Mira Calix Biography – Mira Calix Wiki
Mira Calix born Chantal Francesca Passamonte known professionally as Mira Calix was a South African-born, British-based audio and visual artist signed to Warp Records. Although her earlier music is almost exclusively electronic, from the 2000s onwards she incorporated writing for classical instrumentation into her musical works and expanded her practice to include multidisciplinary performance, film, and multi-channel installation artworks. She often stated that she considered sound a sculptural material. She started to work at a record shop and took up organizing parties and DJing. She worked at the labels 4AD and Warp Records, where she held the position of publicist from 1994 to 1997.
Her earlier music specialized in mixing her intimate vocals with jittering beats and experimental electronic textures and natural sounds. In 2003, she collaborated with the London Sinfonietta for the first time. Nunu premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London at a concert titled “Warp Works and 20th Century Masters”. The piece then toured internationally, performed by live insects, orchestra, and Calix on electronics. Subsequently, she incorporated orchestration and live classical instruments in her performances and recorded work. She worked with visual artists and musicians from other disciplines to create music for dance, theatre, film, opera, and installations. Calix was commissioned to write new works for the London Sinfonietta, Bang on a Can, the Aldeburgh Festival, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera North, Streetwise Opera, the Manchester International Festival, National Arts Festival, Sydney Festival, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and more.
In 2004, she formed Alexander’s Annexe, a band/ensemble with pianist Sarah Nicolls and sound designer David Sheppard. Their debut performance was at the Ravello Festival in Italy, followed by performances at the Aldeburgh Festival and Parco Della Musica in Rome. Alexander’s Annexe released the album Push Door To Exit on Warp in November 2006. She consistently titled her works and albums in lower case, having rejected capitalization during her introduction to the work of ee cummings as a child. As a live performer and DJ, Calix supported and toured with Radiohead, Boards of Canada, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Autechre, and other artists. She performed at Sonar, Glastonbury, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Coachella, Latitude, and other concert halls and festivals.
Her debut album, One on One, was released by Warp on March 6, 2000. This was followed by another studio album, Skimskitta in 2003 and Eyes Set Against the Sun in 2007. Two albums of commissioned works, 3 Commissions (2004) and The Elephant In The Room: 3 Commissions (2008), were also released on Warp Records. Lost Foundling, a collaboration with Mark Clifford of the band Seefeel, was released on Aperture Records in 2010. Her Utopia EP was released on Warp Records in 2019. The record shares its title with the short film written and directed by Adam Thirlwell, for which she wrote the original score. There have also been numerous remixes and contributions to compilations and two installation-related releases on The Vinyl Factory. Her original scores for Julius Caesar and Coriolanus are available through the Royal Shakespeare Company imprint. Calix ran a bespoke Calix Portal through Bleep Records, on which many of her classical works can be found.
Mira Calix Age
Her birth-given name was Chantal Francesca Passamonte. She was born in 1970 in Durban, South Africa, and moved to London in 1991.
Mira Calix Husband
Before her demise, she resided in Suffolk with her husband Sean Booth, who is a member of the electronic duo Autechre.
Mira Calix Death
On March 28, 2022, Warp Records announced that Calix had died. No cause of death was disclosed. Warp Records, the label most associated with her work, broke the news about the artist, with a statement:
We are devastated to learn about the death of our dear Mira Calix (born Chantal Passamonte). Mira was not only a hugely talented artist and composer, she was also a beautiful, caring human who touched the lives of everyone who had the honor of working with her.
Mira has been a huge part of Warp’s family and history, as one of the first female artists signed to the label and releasing six albums from ‘one on one in 2000 to ‘a̶b̶s̶e̶n̶t̶ origin’ in 2021. We are so proud of her immense creative output; her artwork, videos, and music were a true reflection of what an innovative, pioneering, and wonderful soul she was. She pushed the boundaries between electronic music, classical music, and art in a truly unique way. She will be terribly missed by everyone at the label, staff and artists alike.
Via her agency LITTLEBIG, we have this remembrance:
Her long-term agent, Mia shared these words: “You inspired everyone who knew you with your kindness, sensitivity, and creativity. I am so lucky and grateful to have worked with you and to have been your friend. I love you always”.
Mira Calix Cause of Death
On March 28, 2022, Warp Records announced that she had died. No cause of death was disclosed.
Mira Calix Instagram
Her Instagram handle was @miracalix_. Her account is set to private.
