Imprint run by London drone pop band The Leaf Library.

New album 'Bright Star' out now at https://textura.bandcamp.com/album/bright-star-2

BIO:
Since 2005, Isnaj Dui (Katie English) has stood awkwardly between neo-impressionism and electronica, conveying a minimal yet capturing sound using the pure tones of concert and bass flutes alongside home-made dulcimers and electronics.   Having done her grades on flute and cello, English has also studied electroacoustic music, alternative tunings and Balinese gamelan.  She has graced labels such as Home Normal, Rural Colours, Smallfish, Front & Follow and her own FBox imprint. 

Having gained critical acclaim for releases such as 2007’s Amacrine (Smallfish) and 2014’s Dead Albatross Prize nominated Euplexia (Rural Colours), English has been cited as a distinct voice, taking the flute away from its pastoral image whilst maintaining its unique mellow sound.  She has also composed several site-specific sound installations including UNThread as part of a series throughout unconventional spaces around Essex, and After the Flood as part of Hebden Bridge Arts Festival 2013.  A prolific live performer, English has performed in numerous high profile venues and has received extensive attention in Wire Magazine and air play on Radio 3's Late Junction and BBC 6 Music.

As well as her solo work, Katie plays in littlebow, The Doomed Bird of Providence, The Sly & Unseen and has collaborated live and on record with numerous bands including Piano Magic, Memory Drawings and Hybernation.


Reviews... 

Textura, July 2014 ‘There's a maturity of conception and execution on display that identifies English as an artist and producer of considerable merit, someone hardly content to merely string myriad sounds together in the hope that they'll coalesce into something meaningful.’

Norman Records, April 2014 ‘…delicately attuned balance between almost spiritual stillness and constantly shifting textures and melodies with a sometimes confrontational playfulness about them…  Quite remarkable, possibly the best of her many releases that I've heard.’

Boomkat (album of the week) 'Absolutely gorgeous music and a big recommendation for followers of [Home Normal] and good music everywhere.'

Smallfish (recommended) 'Truly a delight to listen to and something that is both familiar and strangely exotic sounding. You’re unlikely to hear another album quite like this in the near future and for that we must be thankful that Isnaj Dui is out there doing her own thing.'

DISCOGRAPHY

Bright Star (textura), January 2021

Sight Seeing (FBox), November 2019

Poiesis (Rural Colours), November 2017

Sunspot Loops (Courier), July 2017

Answers at Dawn split album with These Feathers Have Plumes (Was Ist Das), April 2016

Stone’s Throw split EP with The Declining Winter (Rural Colours), September 2015

Dioptrics (FBox Records), August 2015

Euplexia (Rural Colours), April 2014

Secondary Projections (Hibernate), February 2014

After the Flood (Hibernate) June 2013

Duodecim (FBox Records) subscription series running September 2011-August 2012, CD released Feb 2013

Abstracts on Solitude (Hibernate) June 2012

Circle of Sleep (FBox Records) February 2011

Protective Displacement (Rural Colours) December 2010

Unstable Equilibrium (Home Normal) August 2009

Patterns In Rocks (FBox Records) July 2007

Amacrine (Smallfish) June 2007

Sequence EP (FBox Records) May 2006

Isnaj Dui (FBox Records) March 2005

Iskra means 'a spark' to ignite. 

Iskra is a collaborative group of string players who enjoy making music together regardless of genre. The quartet has travelled extensively across Europe with Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson, performing at various prestigious concert halls and festivals, including the Steve Reich 75th Birthday celebrations for the Barbican, London and Cork Opera House, Ireland. A highlight includes performances of 'The Miners' Hymns' collaboration with American artist film maker Bill Morrison.

Iskra has also enjoyed working closely with pianist/composer Olafur Arnalds. A concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and European tour led to an invitation to perform at the sold out launch of the album “For Now I Am Winter’ (Mercury Classics 2013) at the Barbican Concert Hall accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Andre de Ridder.

The quartet’s work with producer Jamie xx featured on the No. 1 best selling album by The xx entitled ‘Coexist’ (Young Turks/XL 2012). Recently Iskra contributed strings to Jamie's score for Tree Of Codes, a contemporary ballet created with choreographer Wayne McGregor and visual artist Olafur Eliasson for the Manchester International Festival.

Iskra’s collaborations with composer Alex Baranowski have featured on the soundtracks to the twice BAFTA nominated film McCullin (David Morris and Jacqui Morris, 2013) and for Sir Nicholas Hytner’s production of Hamlet at the National Theatre, London starring Rory Kinnear.

In 2007 Iskra were commissioned by Radiohead and XL Recordings to create a string quartet remix of their song ‘The Reckoner’ as part of the promotion of the album ‘In Rainbows’ (XL 2007).

Other highlights include collaborations with artists such as Vampire Weekend, Sufjan Stevens, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Katie Melua, Duke Special, My Brightest Diamond and composers Dustin O'Halloran and David Julyan. Recently Iskra performed as a trio alongside The Lone Bellow on Later...with Jools Holland (BBC Two).

Their forthcoming album celebrates their 10th anniversary and includes contributions from composers Johann Johannsson, Olafur Arnalds, David Julyan, Peter Gregson, Alex Baranowski, Isobel Waller-Bridge, Luke Anthony and Paul Frith.

Experimental | Classical | Free Improv | Folk
~ Voice & Violin ~
always looking to collaborate

Looping drone pop forever. (This is where our singles / droney / weird / one-off / live things live - head to http://theleaflibrary.bandcamp.com for the full discography.) Enjoy!

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