Christina Vantzou

 Christina Vantzou is an artist, musician, and composer.  Born in in Kansas City, she attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore (1997-2001) and moved to Brussels in 2003 where she currently resides.  Over the past decade Christina has made drawings, prints, animations, videos, and video installations. In recent years  sound has become a key aspect of her artistic identity.  In 2003, Christina met Stars of the Lid's Adam Wiltzie and together they started The Dead Texan (Kranky).  After several years of touring with The Dead Texan and a stint as a touring member of Sparklehorse (summer 2007) Christina started making music of her own.  Over a three-year period, using synthesizers, samples,  and her own voice, and working by ear, with Reason, and a homemade library of orchestral samples, Christina meticulously pieced together a 45-minute music composition. In 2010 she began working with Minna Choi (director of Magik*Magik orchestra), who translated the digital score to sheet music for a seven-piece ensemble. This collaboration culminated in recording sessions with Magik*Magik at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco.  The album was mixed and mastered in Brussels and will be released on Kranky on October 24, 2011. Titled Nº1, it is the first installment of a planned series of recordings by Christina with an orchestra component.  As a whole, Nº1 includes the release of a CD, a DVD of original videos, and a selection of remixes by various artists.