Gyan Evans

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Gyan


Background = solo_singer
Origin = Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Genre = Adult contemporary, Folk, Pop rock
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer
Label = Warner Music
The Muse Agency
Years_active = 1989–present

Gyan Evans is an ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter from Australia who performs professionally as Gyan (pronounced 'Ghee-ahn'). Originally from Geelong, Gyan began her musical career in the Sydney band Haiku before winning the Grand Final in the Australian version of the TV show "Star Search". This led to a recording contract with Warner. Gyan has often been compared to Tori Amos in vocal style by many music critics.

"Gyan"

Her debut, self-titled album was released in 1989 and featured the hit single 'Wait' which remained on the ARIA Charts for over four months, peaking at #14 and being certified Platinum. The single was co-written by Gary Frost of 1927 and Geoffrey Stapleton of GANGgajang. 'Gyan' contained twelve songs written or co-written by Gyan and produced by Charles Fisher (Midnight Oil, Hoodoo Gurus, Olivia Newton-John, Radio Birdman). The album was a critical and commercial success (remaining in the charts for over six months) and Gyan was awarded the ARIA Award for Best New Talent in 1989. A second single, 'It's Alright' was a minor hit in 1989 (#49); a third single; 'Black Wedding Ring' (#93) was released the following year. Gyan toured Australia to promote the album, assembling a backing band christened 'The Dearly Beloved'.

"Reddest Red"

Gyan took two years to re-appear with her second album, "Reddest Red", which was again produced by Charles Fisher. The lead single, 'Something's Gotta Give' was a minor hit in 1992 (peaking at #80 but charting for nine weeks). A second single, 'Visualize' was later released in Australia. Music from 'Reddest Red' also appeared in the Russell Crowe film The Sum of Us.

Other work

After solid touring throughout Australia; Gyan traveled to the UK and U.S. working on her third album, 'Suburban Opera' with producer Desmond Child. Gyan signed to Universal Records and worked as a songwriter for LeAnn Rimes and Ricky Martin; even contributing vocals on the latter's Sound Loaded album; performing a duet on the track 'Come To Me'. The album sold over five million copies worldwide.

Leann covered Gyan's song 'Love is An Army' and mentioned at the time that this was her favourite of all the songs she had recorded:

:"Of all the songs I have recorded in my career, this is my favorite. It's so beautiful and emotional that you really have to feel it to sing it; you can't just go through the motions. I think the meaning of this song is open for everyone's interpretation, but for me it's about the fighting she's done for love and how in the end, love conquers all. The song is so natural, so simple. Basically, it's just my voice and strings. This song has some country elements in it, like my yodel at the end, but I wouldn't consider it a country song."

Rimes' version of 'Love Is An Army' was included on her Gold-album Twisted Angel and she performed the song at the CMA Awards in 2003 to an audience of millions.

'Suburban Opera' was never released in its entirety; a promo-only single was released in 'Don't Hide Your Wild Away' and Gyan later released the record independently as "The Invisible Bird" via her website.

In 2002; Gyan also contributed the song 'Life's Great If You Don't Weaken' to the soundtrack of the Australian film The Nugget and co-wrote Paul Kelly's 'Nobody She Knows'. She also appears on the album 'Hymn For Her' from James Cruickshank of The Cruel Sea.

Collaboration with Leunig

In 2006; Gyan released the album "Billy The Rabbit" which was based on the poetry of Michael Leunig. According to Gyan:

:"It came about through a complete labour of love. I set a lot of his poetry to music over the space of a year without really knowing what I was doing. I had no motive, no plan. A friend of mine knew him and I contacted him at The Age and sent it to him, he fell madly in love with it." [http://www.echo.net.au/archives/19_10/pdf/p22.pdf#search=%22gyan%20leunig%22]

The album contained a duet with Paul Kelly on the track 'The Path To Your Door'. Released to glowing reviews; Gyan and Leuing launched the album at the Melbourne Writers Festival where Gyan sang and Leunig accompanied her whilst illustrating. The two artists' also performed together at the Byron Bay Writers Festival and performed four shows at the Sydney Opera House in March 2007. The performance won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Cabaret of 2007. The album of "Billy The Rabbit" was produced by Gyan and Simon Greaves.

Gyan is currently working on a double album with the working title 'Lost The Sea'. She launched her MySpace site in 2006.

Discography

ingles

* 1989 - "Wait" (B-side: "Love in Question") AUS #14
* 1989 - "It's Alright" (B-side: "Don't Touch (What You Can't Afford)") AUS #49
* 1990 - "Black Wedding Ring" (B-side: "Head Over Heels") AUS #93
* 1992 - "Something's Gotta Give" (B-sides: "Rooms by the Sea" and "Wait") AUS #80
* 1992 - "Visualize" (B-sides: "Shortest Day" and "Take from Me")
* 2001 - "Don't Hide Your Wild Away" (Promo-only single; no B-side)

Albums

* 1989 - "Gyan" AUS #27 (gold)
* 1992 - "Reddest Red"
* 2003 - "The Invisible Bird" (aka "Suburban Opera")
* 2006 - "Billy The Rabbit"
* 2008 - TBA

External links

* [http://www.gyan.com.au/ Gyan's official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/gyanmusic Gyan's official MySpace]
* [http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/35211 Gyan interview]
* [http://www.ganggajang.com/geofpgs/otherbands/gyan.htm Geoff Stapleton's site about The Dearly Beloveds]