East Village musician comes into her own as a jazz singer
BY BOB KRASNER
“In some ways, I missed out on
High School,” muses 21-year-old
jazz singer Teddy Horangic.
Well, yes, that could be because as
a 15-year-old she found herself sailing
to Myanmar on a 50-foot ship with her
parents, brother and sister (the boat being
the family home for awhile). Though
she completed her teenage curriculum
through a combo of home-schooling and
an online Stanford University course
(“the best educational experience ever,”
she says) the most ambitious course was
one she set for herself – a 5-year study of
the Myiek Archipelago in Myanmar, a ”
pristine, untouched environment” – that
she began before she was old enough to
drive.
“I’ve always been interested in science,”
Horangic explains.”There was
very little information on the area and I
found it fascinating.” Oddly, some of the
information that was available on the area
came in the form of an unpublished scientifi
c paper, which she happened to fi nd
stashed away on a boat. With the help of
her sister Helen, she began a month-long
survey of the area and ended up living
there for 5 years. “I became very invested
in the area, at a time when people there
were very hopeful.”
The Archipelago was the home of a
nomadic sea tribe, the Moken, who speak
their own language. Teddy was able to
communicate with them by employing
one person who could translate the
Moken language to Burmese and then
another who spoke both Burmese and
English. “They have a very different way
of seeing the world,” Horangic notes.
“They don’t use money – everything is
based on trading.”
When she returned from her quest she
graduated from high school and, having
her pick of a few Ivy League institutions,
chose Yale. But with the COVID lockdown
in place, there was no way she was
going to begin her college career online
so she took a gap year, settled into her
parents’ apartment in the East Village
and into a new life – as a jazz singer.
“I always loved music,” she relates.
“My parents thought I’d be a drummer.
I grew up hearing a lot of bluegrass,
country, punk, R+B and soul, but not a
lot of jazz. I am greatly indebted to my
parents’ eclectic taste, but I found jazz
myself.”
L-R: Kellin Hanas (trumpet), Teddy Horangic (vocals, leader), Matt Baker (keyboard), Andrew Latona (guitar),
Jonathan Michel (bass), Luther S. Allison (drums)
Teddy Horangic singing standards with a healthy dose of scatting
during the live stream.
When musicians began to perform outdoors
Horangic sat in with Eric Paulin, a
frequent performer in Tompkins Square
Park who liked her enough to invite her
back. Since then the singer has had lots
of opportunities to perform with various
musicians, but is always aware of her
status as a neophyte.
“I am at the very beginning of this
process,” she admits. ” I realize how
much I don’t know.” Continuing, she
adds, ” the mark of an artist is to have a
distinct, relatable vision. It’s a process of
self-discovery and communication. Hopefully,
in a few decades, I’ll have worked
out what my message is!”
While Teddy was enjoying her new gig
the coup in Myanmar took place, leaving
Horangic ” very surprised and shocked.”
“I knew I had to do something,” she
states. “I’m in a unique position – I can
give people music and help contribute to
PHOTOS BY BOB KRASNER
the cause.” Her form of contributionis
a series of concerts and informative
panels to be livestreamed – one has already
taken place – to encourage people
to send some cash to those in need in
the embattled country. Money will go to
Mutual Aid Myanmar which distributes
the proceeds directly to the people, including
the peaceful protesters who are
being targeted by the new regime.
Being a particularly self-reliant type,
Horangic organized the benefi t concert
herself – gathering the musicians and
panelists, fi nding the space (generously
donated by the arts group Chashama)
and promoting the event herself. Both
the panel and concert can be seen on
YouTube, where there are instructions
on how to donate.
Horangic, whose endgame is to
become an Environmental Economics
professor, lets us in on her future plan.
“I’ll be back in Myanmar as soon as it
opens,” Teddy informs us. “I plan to
continue working there.”
Teddy Horangic on Instagram: @teddy.
jazz
22 May 6, 2021 Schneps Media