ARUNA ANTONELLA HANDA & MICHAEL BROADHEAD

an uncommon duo

An intriguing duo…

Aruna Antonella Handa writes songs about the human condition, which she performs with a rich and agile contralto. With her band Aruna & the Sirens, she sings about plastics, elephants, love and addiction in clubs and theatres (Tranzac, Monarch Tavern, Burdock Hall, Aki Theatre) and festivals (Canadian Music Week, Women from Space, and Nuit Blanche Toronto). Her band’s first release earned a Canadian Folk Music Nomination (Single of the Year 2024) for her song, "Have You Seen My Sister?". Their second release, "City Hotel" (October 18) is drawn from their upcoming album, Of Bones & Addicts. Aruna studied music and philosophy at McGill University.

Michael Broadhead (upright bass) began studying upright bass with Doug Rooks at age 13, performing in orchestras, pit bands, and rock bands while still a teenager. He studied jazz at Toronto's Humber College under Neil Swainson and Mike Downes before returning to Kingston where he plays live with Dave Barton and Chantal Thompson, and with artists including Savannah Shea, Piner, Princess Towers, and Funeral Lakes.

As independent artists, Handa and Broadhead share idioms of folk, jazz and art song, and the duo format permits them to explore the textures and ranges of their instruments in new settings of Aruna’s songs. Whether a song about jazz singer Sheila Jordan, or a romp about elephants, this duo aims to uncover new textures with voice and bass. Both artists play in the vibrant local music scene in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, birthplace of the Tragically Hip. The duo plans to make their music portable in the coming year.

Upcoming Performances

Saturday Nov 30/24 Michael Broadhead will be sitting in with Aruna & the Sirens in a concert, “Solidari-Tea” on Saturday November 30 at NEXT Church, 89 Colborne Ave 4pm to 6pm. This is a free event sponsored by the Union of Professional Musicians, Local 518, the NEXT Church, Kingston Interval House, Collective Joy Urban Farm, the Kingston Anti-Violence Advisory Council, and the Mint Tree Restaurant. All ages welcome.

Info, Bookings, Media, Collaborations

Please contact info@arunaandthesirens.com