Marketa Irglova Announces Fall Tour
Marketa Irglova, the 23-year old Academy Award winner and one half of The Swell Season, announced a fall tour in support of her debut solo album, Anar, including a stop in Los Angeles at the Troubadour November 17th and in New York at the Bowery Ballroom November 30th. Citing references ranging from Otis Redding, to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, to the soundtrack from Jesus Christ Super Star, Irglova pulled from numerous influences to create a delicate balance of ethereal vocals and expanding instrumentals on her 10-track debut, including the R&B influenced "Go Back" and heart felt song "Crossroads." Anar is due out October 11th on Anti Records.
It was just over three years ago that the song "Falling Slowly" from the film Once shocked the world by winning the Oscar. In the days following, a global spotlight was placed on Irglova after she was the first winner in the Academy's history brought back by the shows host (Jon Stewart) to finish her acceptance speech. In the ensuing years she has continued to share in a series of high points that include releasing another record as The Swell Season, touring as a vocalist in Iron and Wine, helping prepare the Broadway version of Once and even an appearance on The Simpsons. However her most recent achievement, Anar, is easily the one she is most proud of.
Raised in the Czech Republic as a classically trained pianist and vocalist, Irglova had established a new relationship with music after moving to New York City, where the album was written. While spending time at an intimate art and performance room in Brooklyn called Zora Space, Irglova began to craft songs with her solo effort in mind. Inspired by surrounding artists, musicians and fans from varying cultures, Anar became Irglova's creative outlet in documenting and expressing the personal journey over the last few years.
During a performance at Zora Space, Irglova was drawn to a painting on exhibition, "The Last Fall" by Iranian artist Nahid Hagigat. A crimson red pomegranate placed on a shining golden background - Irglova purchased the painting and in turn named the album Anar, which is the Persian word for "pomegranate." For Irglova, the pomegranate, which is a fruit tied to fertility and abundance, stood as a symbol of the fertile land of creativity she began to explore after her move to New York.
The recording of the album took place in Chicago at Soma Studios with producer and engineer Tim Iseler, as well as, fellow New Yorker, Persian drum player and vocalist, Aida Shahghasemi. A full list of tour dates are below.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES WITH MARKETA IRGLOVA:
October 14 Montreal, QC Olympic De Montreal
October 15 Toronto, ON The Sound Academy
November 17 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
November 18 San Francisco, CA Great American
November 21 Portland, OR Doug Fir
November 22 Seattle, WA Triple Door
November 25 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
November 27 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
November 28 Washington, DC 9:30 Club seated
November 29 Philadelphia, PA TLA
November 30 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom