Phew and Piu

Western Front is pleased to present a performance by Phew as part of her Canadian tour. Phew’s distinctive voice and spoken-word-like singing style have resounded in international underground music scenes over the last four decades. Starting from fronting the legendary punk band Aunt Sally in Osaka, she steadily released a series of solo albums with prominent collaborators such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, the former Can members Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit. After the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan, she opened a new chapter by channeling the power of analogue synthesized sounds and the human voice. This solo performance showcases her recent compositions and improvisations.

To open the evening, Vancouver Island-based Piu will present her expansive soundscapes with hard-hitting synth riffs, raga-inspired vocals, and global rhythms. A lifelong student of Indian classical music, Piu draws from the emotive forces of minimalism and the frontiers of modern electronic sounds. Her work blends genres, cultures, and identities—a reflection of how she moves in the world.

Phew’s Canadian tour also includes performances at Arts in the Margins/Flux Festival, Montréal; Debaser, Ottawa; The Music Gallery, Toronto; send + receive festival, Winnipeg; and strangewaves festival, Hamilton.

Curated by Aki Onda.

Phew, otherwise known as Hiromi Mortani, is a musician based in Kanagawa, Japan. While fronting Aunt Sally, one of Osaka’s earliest punk groups, Phew played a critical role in developing Japan’s underground music scene. Phew’s oeuvre spans a vast array of experimental sounds: from no-wavey synth-hymns; to poppy, shoegazing, industrial undertones; to eerie incandescent drones. Since the 1970s, Phew’s dynamic, compelling voice and her commitment to unfettered experimentation has been critical in shaping the sound of avant-garde music both in Japan and internationally.

Piu is a vocalist, composer, and producer based out of Vancouver Island, Canada. Adorning expansive soundscapes with hard hitting synth riffs, raga-inspired vocals, and global rhythms, Piu’s work involves a fusion of organic and synthetic sounds that invites deep emotional engagement. With seven singles released since 2021 and a debut album on the horizon, Piu is an active participant in the musical and experimental sound communities across British Columbia and has collaborations with musicians
worldwide.

The Grand Luxe Hall is located on the second floor of Western Front, which is accessed by a flight of 26 stairs. While plans for a full building upgrade to facilitate access for wheelchair users are still underway, events in the Grand Luxe Hall are made available virtually via high-quality livestream here. Further details about accessibility at Western Front can be found here.

Presented in partnership with Arts in the Margins, Montréal; Debaser, Ottawa; send + receive festival, Winnipeg; Strangewaves, Hamilton; The Music Gallery, Toronto; and Western Front, Vancouver, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, and SOCAN Foundation.

Host or Publisher Western Front