Ania Tarnowska, known professionally as I Ya Toyah, is a Chicago, USA musician, singer, composer, producer, performer, and the founder/CEO of Femme Fatale Records label. Her genre-bending music incorporates elements of multiple genres including industrial,

electro-industrial Electro-industrial is a music genre that emerged from industrial music in the early 1980s. While EBM (electronic body music) has a minimal structure and clean production, electro-industrial tends to have a grittier, complex and layered sound ...

, goth electro, punk electro,

electronic rock Electronic rock (also known as electro rock and synth rock) is a music genre that involves a combination of rock music and electronic music, featuring instruments typically found within both genres. It originates from the late 1960s when rock b ...

, metal, and

synthwave Synthwave (also called retrowave, or futuresynth) is an electronic music microgenre that is based predominantly on the music associated with the Film score, film soundtracks of action films, science fiction films, and horror films of the 1980s. ...

. It best fits in the

alternative music Alternative music may refer to the following types of music: *Independent music *Alternative rock *Alternative pop *Alternative R&B *Neo soul, sometimes known as alternative soul *Alternative reggaeton *Alternative hip hop *Alternative dance *Alter ...

category. When spoken out loud in Polish, I Ya Toyah means “It’s Just Me.” Her logo art merges the symbols for

peace Peace is a state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence, and everything that discusses achieving human welfare through justice and peaceful conditions. In a societal sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (suc ...

and

anarchy Anarchy is a form of society without rulers. As a type of stateless society, it is commonly contrasted with states, which are centralized polities that claim a monopoly on violence over a permanent territory. Beyond a lack of government, it can ...

that symbolizes her “rebel psyche.”

History

Born and raised in

Łódź Łódź is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located south-west of Warsaw. Łódź has a population of 655,279, making it the country's List of cities and towns in Polan ...

, Poland, Ania began her music education as a child, studying classical guitar, piano, vocal performance, and music theory. She moved to the United States as a young adult, and soon became a part of multiple musical projects, performing with

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

, punk rock jazz, and

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...

bands in prominent venues across the US. In 2016, she graduated as the valedictorian from

SAE Institute The SAE Institute (SAE) and SAE University College (in Australia), formerly the School of Audio Engineering and the SAE Technology College and badged SAE Creative Media Education, is a network of colleges around the world that provides creativ ...

, where she focused on Music Business and Audio Engineering. In 2017, she began working at her home studio on her solo project, I Ya Toyah, and her debut album, Code Blue, was released independently on Oct. 26th, 2018. True to her motto, she spent the majority of 2019 “spreading the disease of music and infecting the human race” by touring. She began releasing her music independently in 2018, with 4 single releases, followed by her self-recorded and self-produced debut album, Code Blue. In 2019, she released 5 singles, participated in many collaborations, became a member of post-industrial supergroup,

The Joy Thieves The Joy Thieves is a musical supergroup, consisting of current, former, and touring members of bands such as Ministry, Stabbing Westward, The Rollins Band, Killing Joke, Pigface, Revolting Cocks, , David Bowie, Machines of Loving Grace, Marily ...

and toured excessively with bands such as

Pigface Pigface is an American industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin. History Pigface was formed from Ministry's ''The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste'' tour, which produced the '' In Case You Didn't Fee ...

and Zwaremachine. In 2020, she released 2 singles and a double album of remixes titled Code Blue Reloaded plus bonus album Code Blue Revelations. In 2021 Out of Order - a 5 chapters E.P. consisting of five singles and music videos came out in both digital and physical forms. 2022 brought I Ya Toyah on the US East Coast Tour, and marked her first acoustic EP release Ghosts. In 2023 I Ya Toyah performed at Dark Force Fest, NJ, followed by her first month long West Coast tour in May. In August and September 2023 she toured as a direct opener for

Stabbing Westward Stabbing Westward is an American industrial rock/alternative rock band. Christopher Hall (musician), Christopher Hall and Walter Flakus formed the band in 1985 in Macomb, Illinois. The band released an extended play in 1992, followed by four ...

She closed the concert season performing a headlining set at Dark City Festival in New Orleans. On October 27 she released a Panic Room single, produced with

Walter Flakus Stabbing Westward is an American industrial rock/alternative rock band. Christopher Hall and Walter Flakus formed the band in 1985 in Macomb, Illinois. The band released an extended play in 1992, followed by four studio albums: ''Ungod'' (19 ...

. This and more singles lead to the ''I am the Fire'' EP release released April 5. To promote her new music in live settings, I Ya Toyah went on a 45-day all American tour with

Orgy An orgy is a sex party where guests freely engage in open and unrestrained sexual activity or group sex. Swingers' parties do not always conform to this designation, because at many swinger parties the sexual partners may all know each other o ...

and

Cold Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjectivity, subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute t ...

in April / May 2024. After performing Cold Waves Festival in

Metro Metro may refer to: Geography * Metro City (Indonesia), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urban area with high ...

, Chicago she released a full DRAMA record in October 2024. In November/December 2024 she is embarking on her first European tour joining

Front Line Assembly Front Line Assembly (FLA) is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 in music, 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial. The ba ...

. In March/May 2025 she joins

Wednesday 13 Joseph Michael Poole (born August 12, 1976), better known by his stage name Wednesday 13, is an American singer and musician. Apart from his solo career, he was the frontman of the horror punk/glam metal band Murderdolls and has also played in s ...

Stitched Up Heart Stitched Up Heart is an American Rock music, rock band on Another Century Records. The band was formed in 2010 in Los Angeles by singer Alecia "Mixi" Demner. They have released three full-length albums and three EPs. They have performed as the ...

and Dead Rabbitts on the all American There's No Such Things As Monsters Tour 2025.

Remixes

I Ya Toyah's music has been remixed by artists, including

The Anix The Anix is a former American rock band and currently a solo electronic project run by Los Angeles-based music producer Brandon Smith who was originally the band's frontman. History Formation and release of "An Illusion of Time" and "Play.Danc ...

Skold ''Skold'' is the debut solo album released in 1996 by Tim Skold. The song "Chaos" was used in the video game '' Twisted Metal 4'' and the film '' Universal Soldier: The Return''. The song "Hail Mary" can be found on the '' Disturbing Behavior'' ...

(

Marilyn Manson Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer and the only original member remaining of the Marilyn Manson (band), same-titled band he founded in 1989. Th ...

Shotgun Messiah Shotgun Messiah was a Swedish glam metal band from Skövde. The band was formed in 1985 by guitarist Harry Cody (musician), Harry Cody and bassist Tim Sköld, with singer Zinny J. Zan and drummer Stixx Galore taking part in their most commercial ...

KMFDM KMFDM (originally Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, loosely translated by the band as "no pity for the majority") is a multinational industrial rock band from Hamburg led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance art proje ...

, Motionless in White), Gopal Metro (the co-founder of the Gothic Rock band,

Bella Morte Bella Morte is a gothic rock band formed in 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. They incorporate elements of metal, dark wave, deathrock, alternative, and synthpop. The band's name means "Beautiful Death" in Italian language. Acc ...

Rhys Fulber Nowell Rhys Fulber (born October 10, 1970) is a Canadian electronic musician and producer. He is a member of Front Line Assembly and Delerium, along with Bill Leeb. He also records under his own name and under the name Conjure One. Biograph ...

(

Conjure One Conjure One is a Canadian electronic music project, headed by Rhys Fulber, better known as a member of Front Line Assembly and Delerium. History After performing with Front Line Assembly at the 1996 Roskilde Festival, Fulber left the band to pu ...

), Adoration Destroyed,

and more (See full discography below.)

Collaborations

In 2019 I Ya Toyah recorded music with artists such as

Julian Beeston Julian Beeston is an English musician, mainly noted for his time in the electronic groups Nitzer Ebb and Cubanate. History Julian Beeston was a member of the industrial band Nitzer Ebb from 1989 to 1992. From 1993 to 2003 he was a member ...

(

Nitzer Ebb Nitzer Ebb () are an English electronic body music, EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Bon Harris, Vaughan "Bon" Harris (programming, synthesizers, drums, vocals), Douglas McCarthy (vocals), and David Gooday (drums). The band were ...

Cubanate Cubanate are an English industrial band from London, England, founded in 1992 by Marc Heal and Graham Rayner with Phil Barry and Steve Etheridge. The group became well known for their combination of electro-industrial with distorted heavy m ...

), Mach Fox (Zwaremachine), Indign, and Traumabond. That year she also became a member of

, a post-industrial super group that includes current, former, and touring members of bands such as Ministry,

Revolting Cocks Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, are an American-Belgian industrial rock band, and sometimes supergroup, that began as a musical side project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry. History 1984 ...

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult (often shortened to Thrill Kill Kult or TKK) is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based in Chicago and founded by Groovie Mann (born Frankie Nardiello) and Buzz McCoy (born Marston Daley). ...

Blue October Blue October is an American Rock music, rock band originally from Houston, Texas, formed in 1995. It currently consists of singer/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld, multi-instrumentalist #Personnel, Ryan Delahoussaye, b ...

16VOLT 16volt is an American industrial rock band featuring Eric Powell, with other performers added for live shows. History 16volt was formed in Portland, Oregon by composer and vocalist Eric Powell. Powell recruited musicians drummer Joel Bornzin, g ...

, and more. In March 2020, she also started working as a

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

, alongside movie director, Ralph Klisiewicz, creating the score for a short film called The Artifact. In the Fall 2023 I Ya Toyah announced the releases of new singles, ''I am the Fire'' EP and album ''DRAMA'', produced together with Walter Flakus of

Social awareness and causes

As a suicide loss survivor, I Ya Toyah advocates for the importance of mental wellness, and ending the stigma that surrounds mental illness. During her live performances, she often talks about mental health with her audience, communicating the significance of breaking the stigma. Her ‘Code Blue’ album focuses on mental health and suicide prevention, and 15% of all proceeds go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). In July 2020, she organized an Art Auction for Mental Health During the Times of Pandemic. Artists from across the US created and donated art pieces that were inspired by her lyrical content, and all the proceeds aided the AFSP. In December 2022 I Ya Toyah released a self-funded line of suicide prevention and mental health wristbands promoting 988 Crisis Line, available for free with free shipping across the USA. In April 2019, I Ya Toyah released a single and a video titled Forbidden Bark, which featured her dog, Benek. The release was used as a platform to raise awareness for charity organizations that focus on fighting animal cruelty. Benek was featured again in May 2022 as I Ya Toyah performed a live streamed show during Goths For Sanctuaries Festival raising money for animal sanctuaries around the world. In 2020, her song Funeral for Love was selected to be a part of ESA (Electronic Saviors: Industrial Music to Cure Cancer) compilation released by Metropolis Records/Distortion Productions. This version of the song, featuring Traumabond appeared on this release, alongside bands such as Ego Likeness, The Clay People,

Leæther Strip Leæther Strip is a Danish musical project founded on 13 January 1988 by Claus Larsen. Its influence has been most felt in the electronic body music and electro-industrial genres. Leæther Strip was one of the earliest and most prominent acts ...

, Angelspit, ,

Die Warzau Die Warzau (originally Die Warzau Synfony) was an American industrial music band formed in 1987 by Jim Marcus and Van Christie. History In the late 80s, Jim Marcus and Van Christie were working individually as performance artists. Christie h ...

, Caustic, God Module, Skatenigs, and

Cyanotic Cyanosis is the change of tissue color to a bluish-purple hue, as a result of decrease in the amount of oxygen bound to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells of the capillary bed. Cyanosis is apparent usually in the body tissues covered with ...

. In Spring 2022 I Ya Toyah participated in the recording of a version of the Beatles’ classic Come Together to raise funds for the people of the war-torn country of Ukraine. The project named Lifeline International was arranged and mixed by legendary music producer

John Fryer John Fryer may refer to: *John Fryer (physician, died 1563), English physician, humanist and early reformer *John Fryer (physician, died 1672), English physician *John Fryer (travel writer) (1650–1733), British travel-writer and doctor *Sir John ...

, who has worked with such seminal bands as

Nine Inch Nails Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN (stylized as NIИ), is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. Its members are the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Trent Reznor and his frequent col ...

Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...

, and

Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock music, rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981. In 19 ...

. Participants included members of

Faith No More Faith No More is an American Rock music, rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before September 1983, the band performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist ...

, Ministry,

Rammstein Rammstein (, "ramming stone") is a German band formed in Berlin in 1994. The band's lineup—consisting of lead vocalist Till Lindemann, lead guitarist Richard Kruspe, rhythm guitarist Paul Landers, bassist Oliver Riedel, drummer Christoph ...

Filter Filtration is a physical process that separates solid matter and fluid from a mixture. Filter, filtering, filters or filtration may also refer to: Science and technology Computing * Filter (higher-order function), in functional programming * Fil ...

, THE HARDKISS,

Agnostic Front Agnostic Front is an American hardcore punk band from New York City. Founded in 1980, the band is considered an important influence on the New York hardcore scene, as well as a pioneer of the crossover thrash genre. History First era (1980– ...

Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton (born 30 April 1970) and Simon Ratcliffe (born 28 November 1969). The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first ros ...

, and more.

Discography

Singles

* ''Code Blue'' - 2018 * ''Farewell - Mirrors Don’t Lie'' - 2018 * ''Funeral For Love'' - 2018 * ''Glass Eyes'' - 2018 * ''Funeral For Love (remix by Gopal Metro Invasion)'' -2019 * ''Forbidden Bark (feat. Benek the Dog)'' - 2019 * ''Flashback (remix by

)'' - 2019 * ''Puppet (remix by Adoration Destroyed)'' - 2019 * ''Glass Eyes (remix by

)'' - 2019 * ''Motion (remix by

)'' - 2020 * ''It’s No Good (cover of

)'' - 2020 *''Out of Order'' - 2021 *''Concrete'' - 2021 *''Pray'' - 2021 *''Death's Kiss'' - 2021 *''Vast Spaces'' - 2021 *''Pray (remix by

)'' - 2021 *''Vast Spaces (remix by

)'' - 2022 *''Code Blue (acoustic)'' - 2022 *''Pray (acoustic)'' - 2022 *''Time Machine (acoustic)'' - 2022 *''Panic Room'' - 2023 *''Panic Room (remix by

)'' - 2023 *''Dream not to Dream - 2024'' *''Dream not to Dream (remix by Chris Hall - Stabbing Westward) - 2024'' *''I am the Fire - 2024'' *''Denial - 2024'' *''Fraud - 2024'' *''Afterlight - 2024'' *''Hello, Hello? - 2024'' *''Drama - 2024'' *''Crashing Comet - 2024'' *''Caves - 2024''

Albums and EPs

* ''Code Blue'' - 2018 * ''Code Blue Reloaded (remix album)'' - 2020 * ''Code Blue Revelations (bonus remix album)'' - 2020 *''Out of Order'' - 2021 *''Ghosts'' (''acoustic EP'') - 2022 *''I am the Fire - 2024'' *''DRAMA - 2024''

Collaborative releases and compilations

* ''Smile That Killed the Country (with Max Fox of Zwaremachine)'' - 2019 * ''Cities in Dust (with The Joy Thieves)'' - 2019 * ''Autumn Storm (with Indign)'' - 2020 * ''Electronic Saviors: Funeral for Love feat.Traumabond ( Metropolis Records)'' - 2020 *''Tiny Gods Who Walk Beside Us'' - 2020 *''Tear Down The Walls: A Riveting Tribute To Pink Floyd's The Wall (Riveting Music) with The Joy Thieves'' - 2020 *''The Unquiet Grave (

Cleopatra Records Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label that has the sub-labels Hypnotic Records, Goldenlane, Stardust, Purple Pyramid, Deadline and X-Ray Records. History Founded in January 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in go ...

)'' - 2020 *''We The People (Featured by

)'' - 2021 *''Higher Than The Sun'' ''(Featured by

)'' - 2021 *''Crazy Horses'' ''(Featured by Julian Beeston)'' - 2021 *''Broken Hearts & Robot Parts, Volume II (

COP International COP International, also shortened to ''COP Int'l.'', is a music label based in Oakland, California. Initially, the label was founded in 1991 by Christian Petke (a.k.a. Count Zero of Deathline Int'l.) in Frankfurt, Germany. A few months later, ...

)'' - 2021 *''Follow The Leaders'' ''(A

Killing Joke Killing Joke were an English rock music, rock band formed in Notting Hill, London, in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass). Their first album, ''Killing Joke ...

Tribute) by Coitus Interruptus Productions - Money is Not Out God with

'' - 2021 *''Come Together'' ''(with Lifeline International)'' - 2022 *''Talkin' Bout The Wolf (with Jonathan/Christian)'' - 2022 *''Love is a Battlefield'' ''(with The Joy Thieves)'' - 2022 *''King of Everything (with REVillusion) - 2024''

External links

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toyah, I Ya Living people American musicians Polish emigrants to the United States Year of birth missing (living people)