Biography
Standing somewhere between neo-impressionism and electronica, Isnaj Dui (real name Katie English) conveys a minimal yet capturing sound using electronically manipulated flutes and homemade instruments.
Cited as a distinct voice, taking the flute away from its pastoral image whilst maintaining its unique mellow sound, English has released several critically acclaimed albums 2009’s Unstable Equilibrium (Home Normal) and her most recent work Euplexia (Rural Colours). She has appeared at venues such as the National Portrait Gallery and Union Chapel in London and has received extensive play on Radio 3's Late Junction and BBC 6 Music.
As a classically trained flautist, English has also studied electroacoustic music, alternative tunings and Balinese gamelan. Working without laptop processing, English uses the pure tones of concert and bass flutes alongside homemade dulcimers and electronics to create immersive yet restrained textures that weave in and out of each other.
As well as her solo work, Katie plays in littlebow, The Doomed Bird of Providence and has collaborated live and on record with Orla Wren, Hybernation and The Owl Service amongst others.
REVIEWS…
Textura, July 2014 ‘There's a maturity of conception and execution on display that identifies English as an artist and producer of considerable merit, someone hardly content to merely string myriad sounds together in the hope that they'll coalesce into something meaningful.’
Norman Records, April 2014 ‘…delicately attuned balance between almost spiritual stillness and constantly shifting textures and melodies with a sometimes confrontational playfulness about them… Quite remarkable, possibly the best of her many releases that I've heard.’
Nils Frahm 'Deeply inspiring music from a very, very special place'
Boomkat (album of the week) 'Absolutely gorgeous music and a big recommendation for followers of and good music everywhere.'
Smallfish (recommended) 'Truly a delight to listen to and something that is both familiar and strangely exotic sounding. You’re unlikely to hear another album quite like this in the near future and for that we must be thankful that Isnaj Dui is out there doing her own thing.'
DISCOGRAPHY
Euplexia (Rural Colours), April 2014
Secondary Projections (Hibernate), February 2014
After the Flood (Hibernate) June 2013
Duodecim (FBox Records) subscription series running September 2011-August 2012, CD released Feb 2013
Abstracts on Solitude (Hibernate) June 2012
Circle of Sleep (FBox Records) February 2011
Protective Displacement (Rural Colours) December 2010
Unstable Equilibrium (Home Normal) August 2009
Patterns In Rocks (FBox Records) July 2007
Amacrine (Smallfish) June 2007
Sequence EP (FBox Records) May 2006
Isnaj Dui (FBox Records) March 2005
COMPILATIONS
'Randall 4033' exclusive track, Mystery Plays Singles Club (Mystery Plays Records), August 2014
Long Division with Remainders Part 2 (Front & Follow), Sept 2013
‘Nature of Light’, from Abstracts on Solitude, Hibernate Sampler vol.7 (Hibernate), January 2013
‘Not Everyone Appreciates Literalism (Dishwasher)’, exclusive track, Phrenology, Sept 2012
‘Duelol’, exclusive track, escala 2.3 v.v.a.a., Escala Netlabel, April 2012
'Always Close' exclusive track, Festive Greetings from Home Normal and Hibernate, Dec 2011
'The Balance We Once Had' exclusive track, Sequence 1 (Futuresequence), Sept 2011
'Swallowtail Yellow' with Orla Wren, Kanshin (Hibernate), March 2011
'Once Found', Minute Papillon (Second Language), Feb 2011
'La Porte' with Monolyth & Cobalt, Clyde Parker Project Vol3, Dec 2010
'Bones' with Andy Nice, Arctic Circle Explorer's Club series (Loaf), Oct 2010
'A Secret Peace' exclusive track, Vertical Integration compilation (Second Language) August 2010
'Version 5' & 'Remainder #1', 14 Versions of The Same EP box-set (Front & Follow) July 2010
'Daybreak' exclusive track, Panic at the Planetarium compilation (Courier) June 2010
'Weeks Went By' exclusive subscriber's track, Arctic Circle Explorer's Club series (Loaf) March 2010
'Lieunb (live)', Telephasic Workshop >1, May 2007
'DulcImprov' exclusive track, Disco_r.dance Vol. 1 compilation, November 2006
'Catoctin', The Wire Tapper 15, June 2006
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