Christina Vantzou is an artist, musician, and composer. Born in Kansas City, she attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore (1997-2001) and moved to Brussels over a decade ago, where she currently resides. Since the early 00′s, Christina has created drawings, prints, videos, animations, and multimedia installations.
In recent years sound has become a key aspect of her artistic identity. In 2003, Christina met Stars of the Lid’s Adam Wiltzie and together they formed The Dead Texan. After several years of touring together and a stint as a touring member of Sparklehorse’s band, Christina started making music of her own.
Over a three-year period, using synthesizers, samples, her own voice, and a homemade library of orchestral samples, Christina meticulously pieced together a 45-minute music composition by ear (i.e. without any formal training), aided only by computer software.
In 2010 she began working with Minna Choi (director of Magik*Magik orchestra in San Francisco), who translated the digital score to sheet music for a seven-piece ensemble. This collaboration culminated in recording sessions with Magik*Magik at Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco. The album was mixed and mastered in Brussels and later released on Chicago’s famed Kranky on October 24, 2011. Titled Nº1, it was the first installment of a planned series of recordings with an orchestral component. As a whole, Nº1 included the release of a CD, a film, and a selection of remixes by various artists. Nº2 is currently in development and pieces will debut live at Substrata 1.3 with an ensemble comprised of Seattle-based musicians Maria Scherer Wilson (cello), Paris Hurley (violin), Alex Guy (viola) and Monica Schley (harp).
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