Vox Rea features Kate Kurdyak (lead vocals/piano/guitar/violin) and Lauren Kurdyak (vocals/piano/percussion). The two sisters released their debut album, To Bring You My Heart, on 604 Records in 2017 under the name “The Katherines.” The album garnered over a million spins on Spotify with songs featured on playlists including New Music Friday, Pop All Day, Hot Hits Canada, Indie Pop Chillout and the Canada Viral 50 chart. Their songs were also featured  on TV shows Orphan Black, Reboot, and The Order. The album attracted media attention from Vice, MTV, the Vancouver Sun and the National Post. The band also performed on morning shows in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. 

 

After a hiatus to study philosophy in the mountains, the band resurfaced under the moniker, Vox Rea, in the fall of 2020. The new name’s intentional ambiguity allowed for an identity beyond the stereotype of being labelled a “girl-band” and represents the reclamation of their creative control. Every part of the project – the music, the image, and the message – is created by the band. Vox Rea focuses on art as an experience as opposed to a product and their music chronicles the odyssey of a group of  artists trying to come to terms with their generation’s place in the human story. Themes of addiction, self-doubt, lust, identity, independence and grief form the undercurrent of lyrics that are deeply introspective. Hell bent on creating a meaningful life amidst the siren songs of consumerism and efficiency, Vox Rea believes in the revolutionary power of art.

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The band’s special brand of noir pop blends string arrangements and harmonies into the dreamy collection of songs on their self-titled debut. “Vox Rea'' was written in collaboration with fellow Canadian artists Luca Fogale, Begonia and Joël, and produced by Connor Seidel and Tim Buron (Charlotte Cardin, Matt Holubowski), JUNO nominee Derek Hoffman (Arkells, RALPH, The Elwins) and multi-platinum producer Joel Stouffer (Dragonette, Kayla Diamond). 

 

Since the release of their first single “Dose Me Up” in 2020, Vox Rea has garnered over 700k streams on Spotify and their music has been added to various editorial playlists including New Music Friday Canada, Indie All Stars, Indie Pop and Chill. Their songs have been played on CBC and local radio stations in British Columbia. Their single “Damn (Unstuck)” was featured on the cover of Folk & Friends and made Spotify’s Top Folk Songs of 2021. Vox Rea has played in music festivals across North America including Reeperbahn, Treefort Music Fest, Laketown Shakedown and Capitol Hill Block Party. In 2022, they were the recipients of CreativeBC’s Career Development Grant, Canada Council’s Research & Creation Grant and were chosen to be a part of RBCxMusic’s First Up Program. 

 

Vox Rea believes deeply in the power of collaboration and functions with the ethos of an artist collective. The two sisters worked closely on their self-titled album with best friend Kaitlyn Hansen-Boucher and Berklee-alum Mitchell Schaumberg. They also co-directed and produced their music videos and a short film with longtime collaborator Lon Gross. Their innovative and successful merchandise line was made in partnership with Dutch-artist Maud van Baar de Knegt and they have worked closely with a number of local brands including a beer collaboration with Field House Brewing and campaigns for Huha, Charlie Beads and Lost Goodz. 

 

With new music on the horizon alongside a showcase at SXSW and a residency at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, 2023 looks to be a promising year for Vox Rea.