The Duhks' Tania Elizabeth (page 2)
by Jenny Sherwin,
December 12, 2006
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But is there room in the country music Mecca for a self-proclaimed vegan who credits her vegetarianism as a moral, spiritual and health choice? “I find the whole topic fascinating,” Elizabeth says. “I was so pleasantly surprised to get to know Nashville. There is a lot of diverse culture living beneath that shiny Bible Belt veneer. You just have to know where to look.”
But are there places south of the Mason-Dixon Line that serve their vegan cuisine completely raw? For the last two years, Elizabeth has been part of what is known as the Living Foods movement, where all cuisine is served absolutely uncooked. “It's so much more than a diet,” Elizabeth explains. “At the risk of sounding flaky, it is really more of a vehicle for personal development. It caused me to re-evaluate a lot of things I had taken for granted my whole life, and it permanently changed my relationship with food for the better.”
But Elizabeth admits that she is not sure if this means she will never eat a hot meal again. “Health is a real journey,” she concedes, “and I'm currently in the process of re-evaluating what works best for my body. Getting away from processed food is a surprisingly political act, and I am happy to have distanced myself from a lot of that.”
What she chooses to eat isn't Elizabeth's only political act. She is also an active environmentalist, a passion which she is trying to incorporate into her life with The Duhks. “I'm trying to get the band to use alternative fuels,” Elizabeth says, “but that seemingly simple transition is actually turning out to be more complicated than I anticipated.”
She adds: “I support organic farmers, and I try to buy local wherever I am. I am also passionate about permaculture and sustainability. The more I learn, the more I try to do.”
Elizabeth also hopes to become more involved in the animal rights movement, although she tours too much to have any animals of her own. “I wish I had a pet!” Elizabeth exclaims. “I don't even have my own room. All my stuff is in boxes in my mom's basement!”
Although she doesn't have time for a house or a dog, Elizabeth's spirituality is something that she can take on the road with her. Her beliefs have an Eastern bent, and she's an avid yoga practitioner, both of which carry over into her music. “I unabashedly take what rings true to me and incorporate it into my life in every way I can,” Elizabeth says, “and that, of course, includes my musical life.”
Could her many causes and beliefs extend into a new solo album: something spiritual, environmental, political and health-driven? “I do think about making another record,” Elizabeth admits, “and I have a lot of good ideas. If I ever get a couple of days off, I'll probably work on some of them.”
But for now, it's all about The Duhks: a new album, a huge tour, mainstream exposure via the Grammy Awards, and Elizabeth putting every ounce of her personality into each note she plays and sings.
For more information on The Duhks,
visit their website at duhks.com.
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