global Underground Project), Banco De Gaia project.
Available for purchase.
CHi2 recently spent six weeks as artists-in-residents in Taipei, Taiwan. Says Liz, "It was a fantastic experience for us getting in touch with our roots learning about traditional art forms and meeting local musicians. We also played in Taipei, Kaoshiung, Shanghai and Macau and couldn't believe how warm and welcoming the crowds, and indeed the press were! We'll definitely go back soon and do more shows there...so watch this space for more S.E. Asian happenings!"
Check out their collaboration with electronica duo LAMB on their latest release 'Between Darkness and Wonder' (Mercury Records) on tracks 'Learn' (co-writers) and 'Please' (string arrangements/bvs). Go and buy the album and support them cos they're fabulously talented as well as being the nicest people to work with!
Now they're back home they're writing and recording tracks for their forthcoming debut CHi2 album with Simon Phillips from the Orb, Hamish Stuart (of Average White Band fame) and Michael 'Technohead' Wells, Rowan Oliver from Goldfrapp, producers Simon Russell and Michael Whitewood and beatsmaster Alex Attias.
They've just finished recording a string piece they wrote for a short art installation piece entitled CRYBABY by New York artist Romeo Doron Alaeff shown at various artsy venues in NYC including the Chelsea Art Museum.
In between touring they were commissioned to write original music for Channel 4 documentary "Birthday Girls" for October Films to be broadcast in October. They've also recently written some music for short film SAUCE, which was premiered at the London Raindance East Film Festival's (see 'forthcoming gigs' for more details) and BBC Radio 4 documentary BEYOND THE TAKEAWAY about British born Chinese community.
CHI2 have finished writing and recording tracks for 3 compilation albums - the Art of Noise tribute album THE ABDUCTION OF THE ART OF NOISE
(where they covered Eye of the Needle and collaborated with Goldfrapp's Rowan Oliver), Female of the Species Vol II (Law and Auder Records) and DFuse's D-TONATE 00 DVD (also featuring tracks by Scanner, Fibla, Fluid etc).
Branching into areas new Chi2 recently played and sung the Chinese National Anthem live to the nation on the brand new series of ANT + DEC'S SATURDAY NIGHT TAKEAWAY - and judged a performance of it by Jeremy Beadle and fellow contestant Kay ... Question is, were they are mean as Simon Cowell? Tune in and find out...
Liz and Sarah have been busy recording on BOY GEORGE'Ssolo album and the cast album for his West End musical TABOO - Original London Cast" and on a new project called CUSTERD with ALEX PATERSON (The Orb), JIMMY CAUTY (KLF) and GUY PRATT (Pink Floyd), as well as TV promo with ANASTACIA and live gig with NELLY FURTADO.
Check out Sarah and Liz on the cover of
Storytelling, BELLE & SEBASTIAN's soundtrack album dressed as Japanese goth/punks (!) pic
. Featuring music from the film of the same name directed by Todd Solondz ('Happiness', 'Welcome to the Dollhouse') the album is out now on Jeepster/Matador.
CHI2 have recently written some music for Chappell Music library (CHI2 stylee!) for their 'Creative Review' CD which, according to the blurb, is 'innovative music suitable for arts, science and documentary programmes' (cat. no. CHAP 261 - for any of you who might like to use it...!!).
'CHECK IT!':
CHI2 STRINGS on MOBY's18 DVD + B SIDES [2003] and (Grammy nominated!) PLAY - The DVD (REGION 1) (NTSC) - the former includes their full-length headlining gig at this years Glastonbury Festival and the latter features 6 songs from Later Presents Moby, 12 videos from 'Play' and a 20 minute long short film made by the man himself entitled 'Give an idiot a camcorder'. Both available now.
For any die-hard rock fans check out URIAH HEEP's latest release "Acoustically Driven" a special unplugged concert featuring acoustic versions of their greatest hits (including Golden Palace and Lady in Black) featuring Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame and of course the CHI2 String Quartet. Out now on CD and DVD/VHS (more details at Uriah Heep).
The string sisters recorded a few tracks on cinematic jazz maestro and master of coool BARRY ADAMSON's latest album "The King of Nothing Hill" which is out now on Mute Records. Also, ECHOBOY's album "Giraffe" produced by Flood, also out now.
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
As CHI2 STRINGS Sarah, Pauline and Liz toured with MOBY at the end of his mammoth 2-year world PLAY 2000 tour playing at MTV Awards Stockholm, Nobel Peace Prize, M6 Awards as well as stadium venues in France, Rotterdam, Italy and nearer home at Manchester Apollo, Brixton Academy and Wembley Arena finishing with a New Year's Eve gig outside Edinburgh Castle (which was broadcast live on MTV US). They also did an hour special with him on LATER PRESENTS...MOBY which was broadcast in October and repeated over Christmas. Featuring tunes from the best-selling album of last year 'Play', the odd techno anthem and acoustic versions of Moby faves (with Sarah on solo improv violin and Jools on keys), this is apparently the first time he's used strings on a live set.
Check out April/May 01's issue of DJ magazine feature on this website ('Digital Dancefloor' section) complete with colour pic of CHI2's homepage (cooool!)...
CHI2 were recently invited to feature on an international radio youth prog The Edge (BBC World Service) where they were interviewed and performed 2 tracks live in the studio. Rumour has it that there was at least one listener who tuned in all the way from Berlin...
(c) 2007 CHI2 Music Ltd - no material (text or pictures) to be reproduced without written permission
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