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BIOGRAPHY (pour les francophones, lire en dessus)

VIVEYNNE's music is inspired by "anything insanely beautiful, or hauntingly dark".

The band's most defining element is their 14-year-old lead singer and songwriter, Mikki. Her original compositions feature powerful and haunting vocals, melodic songwriting ability, dark and emotional lyrics, and poignant piano blending with the band's passionate guitar performances.

Forming the band VIVEYNNE, Mikki released her first recording as an EP "Becoming Jane Doe" on May 11, 2009 with producer Chuck Kollatos of 7th Sign Recording Studio in Brantford, Canada.

"Becoming Jane Doe was almost like an experiment for me. i wrote all these songs over a year ago when i was 13, and wrote the melody for Blood to Bleed when I was 12. I am extremely happy to see them recorded and on an EP. When i wrote these songs i was still struggling to find my sound and who i wanted to become as a musician. The album reflects this - but in a positive way. This EP, for me, is the start of a journey that will continue throughout my life. It portrays someone entering a new world as a nameless person who's willing to continue and discover different ground. This EP is special to me because it really reflects the first step on a road i'm sure to walk down."

Mikki has already garnered attention for her superb vocal work from rock bands worldwide and has been selected for the 2010 Beto Vazquez Infinity 10th anniversary album. BVI's discovery demonstrates the artist's already tremendous maturity since Beto has worked with many well established rock Discoveries vocalists, including Marcela Bovio, Tarja Turunen, Candice Night, Floor Janson, Manda Ophius, to name just a few. Mikki was discovered by Beto himself who was impressed with her extraordinary vocal control and power far mature than her years.

Looking ahead, fans can expect a full length CD by the end of 2009 which is already more than half written. Mikki's style is becoming better defined going into her next album with performance and recording experience under her belt. Fans can expect a heavier sound with more driving rhythms and solid production on VIVEYNNE's first full length album.



La musique de Viveynne est inspirée par tout ce qui est à la fois étrangement beau et sombre.

L’atout majeur du groupe est sans aucun doute Mikki, l’auteur-compositeur interprète de 14 ans seulement. Ses compositions originales sont portées par une voix profonde, une écriture musicale surprenante pour son jeune age, des textes sombres et émouvants soutenus par un piano qui se fond dans le jeu passionné des guitares du reste du groupe.

Avec Viveynne, Mikki a sortit ses premiers titres sous forme d’un EP « Becoming Jane Doe » le 11 mai 2009, produit par Chuck Kallatos au « 7th Street Recording Studio » de Brantford ( Canada ).

« Becoming Jane Doe » a été une véritable expérience pour moi. J’ai écrit ces titres il y a un an alors que j’avais 13 ans et composé la mélodie de « Blood to Bleed » quand j’en avais 12 .Je suis heureuse de les voir sur un CD. J’ai écrit ces tires alors que je cherchais encore mon « son » et qui je voulais être sur le plan musical. L’album reflète cet état d’esprit., et de façon plutôt positive en fait. Cet EP est pour moi le commencement d’un voyage qui va se perpétuer tout au long de ma vie. Il dépeint quelqu’un, une personne sans nom, pénétrant dans un monde inconnu, mais bien décidé à avancer et à découvrir de nouveaux horizons. Cet EP est important à mes yeux , il est le premier pavé sur une route que je suis assurée de suivre »

Les capacités vocales de Mikki lui ont valu d’attirer l’attention de groupes de rock à travers le monde et d’être choisie pour participer à l’album du 10ième anniversaire de Beto Vazquez Infinity en 2010. La découverte de BVI prouve la grande maturité vocale de Mikki, Beto ayant collaboré avec des grandes voix rock telles Marcela Bovio, Tanja Turunen, Candice Night, Floor Janson et Manda Ophius entre autres.

La sortie d’un album est prévu pour la fin 2009, il est d’ailleurs déjà a moitié écrit. Le style de Mikki est plus aboutit grâce à ses récentes expériences sur scène et les enregistrements en studio. Les fans peuvent s’attendre a des instrumentations plus puissantes, à une production mieux construite sur le premier album de Viveynne.

DISCOGRAPHY

VIVEYNNE
"Becoming Jane Doe" ** EP release May 11, 2009 **

Produced, Recorded, and Mixed by Chuck Kollatos – 7th Sign Recording Studio, Brantford, Canada

Additional Mixing and Assistance by Randy Solski – RS Sounds and Production, Brantford, Canada

Mastered by Andy Krehm – Silverbirch Productions, Toronto, Canada

All Words and Music by Mikaila (Mikki) Straatsma (SOCAN)
Arrangements by Chuck Kollatos and John Lama

Vocals Lead & Backup, Piano and Synthesizer – Mikaila (Mikki) Straatsma.
Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Additional Synth, Drums (only Its Been Dark) – Chuck Kollatos
Rhythm Guitar – John Lama
Drums & Percussion (except Its Been Dark) – Randy Solski
Additional Bass Guitar (only The Exiled and Her Opera House) – Randy Solski
Additional Backup Vocals (Blood to Bleed & Becoming Jane Doe) – Beth Wilson



COMPOSITION SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS (Mikki Straatsma):

1. "Blood to Bleed" Semi-Finalist in Mike Pinder's Songwars Songwriting Competition Jan 29, 2009.

2. "Blood to Bleed" Winner of round 1 Iris Evolution's Song Face Off - Janaury 24, 2009.

3. "Sounds of Starlight" - won first place for original composition - scholarship awarded, Milton Music Festival, Spring 2008.

4. "Goodbye Good Morning" - won first place for original composition - scholarship awarded, Burlington Music Festival - November 2008.

5. "Sounds of Starlight" - won first place for original composition - scholarship awarded, ORMTA Showcase, Canadian Music Week, Burlington, November 2008



COMPETITIONS:

2009 Much Music and World Vision 30-Hour Famine Fundraiser. Through songwriting and singing of original composition "Lest We Forget" as a PSA music video, Mikki raised the most funds in Canada for 30-Hour Famine Fundraiser and won a spot on Much Music, an interview and featuring her music video on April 3, 2009 - Program: Video Flow 1 pm EST.

2008 Provincials Finals Competition OMFA (Ontario Music Festivals Assoc), Music Theatre Jr., Qualified to Represent Peel Region, Toronto, ON

2007 NATS National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Ontario- Category A2, Third Place Young Singer, York University, Toronto, November 2007

2006 Rising Star Competition, Canadian National Exhibition - Semi Finalist

2005 Bronte Idol Competition - Semi Finalist

VOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:

2008 Rotary Music Festival - Scholarship Awarded, Burlington, ON. First Place - Canadian Composer vocal competitive, girls 14 and under.

2008 - Provincials Competition - Represented Peel Region, Music Theatre Jr., Ontario Music Festivals Association, Toronto, ON

2008 Peel Music Festival - 2 Scholarships Awarded, Mississauga, ON. Second Place - Provincial Qualifying, Music Theatre, Girls 13 and under. First Place - Canadian Composer vocal solo, girls 13 and under. Second Place - Competitive Vocal solo, Girls 13 and under.

2008 - Milton Music Festival - 2 Scholarships Awarded, Milton, ON. First place - Music Theatre, girls 13 and under Own Composition - ungraded category - Scholarship Awarded.

2007 - (NATS) Great Lakes Area - Category A2, Young Singer - 3rd Place Scholarship, Toronto, ON.

2007 Rotary Music Festival - Scholarship Awarded, Burlington, ON. First Place - Canadian Composer vocal competitive, girls 13 and under. First Place - Film Solo vocal competitive, girls 13 and under. Third Place - Church & Spiritual vocal solo, girls 13 and under. Third Place - Duets, vocal competitive, girls 13 and under.

2007 Peel Music Festival - Scholarship Awarded, Mississauga, ON. First Place - Church Solo and spirituals, 12 years and under. First Place - Competitive Vocal Solo 12 years old and under. First Place - Folk Song other language (French), 12 and under. Second Place - Canadian Composer vocal solo, 12 and under.

2006 Milton Music Festival - Scholarship Awarded, Milton, ON. First Place - Music Theatre, girls 12 and under. First Place - Music Theatre, girls 12 and under. First Place - Competitive Vocal solo, girls 12 and under. Second Place - Church and Spiritual vocal solo, girls 12 and under.

2006 Rotary Music Festival, Burlington, ON. First Place - Vocal Competitive Folk Song, other language (Spanish). Second Place - Vocal Competitive Disney Solo, Girls 11 and under. Second Place - Vocal Competitive Solo - Girls 11 years old and under. Second Place - Vocal Competitive Church solo and Spirituals, 11 and under. Third Place - Musical Theatre, standard, 11 and under girls

2006 Peel Music Festival - Scholarship Awarded, Mississauga, ON. First Place - Musical Theatre, girls 11 and under. First Place - Musical Theatre, girls 11 and under. First Place - Folk Song any language (Italian), Girls 11 and Under. Third Place - Church Solo, Girls 11 and under. Third Place - Canadian Composer, Vocal Solo Girls 11 and Under.

2005 Rotary Music Festival, Burlington, ON. First Place - Junior Voice - under 10 years old. Second Place - Musical Theatre - girls 10 years and under. Second Place - Vocal Competitive Solo - 10 years old and under. Second Place - Musical Theatre - girls 10 years and under