Zoë Keating
Country of origin:
From Canada now in U.S.
Type of music generally:
Experimental, instrumental cello
Status:
Most recent release, Sister Europe/Tango (EP, with Jane Woodman, 2012); most recent solo release, Into the Trees (2010)
See also:
Zoë Keating's site
Comparisons:
What she's doing is unique.
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Zoë Keating is a classically trained cellist who makes music with layers of acoustic cello. She has played and/or recorded with many ecto artists including Rasputina, Mila Drumke, Imogen Heap, Amanda Palmer, and Dresden Dolls. (JoAnn Whetsell)I'm one of those people who first heard Zoë Keating's music when she opened for Imogen Heap—and immediately bought her disc and have been following her ever since. It's rare that instrumental music really catches my ear. I can probably count the instrumentalists I follow on one hand, but Zoë Keating is one of the few. Her music is complex, gorgeous, and mesmerizing. I love it. (Neile)
Comments about live performance:
Zoë keating, currently the second cellist in rasputina, opened. she played a short set—four songs i think—of looped, instrumental pieces. tasty stuff. the audience seemed kind of put off by her at first but most of them warmed up by the end. she's quite good and worth arriving early for if anyone is going to any of the other shows on the tour. (2006, woj@smoe.org)We saw Zoë Keating open for Imogen Heap earlier this year, and she was mesmerizing. (2006, meth@smoe.org)
Recommended first album:
Any
Recordings:
- One Cello x 16 (EP, 2004)
- One Cello x 16: Natoma (2005)
- Into the Trees (2010)
- Sister Europe/Tango (EP, with Jane Woodman, 2012)
One Cello x 16
Release info:
2004
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zoë Keating
Produced by:
Zoë Keating
Comments:
I keep listening to this EP and find it so interesting but difficult to describe, which of course is part of why it's so compelling on every listen. At times rhythmic, melodic, whispering, droning...it's amazing what Zoë Keating can do alone with a cello. (JoAnn Whetsell)
One Cello x 16: Natoma
Release info:
2005
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zoë Keating
Produced by:
Zoë Keating
Comments:
Another great album, similar to her first, but subtly different. Zoë makes really interesting and lovely music. I find it difficult to describe, but I really enjoy listening to it. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Into the Trees
Release info:
2010
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zoë Keating
Produced by:
Zoë Keating
Comments:
Lovely cello instrumentals (Neile)
Another excellent effort. Into the Trees is more rhythmic/percussive and less droning than her previous work. Some songs, like "Escape Artist," bring Kaki King to mind. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
