The self-proclaimed “chamber folk” artist was honored in the Adult Contemporary Album, A Cappella Song, Social Action Song and Pop Song categories. The veteran artists and rising stars named as 13th IMA Winners in more than 80 Album, EP, Song, Music Producer, Music Video and Design categories were winnowed from thousands of submissions from around the globe, and were determined by a panel of influential artists and music industry executives.Īmong the noteworthy achievements of the 13th IMA program, Vienna Teng was named the winner of four categories, the most any artist has received in a given year. J– Willie Sugarcapps, Vienna Teng, Valerie June, The Bankesters, Pete Seeger, The Soul of John Black, I See Stars, Rabbit Rabbit, Sultans of String, Elizabeth Mitchell, Marcio Novelli and Fanfara Tirana Meets Transglobal Underground are among the exceptional self-released and independent label talent named today by Music Resource Group (MRG) as the judge-determined Winners of The 13th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential international awards program for independent bands and fans. Vienna Teng Wins Four Categories and Pete Seeger Is Honored For Previously Unreleased Trackįan Online Voting Will Determine The 13th IMA Vox Pop Winners Willie Sugarcapps, Vienna Teng, Valerie June, The Bankesters, Pete Seeger, The Soul of John Black, I See Stars, Rabbit Rabbit, Sultans of String, Elizabeth Mitchell, Marcio Novelli and Fanfara Tirana Meets Transglobal Underground Are Among The 13th Independent Music Awards Winners With Warm Strangers, Vienna Teng has taken a confident step forward to create a set of songs that are sharper, deeper, and even more enchanting than her debut, proving that her talent and music are worthy of the accolades that continue to stack up around her.THE 13TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED Also noteworthy is a hidden bonus track whose lullaby-like melody, sung in Chinese, is a mesmerizing blend of Western pop music and Eastern language. The disc starts to meander in the second half, but there are enough interesting moments to keep it from wandering too far off-track, such as the ghostly, a cappella "Passage," in which Teng embodies the spirit of a car accident victim who observes the grieving loved ones she left behind.
Simple enhancements like the solo trumpet in "Mission Street," or the strummed piano strings in the disc's majestic centerpiece, "My Medea," keep the songs moving forward without distracting from Teng's vocal and instrumental proficiency. Although Teng's piano still drives most of the songs, the accompanying arrangements are inventive yet unobtrusive. These diversions help bring more definition to each song, allowing plaintive ballads like "Shine" and "Homecoming (Walter's Song)" to be more memorable and affective than if they were sequenced together.
Soothing sea winds are practically felt in the jubilant "Harbor," while the lilting "Shasta (Carrie's Song)" is quite possibly the most musically cheerful song ever written about a trip to an abortion clinic. Breaking the surface with the uneasy strains of "Feather Moon," Teng takes command with a quiet intensity that immediately bests anything from her debut, as her haunting voice beckons to "breathe in, breathe out," bringing to mind Kate Bush's equally spooky "Breathing." Unlike her debut's quiet meditations that tended to bleed into each other, Teng gets positively upbeat on several tracks. This may have proven to be a blessing in disguise, as her follow-up disc, Warm Strangers, displays the confidence of a burgeoning artist who had gotten her feet wet and has now plunged headlong into a pool of sparkling songs. But after the dust of praise finally settled, Waking Hour appeared slightly fragile in retrospect, with songs that were a bit too precious and self-conscious. Coming out at a time when plucky, piano-banging youngsters like Vanessa Carlton were upstaging their more reflective predecessors like Sarah McLachlan, Teng's songs kicked up a little wind for all sensitive singer/songwriters. It was easy to heap accolades on Vienna Teng's debut recording, Waking Hour, and its impeccable set of songs that overflowed with intelligence and sensitivity.
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