“a tense and bespoke mixture of swampy electronics, strings, and vocals that flash with a bold volcanic brilliance" - The FADER

FOONYAP is a classically-trained violinist and vocalist, showcasing an incomparable sound that swings between fragility and explosive dynamism. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Treaty 7 Territory, she started violin lessons when she was four, entering the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music at the age of eleven. After leaving the conservatory, she explored alternative expressions and styles, lending her talents to the protest rock of Art Bergmann, the indie folk-pop collective Woodpigeon, and her own FOONYAP and The Roar.

FOONYAP made her 2016 solo debut with Palimpsest, a record that navigates her sheltered Chinese-Catholic heritage and the intense classical music training of her childhood. Marrying Chinese melodies with classical deconstructionism as a reconciliation with her past, the album is a testament to the multiple identities and modern societal pressures that children of immigrant families face.

FOONYAP toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe and Canada, garnering increasing acclaim from publications such as The Fader, The Line Of Best Fit, and the Toronto Star, while also appearing on CBC Q + Music Lab.

FOONYAP continues to connect with her cultural roots, exploring the history of Chinatowns and their role in the Western cultural ecosystem. She is also involved with the Chinese-Canadian arts communities in examining what a time of decolonization and China’s global status means for their futures.

Venturing beyond musical boundaries to bridge together avant-garde, indie and classical, FOONYAP has expanded her skills in dance and composition. Recent projects include SHED | knowing each other as different and the same, a collaboration with choreographer Pam Tzeng and an upcoming commission by the Kensington Sinfonia.

The balance between individuality and union informs FOONYAP’s creative research as she considers questions around the borders of a cultural group integrated into the whole, and how to explore one's authentic self while maintaining good relations.