A Berlin-residing Icelander, Hekla’s sparse, delicate, fractal music exists within these two worlds: dark and magical as Iceland’s permanight folklore; and (though beatless) as deeply sonic and intense as Berlin’s electronic scene. A long-term scholar of solo theremin, Hekla (shortened from her own name Hekla Magnúsdóttir) uses her instrument as an otherworldly and highly evocative Siren-call. A spectral, wailing, howling, lamenting yearning second-voice that underpins a soft vocal delivery, as if her studio had been haunted with a chorus of ghostly backing singers.
Hekla’s debut album for solo theremin and voice ‘Á’ was written and self-recorded by Hekla in her home studio in Berlin around her son’s daycare schedule. The theremin - bizarre, unique, rarely heard - can be expressive, intuitive and adaptable. In Hekla’s hands, her instrument covers an enormous range, from birdsong of high-frequency chirrups and to grinding tectonic sub-bass. We are given the throbbing.
What is her sound? Genre? Style?
Ambient glacial storytelling fairytales from mythological inspirations.
What is she doing in Profound Sound?
Hekla is a completely unique artist, singular in her field.
How might people feel seeing this?
Intrigued. Fascinated. Inspired. Apprehensive. Alien.
