2024 PRESS

GYAN – SONGS TO DIE FOR

‘The more you listen, the more you will fall in love with Gyan’s unique talent.’ Bruce Elder - The AGE

We are all going to die.

One day, if not us, someone else  will choose our Funeral song. Where the spoken word loses scope to aptly navigate loss, somehow in the face of tragedy and grief music steps up. The poetry of song, the melodies that rise from haunting depths have the ability to traverse the darkest spaces. The songs we die to, tell stories of who we were and how we made others feel. They are our emotional guide in the great mystery of the unknown. Wedding Singers abound. But who will sing at our funeral?  It takes a special kind of singer to take the song to the marrow. A singer who knows the liminal spaces, who can embody despair and then soar into the clouds to find  hope. No one sings like Gyan. There is a metaphysical quality to her vocal range.  She stands softly on our pain. She is the perfect person to sing Songs To Die For.

ARIA award winning artist, GYAN sings for one night only in Gulgongs Heritage

Prince of Wales Opera House. Working with internationally acclaimed

director/choreograher Meryl Tankard AO and visual artist Regis Lansac,

accommpanied by multi – instrumentalist Simon Greaves. All those favorite

songs people have requested for their loved ones funerals. What song have you

requested to be sung at your funeral? Here’s your chance to experience the playlist.

‘Songs To Die For ‘ is a project that arose from requests of funeral songs. Ironically it has a life of its own! Renowned director / choreographer Meryl Tankard AO and visual artist Regis Lansac have come on board to develop the multi- disciplinary

theatre performance with the ultimate view to curate a new rare Gyan concept

album, called The Funeral Singer – songs to die for.

Gyan says ‘I’ve  slowly noticed my friends’ requests have been growing toward more funeral songs than wedding songs. We are alll getting on. I thought I would step up and embrace the unspeakable, honouring some of the best music that we can agree on. We’ve taken on board a lot of requests to help tailor a live set that is humorous as well as heartfelt and ethereal.’

It’s 30 years since ARIA recipient Gyan sang her hit Wait from the cliffs of Kiama on

Countdown. Since then her career has followed an international trajectory working with the

likes of Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin and LeAnn Rimes before returning to Byron as part of The

Museagency, scooping a Sydney Theatre Award for her collaboration with Leunig at Sydney Opera House, with runner-up/shortlist awards for her album, Superfragilistically (SMH), and children’s book, How Weird Is That (CBCA).  

Is it really possible to be totally original? When it comes to Gyan, the answer is yes. Gyan walks softly into ou secret spaces determined to find sounds, silences and lyrics that are unpredictable, never clichéd and always intensely beautiful.

If you have ever fantasised about your own funeral - and to be honest, we all do, Songs to Die for is your chance to be present. To sit in the wonder, the regret, the glorious and occasionally  the downright ridiculousness of our fragile and flawed humanity.

Songs to Die for could seriously be the most profound and important concept album ever made!

(COPY - MANDY NOLAN)

press 2023

Gyan – introspective retrospective

Gyan says  - ‘ we had big plans before the world stood still, delaying what was to be an anniversary in a retrospective show celebrating 30 years since my debut release. We did manage to reach some places between lockdowns on the Eastern front and only now happy to be reaching western ears.’

‘I’m pretty excited to be playing The Duke in Perth for the first time with my partner multi-instrumentalist Si Greaves and inviting on-board a couple of Perth’s local stars as my special guests, Lucky Oceans and cellist, Mel Robinson. ‘

It’s 30 years since ARIA recipient Gyan sang her hit Wait from the cliffs of Kiama on Countdown. Since then her career has followed an international trajectory working with the likes of Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin and LeAnn Rimes before returning to Byron as part of The Museagency, scooping a Sydney Theatre Award for her collaboration with Leunig at Sydney Opera House, with runner-up/shortlist awards for her album, Superfragilistically (SMH), and children’s book, How Weird Is That (CBCA). 

‘Is it really possible to be totally original? Certainly Gyan seems to elude easy categorisation in her determination to find sounds, silences and lyrics that are unpredictable, never clichéd. ...  intensely beautiful, emotionally honest, sensitive and seductive... The more you listen, the more you will fall in love with Gyan’s unique talent.’ Bruce Elder - The AGE

‘Gyan’s subversive lyrics and weird tunes recall some of the mysticism of Kate Bush’s epic meanderings, and there are some great folky moments of interplay between the guitars and rather dominant strings – one could be forgiven for mistaking Triple Why for a Nick Drake song, Robert Kirby-style arrangements and all.’ ‘….this is a series of vignettes; with the air of a European film soundtrack, oddly naked lyrics and hesitant chord patterns keeping the listener guessing at every turn. It’s not a pop album, but one that will reward the patient audience with fine details upon repeat …Aidan Roberts- City Hub

‘Gyan's vocals are melancholic, shadowy and even a little eerie, a little reminiscent of Portishead's Beth Gibbons. The album is certainly a beautiful listen’. Brooke Robinson, The Brag 

Billy the Rabbit is a magical and unique journey through the mind of a gentle genius told from the voice of a beautiful and talented singer and is perhaps the most delicate and appropriate partnership between any two unique Australian artists.  Shelly Blake, THE PROGRAM

‘….which is why Byron-based singer/songwriter Gyan's collaboration with Leunig is such an inspired idea.

Billy the Rabbit is a superb tale about the fragility of life. 

As Leunig explained, the poem was based on the death of his daughter's pet rabbit, and her distress on finding Billy dead in his hutch. 

It rolls on in the style of a murder ballad that Nick Cave would be proud of. …..This show is a welcome reality check and a quiet revelation.’ Jeanti St Clair ABC Local