Kaia
From left to right
Back: Amy, Tristra, Lara, Lorraine
Middle: Jane, Jenny, Cairril
Front: Angela, Rebecca (former member)
Photography by the Very Patient Brian Kleber

Our Musical Influences
Amy: Jewish folk traditions, Los Pinguos, Les Youx Noir, Golem, Squirrel Nut Zippers

Angela: Tori Amos, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald,
Jeff Buckley, Elizabeth Fraser

Cairril: Billie Holliday, Connie Boswell, Janis Joplin, Judy Garland, Cab Calloway, Mahalia Jackson

Jane: Libana, Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Djurdjura, Idir, Sweet Honey in the Rock

Jenny: Jennifer Holliday, Chris Cornell, Selena, Rob Zombie, Tupac Shakur, Tego Calderon

Lara: Sweet Honey in the Rock, Zap Mama, Johnny Cash, Mel Torme, Keely Smith, Linda Tillery

Lorraine: my Dad, Natalie Maines, Judy Garland, Freddie Mercury, Rockapella, Lauryn Hill

Tristra: Trio Bulgarka, Incredible String Band, Silly Sisters, Emmy Lou Harris

A Spare Photo
Kaia Footwear Summer '05 by Jeanne Leimkuhler

About Kaia
Kaia is a Bloomington, Indiana-based a cappella vocal ensemble performing world music, jazz, spirituals, original compositions, improvisation, and anything else that strikes our fancy. Many of us have a long history of performing in other groups (indie bands, small ensembles, choral work, musical theatre, etc). Founded in October 2004, we've performed in a wide variety of Bloomington-area venues.

Our musical influences are very diverse, including Mel Torme, Tupac Shakur, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, classical composers, Libana, and various world music performers. That diversity makes us unique—you never know what we'll do next! (Though we don't do barbershop, doo-wop, or anything remotely show choir-y.)

We focus on bringing soul to our music to connect with each other and break the "performer/audience" barrier. From haunting, lyrical ballads to bawdy drinking songs, we love to explore the many textures of the musical world and all aspects of the human experience. We also have a lot of fun. We invite you to join us at our next show!

Our Name
Pronunciation: Kaia rhymes with FLY-uh. In Greek it means "from the Earth" and in Hawaiian it means "the sea." We learned later it was an empire in Korea long ago (who knew??). Contact us if you know another association or meaning!

The concert on Friday was FABULOUS! I’m proud to say I’ve been to all four and each one has left me with hope and a fire in my heart.
- S.W., Bloomington

Our Music
Learn more about the songs we sing

Our Merch
Buy a Kaia CD or merchandise

How We Work
Kaia meets weekly to rehearse, share chocolate (or bok choy, as the mood strikes), and (occasionally) do yoga. Leadership is shared throughout the group, with different people responsible for finding gigs, managing our vast treasury, or developing our repertoire. Everyone gives input on creative direction for pieces, with the singer who has creative ownership of the piece having the final say.

WE ARE NOT A CHORUS.

We're a fun, tight-knit, creative group of strong women always looking to develop our sound and expand our horizons. We are strong enough individually to hold down a part alone or to spot a creative opening in the middle of an improv. We carry our own weight. We make decisions through consensus wherever possible and celebrate the gift each voice brings to the ensemble. We strike a balance between classical training methods and more intuitive, spontaneous approaches. More than anything, we listen to each other and work to build a fun, creative, top-notch music environment.

Want to Know More?
• Listen now to Artworks: Listen to an interview with Cairril and Amy featured on the May 8 2007 edition of Artworks, WFIU’s program of local artists. In an interview with Yaël Ksander, we dish the dirt on Kaia’s secret mission to change the world.

• Check out our music to learn a little of the gorgeous diversity of life we get to explore. You can hear samples and even check out some full-length videos!

• Buy a CD! C'mon, you know you want to!

• Sign up for the KaiaGigs e-mail list (instructions on our home page), come to our next show, or heck—just contact us! We'd love to hear from you.