Tecoma (musician)
| Tecoma | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Amira Antonia M Pyliotis |
| Born |
24 April 1980 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Origin | Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Genres | Roots, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, trumpet |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Polaris/MGM |
| Associated acts | Emaline Delapaix |
| Website | tecomamusic |
Amira Antonia M Pyliotis (born 24 April 1980) is an Australian independent Roots singer-songwriter and guitarist; who performs as Tecoma. Originally from Melbourne, in 2004, she relocated to Alice Springs, where the desert has given her much of her inspiration. Her style has been called "post trip-hop" by the Rolling Stone Australia (April 2007) and "alternative roots music" by Triple J radio network.
Tecoma is known for an eclectic mix of music, a distinctive voice, and a thoroughly engaging style when performing live. Since 2005 she has been touring nationally in Australia and internationally. Her most recent album has been receiving national airplay on Triple J and other Australian radio stations.
Amira Antonia M Pyliotis was born on 24 April 1980, and grew up in Melbourne. Her mother, Saliha Mezaache, was born in 1945 in Algeria, and learned English in France; her father is Alexander "Alec" Pyliotis (born ca. 1943, Greece); her paternal grandfather, Dimitri Pyliotis (died 1 May 1975), was a Greek diplomat stationed in Canberra; and her paternal grandmother was Russian. Her oldest sister, Aryel, was born on 25 July 1976; a second sister was born on 15 March 1978. As a six-year-old Tecoma learned singing and dancing at a Johnny Young Talent School. In primary school, at about eight-years-old, she heard a jazz trumpeter "literally blowing us kids away with the power of the instrument and his skill on it. It was exhilarating!" While growing up she spent summers on the south coast of New South Wales.
Originally trained as a jazz and classical trumpet player, Pyliotis performed in various secondary school-based ensembles. Her early influences include Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker, and Johnny Cash. While still at secondary school, at the age of 14, Pyliotis joined a covers band providing "Pearl Jam, RHCP & Faith No More" material. Upon completion of secondary education she entered a tertiary Bachelor of Music course; she studied "western and Arabic classical music". At the Australian Guild of Music and Jazz Theory she trained in classical singing, while at Melbourne Music Academy she studied guitar and composition.
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