How many 18-year-olds can boast that they have produced two solo albums, released those albums on their own independent record label, and have toured internationally to promote them? Only Tania Elizabeth. Tania was born December 22nd, 1983 in Melbourne, Australia, and before she was three and a half, she was playing songs on a tiny violin. By age nine, she knew that she wanted to pursue a career as a fiddle player - and pursue she did.
By age 10, Tania was playing in the prestigious Calgary Fiddlers and had recorded on their most recent album - "Imprint". In the following year, Tania recorded with Calvin Vollrath and became familiar with the styles of the Metis. In mid 1998, she released her first solo album - "Something, the CD before the next one". 1998 was a year that was marked with more than amazing record sales and exciting new creative ventures for the young, rising star. It also marked her biggest accomplishment thus far - the birth of her record company and label, SwanSisters Records.
In December 1999, Tania Elizabeth released a second CD, "This Side Up" which featured her high-energy Celtic-based sound. Known and respected for her ability to improvise, Tania Elizabeth shines on this album, which she co-produced with Gemini-Award winner Paul Brosseau of Nomad Studios. During the days preceding the CD release concert and the concert itself, YTV filmed what would later be one-half of an episode called "YTV To the M@x"
Everyone had something to say about this young woman, but the highest compliment came from one of her all-time heroes, Mark O'Connor - "Tania - your CD is very good and a great production too. Nice arrangements and Forrest (his son) liked it a lot too."
Another new development that year was the beginning of what will be a long relationship with Save The Children Canada. Tania has committed her name and $1.00 from the sale of This Side Up to Save the Children Canada's "Out from the Shadows and Into the Light" Program. The Program is aimed at alleviating what Tania calls, "One of the world's worst crimes; the sexual exploitation of children." Tania also acts as an advocate on behalf of the cause.
A grueling month and a half tour across Canada in the summer of 2000 brought her from her home in Victoria, BC, all the way to PEI and back. If you didn't see her in concert, you may have caught her on CBC Radio and Television, Canada AM, CityTV, and many local television and radio stations, as well as local newspaper and magazines.
Tania spent February 2001 through April in Australia, opening for the Furey Brothers and headlining at major festivals, as well as playing several blissful gigs with Ember Swift and Lyndell Montgomery. May, June, and July saw Tania playing at Disney World (with the band Fiddlestix), the Butchart Gardens, and teaching at the Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp in Nashville, TN (as the Celtic instructor). August was spent in rehearsals with the Martin Mayer Band, and September to November, touring with them across China.
In late November, Leonard Podolak, the leader of Winnipeg-based band Scrüj MacDuhk, contacted Tania and asked her to join what James O'Connor of the Winnipeg Sun called "An innovative new Celtic band that's blowing the town apart."
Founded in 1995, Scrüj MacDuhk (nominated in 2000 for a Juno Award in the Roots-Music category) has played everywhere from the smallest pubs to the largest music festivals around the world. Manfued Jaeger of the Winnipeg Free Press calls Scrüj ".Among the best in the business. The players rip you out of your seat and get you toe tapping with Jigs and Shanties, delivered with volume, conviction, and split second timing" Tania is currently touring and preparing to record with Scrüj on their upcoming album.
Her new album, This Side Up, was recorded in September 1999 at Nomad Studios on Salt Spring Island. It is an innovative recording that reflects the new path she is exploring. She worked with co-producer Paul Brosseau and co-arranged the album with her fellow band members. The results are outstanding and the reviews are magnificent.
