“Your humanity is your instrument.”
Kria Wall is a vocalist, composer, and educator based in Vancouver, Canada. Growing up within the roots of qathet on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Kria has always been drawn to the sounds of their home, their music a reflection of their story. Through composition and performance, they have surfaced as an exciting find in Canada’s jazz and art music scene.
Kria received a diploma and bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Capilano University, where they had the privilege of studying vocal performance and composition with musicians Steve Maddock, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Mary Jo Bischoff, and Bill Coon. They were involved in two of the university’s prestigious ensembles: NiteCap, directed by Rejean Marois, and Narwhal, directed by Jared Burrows. During their time in these ensembles, they had the phenomenal experiences of performing with acclaimed jazz artists Norma Winstone, Randy Brecker, Donny McCaslin, Ambrose Akinmusire, and David Braid.
As a bandleader, composer, and vocalist, Kria performs in their original project Spindle!, where they combine traditional jazz language with modern sounds and story-telling. Spindle! has played the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival and many other notable venues in Vancouver’s music scene. With the release of their first single in October 2022, Spindle! has grown a following within the local scene and beyond, having been featured in both national and international music blogs, playlists, podcasts, and radio.
In addition, Kria has featured compositions in many groups, including the big band project Vancouver Young Composer’s Ensemble, the Thad Bailey-Mai Group, and their own Kria Wall Trio.
Kria represents the queer, non-binary, and neuro-divergent experience as a musician and artist. They respectfully honour the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, where they reside and create as a settler on stolen lands.