Tania Bowers, better known as Via Tania, has always been energized by the talent of other artists on her records. For her new album, Via Tania and the Tomorrow Music Orchestra, out on Narooma Records in spring 2015, Tania recorded in both Chicago and Sydney, where she is currently based, with a collection of orchestral musicians known as the Tomorrow Music Orchestra. The album mixes pop songs with chamber orchestra, allowing for many aural colors and soundscapes, exhilarating and unique. From the smoky slowburn of “I See You Tiger,” to the delicate pop mischief of “In the Air,” to the almost retro-Disney confection of “Where Would We Be,” the album is marked by a sophisticated yet vulnerable approach, led by the disarming and beautiful vocal stylizations of the lead singer.

“This record was something that had started to make itself in a way,” says co-producer Charles Rumback. “We knew we would be recording some time down the road when we were touring, and as the music changed, the evolution of the music took a new shape. I left the first sessions so inspired. Time passed, and Tania moved back to Australia, and it was a project that I was beginning to think would never see the light of day. I’m so happy it’s finally out there.” Much of the album was funded on Indiegogo. In Tania’s own words, “I love that it’s 100% community driven, involving those who enjoy making something real happen for an artist and watching it unfold. It’s the opposite of what I’ve experienced during my career in the music ‘industry’, never knowing who really gave a hoot.”

Tania began her career in her native Australia. Tania originally started performing in Sydney during the 1990s with her sister Kim Bowers in noise outfit named Spdfgh. After relocating to Chicago at the end of the 1990s, Tania set about piecing together an album as Via Tania, with producer Casey Rice and various Chicago musical luminaries. In 2003, Tania released her critically acclaimed full-length album Under A Different Sky. The album featured artists like Prefuse 73, Casey Rice, Tortoise, Howe Gelb and Tim Kinsella. Pitchfork gave the album a glowing review and decreed “Via Tania will be a major contender”. When returning to Australia, Tania met Texan producer Craig Ross, who has worked with many artists including Emmylou Harris, Daniel Johnston, Patty Griffin and Spoon and followed Craig to Austin to work on her new album Moon Sweet Moon. While she was there she also performed at the SXSW Music Festival in 2007.Moon Sweet Moon was released through the New York/Paris based label The Hours in 2009. She is now signed to Narooma Records, a new label for offbeat, established female artists.

What They’re Saying:

“Via Tania will be a major contender” – Pitchfork

“With a big whispery voice and a quirky guitar-drums-and-synthesizer sound that draws on jazz, punk, and hip-hop, her just-released album, Moon Sweet Moon, could easily become the soundtrack to your next breakup, or the next Zack Braff film, or both” – Interview

“Light-headed romantic gently struts sneaky stuff…Tania May-Bowers murmurs and coos like Björk’s goofy little sister on this alluring second album, which wraps wispy melodies in airy overdubs and features players from Tortoise and Shearwater” – Spin

“Be bewitched” – Vogue