EMMY Award-Winner Singer-Songwriter
Announcement posted by eMAGINE Agency 29 Apr 2016
“EMMY Award-Winner Toni Childs announces first-ever, underwater-concert-of-its-kind in the world!”
American-born, singer-songwriter Toni Childs will celebrate the launch of her new album, “It’s All A Beautiful Noise” by holding an underwater concert in North Queensland in September 2016 singing alongside the ocean’s natural composers of the deep; the dolphins and whales.
Arriving in Cairns next week, Toni will travel to Green Island to trial Seawalker helmets for a first-ever-underwater concert experience. The aim is to test the acoustics and wiring with a dive in place – an underwater rehearsal so to speak. Twenty-years ago, Toni was inspired by a documentary about a marine biologist that had a special underwater cover for his synthesizer and when he played it under the water the response from the dolphins was beautiful. Ever since then, Toni has wanted to play music for the marine world. Childs says, “Never in a million years did I think that I would be able to sing underwater, but now I can! And I am stoked!”
The concert to be held in September will involve Toni being mic’d up whilst in a helmet in order to be able to sing underwater to the marine life whilst her band performs at sea level on a floating pontoon. This will be the first-ever concert of its kind and will be a unique way to celebrate the launch her new album, “It’s All A Beautiful Noise.”
Toni Childs considers herself to be an entertainer but also a global citizen of the planet and has long understood the connection that all life has on planet Earth. “Our life in this reality we call planet Earth is amazing and so precious and it is so important to me that we take care of it and acknowledge that how we take care of our planet is a direct reflection of how we take of ourselves,” says Childs.
Marine life in particular holds a special place in Toni’s heart where the importance of sound and communication is key to survival and life in a submerged ecosystem where sight and other senses are limited. Just like in music, whales and dolphins must communicate through ranges of sound and this is symbolic to Toni’s creation of this album.
Notwithstanding its own set of challenges, it took a massive amount of courage and the convergence of creative energy to bring this album and concert together. Originally the album was due to be launched at 10,000ft on Poon Hill in Nepal last April. This was to celebrate what had seemed a near impossible feat of trekking under difficult, yet breathtakingly beautiful scenery and meeting the amazing Nepalese people along the journey.
Tragically, less than 36hours after leaving, Nepal was devastated by one of the most severe earthquakes ever recorded, killing thousands and destroying much of the country. Toni recalls feeling that her energy needed to be focused on helping the Nepalese people and she set about raising money to help rebuild Nepal (through the creation of her book, cd and dvd). So far the team has raised over $60,000 and anticipate that they will get to $200,000 by the end of this year. Toni recently put on the first ‘Rebuild Nepal Concert’ at Crystal Castle just outside of Mullumbimby which will now be an annual event.
After a year focused on the rebuild of Nepal, Toni wanted to do something extraordinary for her album launch of “It's All A Beautiful Noise”. She wanted her album to reflect the year of the natural world that she had been a huge part of and the relationship and intricacies in connection that we all share. So, an underwater concert and launch seemed like an amazing thing to pull off! And, what better way than to celebrate underwater in one of the most iconic locations in the world, North Queensland.
Toni Childs says: "From the furthest star to the smallest grain of sand we are all connected with the planet and its living creatures. I have always felt a strong connection to consciousness on this planet whether that is human, animal or water. I try to sing to the collective that is beyond just the confines of what a music industry would consider marketable and sing and reach for that which helps us all as being to feel connected. It's all a Beautiful Noise is an album that is really sung through me by ‘A-future-self’ that came to me in a dream and this future self can communicate to depths which is beyond our limited understanding and she is here to teach me a thing or two as well.”
Allan Woo (General Manager, Seawalker) says: "We are very excited to be assisting Toni Childs in her preparations this Wednesday 4th May for her forthcoming concert in September later this year. It will be one of the first of-its-kind in the world and we will be helping Toni test the acoustics and other sound equipment. We will also be helping Toni with her Yoga event that she has planned as a special treat for the locals of Cairns.”
Toni will also be holding her unique, signature Yoga session aptly called “You’re Beautiful”. Toni and her husband Mik have been traveling across the globe offering very deep and joyous Yoga sessions that are a mix of Movement, Yin Yoga, Meditation and Sound-Shower/Singing Performance. These yoga session leave all participants in a state of deep connection to the beauty of who they are - the effect is stunning! The 90-minute session will be held on Wednesday 4th May at Synergy Studios (66 Johanna St, Trinity Park) from 6.30pm. Bookings Essential: www.yogahubcairns.com or email: yogahubcairns@gmail.com or Phone: 0457 632 700 (Cost: $30).
Toni and her Australian husband (Mik Lavage) recently moved from their home in Hawaii (US) to Australia to embark on the creation of shows for Toni’s new albums, “Citizens of the Planet” and “It’s all a Beautiful Noise”. Feeling the remoteness of Hawaii and having previously toured Australia, Toni felt a strong feeling of connection when driving through Byron Bay that she just couldn’t ignore and simply had to follow. She fell in love with Byron which is by all accounts now considered home to the couple who adore its balance between city access, natural world beauty, wonderful spirits that fuels their creative passion and fill their hearts with love.
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Book Details:
Title: REBUILD NEPAL
Publication Date: October 2016
Pre-Release Special Edition Signed Copies $59.95. All proceeds from the sale of the book/cd/dvd are donated direct to the people of Nepal in their efforts to REBUILD.
*Only 500 Limited Edition Signed Copies Available
Available: www.inhousebookstore.com.au
Facts about Toni Childs:
· EMMY award-winning three-time Grammy Nominated singer-songwriter
· Best known for her songs Don’t Walk Away (a Billboard Hot 100 hit in the US in 1988), I’ve Got To Go Now (a top 5 hit in Australia in 1991) and the EMMY-winning Because You’re Beautiful (released as a single in 2004 and on her 2008 album Keep the Faith).
· She’s opened for Bob Dylan at Radio City Music Hall, and performed duets with greats such as Al Green, Peter Gabriel and Zuccero.
· Rolling Stone says, “…Evocative, evanescent music that allows you to immerse yourself and drift away.”
· Time Magazine says, “In a year of auspicious break-throughs for women writer-performers, Childs was the stand-out.”
· Author of ‘Rebuild Nepal’
For more Information:
www.becauseyourebeautiful.yoga
Q&A
Toni, what inspired you to give a concert to the whales?
We had planned to launch our album "It’s All A Beautiful Noise" at 10,000ft on Poon Hill Nepal last April, but 36 hours after we left the country (having achieved what seemed the impossible) an earthquake hit that devastated many parts of the country. We didn't feel it was right to run on publicity about Nepal for our own gain so most of our energy for the rest of the year was spent raising money to help rebuild the country. We are now continuing our support for Nepal with an annual concert and a book which will be launched later this year. We have raised well over $60,000 so far and that should jump over the $200,000 mark by the end of this year.
So after a year focused on the rebuild of Nepal we wanted to do something else extraordinary for our launch and as “It's All a Beautiful Noise” will be toured with a show all about our relationship to the natural world – an underwater launch seemed like an amazing thing to pull off!
Do you feel that you have a strong connection with the planet and its living creatures?
I have always felt a strong connection to consciousness on this planet whether that is human, animal or water. I try to sing to the collective that is beyond just the confines of what a music industry would consider marketable and sing and reach for that which helps us all as being to feel connected. “It’s All A Beautiful Noise” is an album that is really sung through me by ‘A-future-self’ that came to me in a dream and this ‘future-self’ can communicate to depths which is beyond our limited understanding and she is here to teach me a thing or two as well.
What made you move from the US to Australia?
My husband and I wanted to embark on the creation of shows for my new albums "Citizens of the Planet" and “It's All A Beautiful Noise" and Hawaii is just too remote to really be a sensible place to work. Also I had toured a lot in Australia and every time I drove through the Byron Bay area I had a very strong feeling and part of me wanted to follow that feeling. Byron is now where we consider home. It is filled with wonderful spirits whom we have connected very deeply with and is the right balance of city access with the beauty of the natural world being on tap also. I just love it!
What are some recent charity events that you've done and please provide me with some info surrounding them
We recently put on the first Rebuild Nepal Concert at Crystal Castle just outside of Mullumbimby and we are making this an annual event. Toni was also approached by the UN to be a part of the Sustainable goals concert in NYC. Her philanthropic propensity has been in effect for a very long time and she has worked tirelessly for charitable organisations in many different areas - from her work on Eve Enslers's "Until the Violence Stops" documentary for which she won an EMMY, to having her own charity that helped facilitate dolphin-assisted therapies to children with various disabilities. It is an important piece of our lives and our work. I believe in “us” and that we have the wisdom inside us to keep evolving to our fullest potential.
Have you been to Cairns before? What do you like about it?
My only trip to Cairns was to play two concerts at the Tanks venue which were amazing nights that I have been wanting to replicate but haven't quite managed to make it happen yet. I really want to connect with the reef and see what immense beauty is on offer just off the coast here. Although I am pretty keen to stay clear of the crocs and jellyfish - Australia is such an amazing and yet, amazingly dangerous place - but I love it!
What are you known plans surrounding your concert? Will it be charity? Live? Broadcasted international?
We will definitely be filming the concert and making it into a global event as much as possible -- right now we are testing the technology and learning how it can all come together. I am just so excited about the possibilities here.
How do you think the whales will react to the songs you sing to them?
Well my dream is to sing to Migaloo the white whale and I am really hoping the music generates a reaction of intrigue and wonder from these majestic animals.
What are the known plans surrounding your Yoga event?
Title: “You’re Beautiful” – 90 minute Yoga Session
About: Toni and her husband Mik have been traveling across the globe offering very deep and joyous Yoga sessions that are a mix of Movement, Yin Yoga, Meditation and Sound-Shower/Singing Performance. These yoga session leave all participants in a state of deep connection to the beauty of who they are - the effect is stunning!
Date: Wednesday 4th May, 2016
Venue: Synergy Studios
Located at: 66 Johanna St, Trinity Park (Approximately 20 minutes from the CBD toward Palm Cove)
Time: 6.30pm-8.00pm
Cost: $30
For Bookings please visit:
Website: www.yogahubcairns.com
Email: yogahubcairns@gmail.com
Phone: 0457 632 700
Because You're Beautiful - YOGA
Come and celebrate your magnificence with a special 90 minute yoga and meditation experience...
Toni Childs' powerful voice bathes you in sound and love - and aligns you with the truth - YOU are beautiful!
Internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter, Toni Childs designed a unique experience, “I designed a yoga experience which combines improvisational dance, meditation, story-telling and singing plus a number of gentle stretches... In creating this session, I have drawn on instruction from two important yoga teachers: Peewee G Patricia Howard and Chocho Saul David Raye. I sing and bath you in loving resonance as we transition from one section of our session to another ending with my Emmy-Award winning song Because You’re Beautiful.
“Each of us are beautiful, dynamic beings that are crying out to experience more self-love, self-appreciation, and self-care. My practice is a way to blast the doors off the hinges to our personal cages of limitation, and engage in deepening our relationship with ourselves.” Toni Childs
Bio
Toni Childs… is an Emmy winner and three-time Grammy nominated recording artist, installation artist, environmental activist, and now a yoga and mindfulness teacher.
In 2003, Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, asked Toni to write an anthem that would inspire people to end violence against women and girls for her documentary, Until the Violence Stops. The documentary aired on Lifetime Television in January of 2004, and her song, Because You’re Beautiful, went on to win an Emmy that same year.
Because You’re Beautiful is an incredibly powerful and potent song, that is ever-evolving, and is central to Toni's unique yoga offering. This song inspired her to design a very powerful yoga experience that includes silent meditation, and a live performance love shower component…
In 2008, Toni released a new album called Keep the Faith, and put Because You’re Beautiful on the album. For the next three years she toured all the nooks and crannies of regional Australia to perform countless concerts.
"During my many tours, I noticed that men and women in the audience looked somewhat detached. It was like they were beaten by life. A lot of the women looked like they had left themselves on the side of the road, and forgot to go back to pick themselves up… Perhaps they had given all their energy to being amazing mothers, wives or lovers. Or perhaps they remained in a relationship they should have left years ago or had lost a loved one. Whatever the reason, it appeared to me that these women were losing their playfulness, sensuality, and most importantly, their power."
Witnessing this, Toni plucked up the courage to start talking about what she was observing during her concerts. She began inviting women to come onto the stage with her so she could sing to them personally and remind them of the truth – that they are beautiful and their very essence is beauty! This produced an incredible amount of tears, and vulnerability!
After performing Because You’re Beautiful at countless venues around the world, Toni listened to her intuition and inner guidance to bring this transformational experience into the more intimate setting of a yoga environment.
"I guess I would have to say that my yoga sessions focus on growing our personal seed of evolution through self- love, self -appreciation and by advocating for ourselves. Yoga asanas assists us to release and move energy out of the body so we can reduce mind chatter to sit in silence and observation in order to create a greater bandwidth to access our expanded SELF: Soul Evolved Life Force."
To learn about Toni's Because You're Beautiful Experience go to: www.becauseyourebeautiful.yoga
eMAGINE Agency / InHouse Publishing: Cindy Rochstein (PR Director)
(m: 0437 094 049; e: info@emagine.agency) www.emagine.agency
All information source eMAGINE Agency at 29th April 2016. This press release is qualified for issuance in Australia (and internationally) and is for information purposes only. This press release is issued by eMAGINE Agency to members of the press and media and the information contained herein should not be construed as personal advice. Authorised and regulated by eMAGINE Agency www.emagine.agency