Gyan Evans (born c. 1960), who performs as Gyan (/ɡiːˈɑːn/), is an Australian singer-songwriter and record producer. She began her musical career in the Sydney band Haiku before winning the 1986 grand final in the local version of the TV talent quest Star Search. This led to a recording contract with Warner Music, which resulted in her October 1989 debut self-titled album. It peaked in the top 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart and provided "Wait", which reached the top 20 on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990 she won the ARIA Award for Best New Talent.
Gyan | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1960 Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Origin | Sydney |
| Genres | Adult contemporary, folk, pop rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Trafalgar, Warner Australia, Universal, Museagency |
Early years
editGyan Evans was born in about 1960 and was raised in Geelong.[1] Both her parents were English migrants and Gyan is the youngest of their four children.[1] Her older sister Asakti Evans is also a singer.[2] For secondary education Gyan attended Matthew Flinders Girls High School and, at the age of 17, changed her first name to Gyan: "I went to India ... I joined a weird religious cult and I was given that name by an old man with a long beard".[1] By 1989 both her parents were dead.[1]
Career
edit1989–1991: Debut album and ARIA Award
edit
Gyan signed with the Trafalgar Productions label, which was distributed by Warner Australia.[3][4] In October 1989 she released her debut self-titled album, which peaked at No. 27 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[5] It was produced by Charles Fisher (1927, Midnight Oil, Hoodoo Gurus, Olivia Newton-John, Radio Birdman).[4][6] Fisher had been given Gyan's demos by a mutual friend and together they recorded the album at Trafalgar Studios in Annandale.[2] The Canberra Times' Penelope Layland described the album as "patchy but reasonably successful ... [she] has an excellent voice. However, she also has what some of her contemporaries lack and that is a true sense of musical style and an already well-developed song-writing ability".[7]
Ahead of the album in August she released a single, "Wait", which peaked at No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for 22 weeks.[8] It was co-written by Gyan with Geoffrey Stapleton (GANGgajang) and Gary Frost of 1927.[4][9] A second single, "It's Alright", was written by Gyan.[10] It reached the top 50 in December.[5] A third single, "Black Wedding Ring" was released in February 1990, and peaked at No. 93.[5]
From October 1989 to January the next year, Gyan toured Australia to promote the album backed by The Dearly Beloved with Stapleton on guitar and keyboards, Asakti (Gyan's sister) on backing vocals, Hanuman Das on drums, Mark O'Connor on keyboards and David Sparks on guitar.[2][4] Later Peter Willersdorf (ex-Tim Gaze Band) replaced Orszaczky on bass guitar. O'Connor had also worked on the album, co-writing tracks with Gyan.[2] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990 Gyan was awarded the Best New Talent for the previous year's work.[11][12] In April that year she toured Europe,[13] where she was popular in the Soviet Union despite her "fans not understanding the words of her songs".[14] During this time, she contributed vocals to the Top Ten album The Other Side by 1927.[15]
1992–1997: Reddest Red
editIn 1992, Gyan released her second studio album, Reddest Red, which was again produced by Fisher.[4][6][16] New Zealand musician, Dave Dobbyn, supplied guitar and backing vocals.[16] In July 1992, the album's lead single, "Something's Gotta Give", which had been co-written with Gaze,[17] was released, and entered the top 100 in August.[5] A second single, "Visualize" was released in October. A track "Will I with You" from Reddest Red was used on the soundtrack for the Russell Crowe film The Sum of Us (July 1994).[18] Some of her songwriting occurred when staying in "a pretty sleazy hotel – in London and it was good for writing because it was a kind of depressed place. It was interesting because it had this sort of contrast – a city falling down yet an energy with such large amounts of people".[13]
Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane noted that Reddest Red "made less use of the synthesised textures of [her] debut".[4] Jan Borrie of The Canberra Times said it was "more cohesive and well-rounded than the first and marks a more mature style of song writing for the singer".[13] To promote the album Gyan toured with Tim Gaze on acoustic guitar (ex-Tamam Shud, Kahvas Jute, Rose Tattoo).[4][19][20] Gyan was not worried by Gaze's previous bands "You can't go by what people have done before. I find that interesting chemistry often works."[20] In 1995 Gyan relocated to London to work.[1][4]
1998–2004: Suburban Opera
editIn 1998 Gyan travelled to the United States to start work on a third album titled Suburban Opera, with producer Desmond Child. It was not released in its entirety: a promo-only single, "Don't Hide Your Wild Away", was issued in 2001 and in 2003 most of its tracks first appeared as The Invisible Bird via Gyan's website. Meanwhile, she sang backing vocals on Ricky Martin's track "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" from his album, Sound Loaded.[21][22] She signed to Universal Records and worked as a songwriter for US country music singer, LeAnn Rimes. Rimes, who covered Gyan's song "Love Is an Army" on her album Twisted Angel,[23][24] recalled:
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.
— LeAnn Rimes, RAM Entertainment[25]
2005–2009: Collaboration with Michael Leunig
editBy 2005 Gyan had returned to Australia and lived near Byron Bay. The following year she collaborated with Michael Leunig and released the album Billy the Rabbit which was based on Leunig's poetry. 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."[1] The album contained a duet with Paul Kelly on the track "The Path to Your Door". Released to glowing reviews, Gyan and Leunig 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.
2010–present: Superfragilistically and This Girl's in Love
editSuperfragilistically is Gyan's fifth studio album and was released in 2010. It was runner-up Best Adult-Themed Album of 2010 in The Sydney Morning Herald which previously gave the album a four-star review, calling it "intensely beautiful, emotionally honest, sensitive and seductive". The Brisbane Courier called it a "staggeringly beautiful record". It was Album of the Week on ABC Radio National's Daily Planet program, and featured on ABC Triple J's Sunday Night Safran program.
In 2015, Gyan released This Girl's in Love.
Other work
editIn 2002, Gyan 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.
In 2008, Gyan's children's book, How Weird Is That?, which features illustrations by Michelle Dawson was published. The book was shortlisted for the Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration by the Children's Book Council of Australia. She also published a collection of poetry entitled Bear in Mind in 2012.
Gyan has also contributed to the soundtracks for the Australian films Weekend with Kate, The Sum of Us, 33 Postcards, Mental, Drift, The Turning, The Little Death and Little Tornadoes.
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [5] | |||
| Gyan | 27 | ||
| Reddest Red | 105 | ||
| Suburban Opera | – | ||
| Billy the Rabbit (with Michael Leunig) |
|
– | |
| Superfragilistically | – | ||
| This Girl's in Love |
|
– |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [5] | |||
| "Wait" | 1989 | 14 | Gyan |
| "It's Alright" | 49 | ||
| "Black Wedding Ring" | 1990 | 93 | |
| "Something's Gotta Give" | 1992 | 80 | Reddest Red |
| "Visualize" | 145 | ||
| "Don't Hide Your Wild Away" | 2001 | – | Suburban Opera |
Awards
editARIA Music Awards
editThe ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Gyan won one award from four nominations.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Gyan | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| Best New Talent | Won | ||
| Breakthrough Artist – Album | Nominated | ||
| "Wait" | Breakthrough Artist – Single | Nominated |
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Performance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Young Einstein | Cameo role (uncredited) | Feature film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Performance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Star Search | Herself - Contestant (Winner) | TV series |
| 1986 | Late Night with Jono and Dano | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989; 1989 | Countdown Revolution | Herself sings "Wait" | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989; 1989 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Herself sings "Wait" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989;1992 | The Midday Show | Herself sings "Wait" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989; 1990 | MTV | Herself - In Concert | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | Australian MTV Awards | Herself - Presenter | TV special |
| 1989 | Countdown Revolution | Herself sings "It's Alright" | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989; 1990 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Herself sings "It's Alright" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | MTV | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Spin | Herself sings "Black Wedding Ring" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990; 1992 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Herself sings "Black Wedding Ring" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990; 1992 | Tonight Live With Steve Vizard | Herself - Guest Singer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Review | Herself | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | A Country Practice | Herself as Singer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Coca-Cola Australian Music Awards | Herself - Guest | TV special |
| 1992; 1992 | In Sydney Today | Herself sings "Something's Got A Give" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Herself sings "Something's Gotta Give" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992; 1992 | The Midday Show | Herself sings "Something's Gotta Give" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Tonight Live with Steve Vizard | Herself sings "Something's Gotta Give" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The World Tonight | Herself sings "Something's Gotta Give" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | In Sydney Today | Herself sings "Visualize" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Today | Herself sings "Visualize" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Tonight Live with Steve Vizard | Herself sings "Visualize" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The Morning Show | Herself sings "Visualize" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992; 1994 | Sunday | Herself sings "Something's Gotta Give" / "Visualize" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | Australian Fashion Awards | Herself - Singer | TV special |
| 1993 | Aria Awards | Herself - Presenter | TV special |
| 1993 | Live And Sweaty | Herself sings "Visualize" / "Something's Gotta Give" | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Ernie and Denise | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | At Home | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994; 1994 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Guest | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1994 | The Times | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Sunday | Herself - Singer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | Good Morning Australia | Herself - Singer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016 | The Morning Show | Herself sings "Wait" | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016 | The Daily Edition | Herself sings "Johnny Guitar" | TV series, 1 episode |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Mathieson, Andrew (15 February 2007). "Many Stages of Gyan". Geelong Independent. Star News Group. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d Stapleton, Geoffrey. "Gyan and The Dearly Beloved". GANGgajang Official Website. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ "Moss Scoops the Pool at Record Industry Awards". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 27 March 1990. p. 2. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Gyan'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 6 July 2004. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Gyan discography". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 122.
- Reddest Red: "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 13 September 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- "Visualize": "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015". Imgur.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus. "Charles Fisher". Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ Layland, Penelope (23 November 1989). "'Automatic' Angst". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. p. 9 Section: Good Times. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ The ARIA Report. Vol. 1. ARIA. 14 January 1990. p. 4.
- ^ "'Wait' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ "'It's Alright' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 23 December 2013. Note: User may have to add Performer: Gyan, to limit search
- ^ "Winners by Year 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- ^ "Australia 1990 ARIA Awards". ALLdownunder.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
- ^ a b c Borrie, Jan (22 October 1992). "Gyan Burdened by 'Wait'". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. p. 17. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Sibley, David (11 October 1990). "Heard the one About the Minister and the Singer? Just Grin and Bear It..." The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. p. 1. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "1927 - the Other Side". Discogs. 1990.
- ^ a b Gyan; Dobbyn, Dave (1992), Reddest Red, Trafalgar Records. National Library of Australia, retrieved 23 December 2013
- ^ "'Something's Gotta Give' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ Faulkner, David; Urlich, Margaret; Gyan; Barnes, Jimmy; Harrod, Tina; Diesel; Maxwell, Lisa; Crowded House; Formula One; Ol' 55; Bass Culture; Hunters & Collectors (1994), The Sum of Us Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Picture This Records. National Library of Australia, retrieved 23 December 2013
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Holmgren, Magnus. "Tim Gaze". Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ a b Leedham, Nicole (12 August 1993). "Gyan's Taming of the Tattooist". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. p. 25. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Sound Loaded – Ricky Martin | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Sound Loaded (album notes). Ricky Martin. Columbia. 2000. COL 497769.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Twisted Angel – LeAnn Rimes | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Twisted Angel (album notes). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. 2002. 5050466-0931-2-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "LeAnn Rimes". RAM Entertainment & Special Event Services. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Platterlog: LP & Tape – New Releases > 16 October 1989". Platterlog. Retrieved 12 April 2018 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 122.
- ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from: 12/10/92 > Albums (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 141)". ARIA. Retrieved 28 September 2016 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "Suburban Opera (DD)". Apple Music. October 2003. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- ^ "Billy the Rabbit (DD)". Apple Music. September 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- ^ "Bio". gyan. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Superfragilistically (DD)". Apple Music. October 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- ^ "This Girl's in Love (DD)". Apple Music. October 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
