Photo credit: Babiracki Images/Krzysztof Babiracki
Rising industrial metal songstress I Ya Toyah is proud to announce the release of her new EP; I AM THE FIRE is due out on April 5th. The EP is produced with and mixed by Stabbing Westward’s Walter Flakus. The first video/track from the EP is available now; click here to experience the feverishly powerful, riveting, darkwave-inspired “Panic Room”.
Of the forthcoming EP, Walter Flakus commented, “From the first time I heard I Ya Toyah, I knew she was something special. Getting the opportunity to remix her song “Pray” gave me the chance to work her magical voice. I fell in love with her voice and her music instantly. I didn’t want it to end, and luckily neither did she. Working on this new collection of songs has been super exciting. She is a fountain of great ideas, and she’s allowed me to help focus and together, elevate her music. I can’t wait for people to hear it. I know they’ll be blown away.”
On working with Walter Flakus and the track/video, “Panic Room”, I Ya Toyah added, “I have been a huge fan of Walter all my life. Growing up I listened to Stabbing Westward all the time and in my dark reality in Poland they saved my life, daily. Their music motivated me to seek my current reality which resulted in me landing in America, working my bones off to build a life from scratch, becoming a citizen, and then finally having the privilege of making music. I’m meeting my heroes and now we are working together. Dreams? Yes, they do come true. Sometimes you just have to turn your life upside down and never give up…And do not give in to the panic!”
In other news, I Ya Toyah will head out on an extensive American tour around the release of I AM THE FIRE, as support for Orgy and Cold. The tour kicks off in April and runs through the end of May. Please see below for the itinerary.
I Ya Toyah is not just a musical act, she’s a movement. When spoken out loud in her native Polish, the words “I Ya Toyah” translate to “It’s just me” and “I am who I am”. These simple, but powerful words act as an unwavering mission statement that guides every aspect of her career. In just a few short years, the Chicago-based singer/songwriter/guitarist has released several recordings, organized the creation of multiple music videos, and toured the United States multiple times, most recently with Stabbing Westward. I Ya Toyah combines elements of industrial, pop, electro, darkwave, and alternative rock into a unique aural tapestry that acts as the perfect backdrop for her intensely personal lyrics; but it’s the power and versatility of her voice that really sets her apart. Her potent vocal performances effectively deliver a message that is modern, relatable, and speaks to the paranoia of everyday reality.
While she truly embodies the spirit of DIY, I Ya Toyah also actively embraces the collaborative nature of the industrial/darkwave music scene. Recent musical releases include projects with Raymond Watts (PIG, KMFDM), Julian Beeston (Nitzer Ebb, Cubanate), Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium), Tim Skold (Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM, Marilyn Manson, Motionless in White), Phil Owen (Skatenigs), and Stabbing Westward, whose remix of her song “Pray” quickly brought her name to the top of the Industrial Electronic charts on Bandcamp. She is also an active member of The Joy Thieves, a 50+ member supergroup whose roster includes musicians who have worked with Ministry, Depeche Mode, Killing Joke, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Nitzer Ebb, White Zombie, and more.
I Ya Toyah is a fierce advocate for mental wellness, as well as human and animal rights. Not content to simply raise awareness for these causes, she has donated 15% of the proceeds from the sales of her music and merchandise directly to organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation. Most recently, she participated in the recording of a version of the Beatles’ classic “Come Together” to raise funds for the people of the war-torn country of Ukraine. The project was arranged and mixed by legendary music producer John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins). Participants included members of Faith No More, Stabbing Westward, Ministry, Rammstein, Filter, The Joy Thieves, Agnostic Front and more.
I Ya Toyah tour dates supporting Orgy and Cold:
APRIL
11 Chicago, IL The Bottom Line
12 Flint, MI The Machine Shop
13 Des Moines, IA Lefty’s Live Music
14 Sioux City, IA The Marquee
16 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
17 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
19 Seattle, WA Madame Lou’s
20 Portland, OR Bossanova Ballroom
22 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s
23 West Hollywood, CA Whisky A Go Go
24 Fresno, CA Fulton 55
25 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
26 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
27 Scottsdale, AZ Pub Rock Live
28 Albuquerque, NM The Launchpad
30 Austin, TX Come And Take It Live
MAY
1 San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger
2 Dallas, TX Trees
3 Houston, TX Scout Bar
4 Shreveport, LA Strane Brew
6 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
7 Tallahassee, FL Legacy At Riverfront
8 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution Live
9 Daytona Beach, FL Welcome To Rockville
10 Greenville, SC Radio Room
11 Knoxville, TN The Concourse
12 Greensboro, NC Hangar 1819
14 Mechanicsburg, PA Lovedraft’s
15 Clifton, NJ Dingbatz
16 New York, NY The Gramercy Theatre
17 Allentown, PA Maingate Nightclub
18 Alston, MA Brighton Music Hall
19 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage
21 Syracuse, NY The Song & Dance
22 Warrendale, PA Jergels
23 Covington, KY Madison Theater
24 Columbus, OH The King Of Clubs
25 St. Paul, MN Turf Club
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