Anna Linardou

Heterotopia, released by Underflow Records in 2019, is a variety of vocalities from different places and eras, transformed through a contemporary perspective. Vocal idioms of different traditions are blended with electroacoustics, sampling and free improvisation to create sonic landscapes of undefinable geography. Appalachian bluegrass and throat singing, Lebanese lullabies and prepared piano treatments, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Medieval tunes, extended vocals, electronics, sampling and resynthesis of voice and acoustic instruments are elements that constitute a place where the singing voice crosses the barriers of style and celebrates its multi faceted nature.

"My Heterotopia is a place where I've often gone to play as a little girl. A place where the fascinatϊngly multi-faceted human voice often draws me in to listen, to imitate, to understand. This album is my wish to share some of my wanderings. Though almost each track originates from a certain vocal tradition, my intention was not to create renditions of traditional songs. I am aware that to serve a tradition in an authentic manner, one has to become communicant of its ethos and life experience. I am a person of my time and what I can really share are my impressions -inevitably subjective- of voices. Voices so diverse, that they captivated me for some unknown reason and made me want to “absorb” them. So, I welcome you to this personal land of undefinable geography. Ι'd like to express my gratitude to all the artists who contributed in this album. Also, many thanks to Panagiotis Chountas, Haig Yazdjian, Seyit Aldogan, Dimitris Chiotis, Aref Ghorbani, Claire Papamichael, Gustav Penka, Sofia Sarri, Jannis Anastasakis, Vassilis Filippakopoulos for their kind help and support. Special thanks to Giorgos Varoutas." - Anna Linardou