Today, the pioneering electronic artist and harpist Lara Somogyi releases ‘! (expansion)’ – a digital-only expanded album following her debut solo release, ‘!’ (pronounced “Exclamation”). Recently, Lara’s cover of English singer-songwriter Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” hit #1 on U.S. Classical Streaming Charts and also joined the top-performing Universal Music Group Classical & Jazz new release in the U.S. and Canada by more than half a million weekly streams.
With this new album she unveils an exciting new chapter in her musical journey with ten captivating versions of original tracks from her acclaimed album ‘!’, each offering a mesmerizing fusion of orchestral arrangements, expanded harp versions, acoustic renditions, and remixes by artists including Kinnship, CARM & Trever Hagen, and Joviale.
With the original album ‘!’, Somogyi introduced audiences to a unique and captivating sound world, merging the expressive capabilities of the harp with electronic elements. The result was an awe-inspiring exploration of the instrument’s vast potential. Lara Somogyi’s unique and visionary approach to music has garnered support from esteemed publications and radio platforms. Pitchfork, DJ Mag, Wonderland, and BBC Radio 6’s Mary Anne Hobbs have all recognized her groundbreaking work, with Wonderland describing her music as “blissful, meditative, and daring ambient harp-centered productions,” while Mary Anne Hobbs praises her for taking the harp into new and contemporary worlds.
Now, with the expanded album, Somogyi delves even deeper into her sonic journey, incorporating orchestral expansions that showcase her profound love for symphonic strings harmonizing with the harp. Collaborating with composer and producer Cyrus Reynolds, who co-composed the album, the expanded tracks feature mesmerizing arrangements that weave together contrasting rhythms, textures, and soaring accompaniments.
Discussing the expanded album, Somogyi reveals, “The orchestral expansions came from a profound love of symphonic strings alongside with the harp. I have such deep orchestral roots, so pairing these songs with a string ensemble felt like such a natural evolution within all of these compositions. The string timbres against the harp and electronics create a captivating language that intrigues me. I’m excited to have these versions out in this release.”
Each track in ‘! (expansion)’ explores a unique sonic landscape, combining spirited improvisations, contemporary extended techniques, and innovative compositional approaches. Somogyi’s creative process involves linking the physicality of playing the harp to the original songs, enabling the music to flourish and broaden through a direct bond between her and the instrument. The outcome is a compilation of expressive pieces that evoke a wide range of emotions and invite listeners to venture into novel realms of sound and space.
Reflecting on her collaborations with the remixers featured in the expanded album, Somogyi expresses her admiration, stating, “I’m incredibly honoured to have three luminous artists remixing ‘basis,’ ‘self.seed,’ and ‘lodges.’ Each of them brings their unique artistic expressions to reimagine these pieces, and it is truly inspiring.”
Tracklist:
- acceptances (orchestral expansion)
- in/out (expansion)
- basis (Kinnship remix)
- self.seed (acoustic)
- hundred00 (orchestral expansion)
- breathwork (expansion)
- lodges (orchestral expansion)
- lodges (Joviale remix)
- aviary ii
- self.seed (CARM & Trever Hagen remix)