INA FILIP

Originally from Brazil and currently based in Canada, Ina Filip has lived in India for several years, studying Hindustani Classical singing with the renowned Gundecha Brothers. She lived in the Gundecha’s gurukul in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, learning in the traditional guru-shyshia parampara system, the ancestral Indian system of art transmission in which disciples live with the guru, have daily lessons and devotes all of their time to singing practice.

Gundecha Brothers are one of the foremost exponents of Dhrupad, the most ancient and least known branch of classical Indian singing. They sing the Dagar Vani style, a ‘subtradition’ of Dhrupad renowned for its rigorous yet holistic approach to technique and micro tuning, as well as an in depth approach to what could be currently called ‘practices of Yoga of Sound’.
As an advanced disciple of this tradition, Ina Filip’s work as a performer as well as a teacher is imbibed of these attributes.

Prior to her studies in Classical Indian music, Ina Filip also studied Brazilian music (UFSCar, Brazil), Pop vocal (UQAM, in Montreal QC) as well as vocal improvisation techniques with Bobby McFerrin and fellow teachers (Circle Songs) and Rhiannon’s students.

As a performer, Ina Filip has naturally gravitated towards vocal improvisation in a wide range of contexts. She started performing in underground electronic festivals, in collaboration with different DJs and producers, and touring extensively in the yoga circuit (yoga festivals, centres and retreats), as well as exploring vocal improv inspired on circus and danse performances. With the advent of her Dhrupad studies, Ina Filip started collaborating with Classical Indian musicians as well as Contemporary classical composers, developing hybrid Dhrupad works. She collaborated with composer and Dhrupad singer Payton MacDonnald in the album ‘Polyphonic Malkauns’, in which Dhrupad meets Western Polyphony. Her more recent collaboration with Michael Harrison, Elliot Cole and Benoit Rolland, Ragas meet Contemporary classical and ambient music. For more information you can visit www.inafilip.ca.