by Ziggy Merritt
Gavin Turek is the name everyone should know by now. As an artist she has run the full gamut of available artistic professions, which are not limited to her identity as a dancer, singer-songwriter, and even fashion designer. The Los Angeles-based performer made waves over the summer with the single, “Don’t Fight It”, an outrageously catchy, up-tempo track that weaves together dance hooks and disco grooves. An EP, You’re Invited additionally followed this release in late August, produced by longtime collaborator, TOKiMONSTA.
This October marks the start of her lengthiest North American tour to date as a special guest alongside fellow electronic musician, Goldroom. Before Turek’s stop here in Philly on the 15th, I was able to phone her for a few brief minutes on her recent string of success, namely what has brought her from a background in dance to pop songstress seemingly overnight.
Much of this can be attributed to a rigorous and eclectic background in both classical and Ghanaian dance, the latter learned as part of a study abroad program through Scripps College in Claremont, California. “The program was specifically formed for artists,” Turek says. “Once we got there we were allowed to choose what type of art, what traditional Ghanaian art we wanted to study. I decided to stay in the north of Ghana where you really try to learn the northern dances which are infamously hard and insanely difficult. But I was completely obsessed.”
That obsession has worked out in her favor. Turek’s live shows incorporate not only her music but her own inimitable style of dance, something informed at least partially by distance. “I don’t really know of any West African or Ghanaian dance teachers out here so I’m a little rusty,” she admits. “I’ve definitely taken the movements I’ve learned there and made them my own.”
Her decision to incorporate this unique style of dance into her routine was something not just tacked on to differentiate herself from the admittedly talented swath of performers within Los Angeles. To Turek, dance remains central to her identity if not a significant part of her transition to recording pop music. “It was everything,” she says in response to the influence of dance within her performances. “Before I went abroad I dabbled in music a lot but I wasn’t getting it, there was a disconnect artistically. I wasn’t myself yet, I hadn’t found my groove, or at least how I present myself on stage. Once I studied in Ghana I came back and I had this new way of being comfortable with my body and moving and expressing myself. It was everything.”
This in mind, Turek still manages to find a way to add the title of designer within her growing repertoire of skills as her colorful fringe dresses often accompany her on stage. “I just can’t stop making them,” she admits with additional credit to the sewing going to her drummer’s mother, Joyce. “They’re very functional, they’re very comfortable, they accentuate my movements, and they’re just great!”
Gavin Turek will perform songs from, You’re Invited at Coda this Thursday, October 15th. Meanwhile check out that same EP out now via Young Art Records and check out her single, “Don’t Fight It” below.
