ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF – Evocation (live) | Orgelkraft Festival (2016)

There’s no denying there’s a spiritual quality to the music of Anna von Hausswolff. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that the Swedish singer and musician plays the pipe organ, an instrument that fills cavernous church sanctuaries and holy spaces with rich layers of sound. But it’s also her songs on this year’s superb record, Ceremony, that take on an otherworldly transcendence mixing moody orchestrations with engrossing, almost poppy melodies.

Anna von Hausswolff (born 6 September 1986) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and pipe organist. She is known for her gothic-styled music, usually accompanied by the pipe organ. Von Hausswolff’s music has received praise from music critics, though it also caused controversy from Catholic groups. “The Mysterious Vanishing of Electra” is taken from her album Dead Magic (2018).

Von Hausswolff’s gothic-style music is described as “art pop, drone, and post-metal”, with “a juxtaposition of dark and bright”. The Guardian has described it as “funeral pop”. Her 2015 release, The Miraculous, is noted for its “gothic splendour”. Dead Magic shows a “brighter, poppier beat”. Her vocals are similar to Nico, Diamanda Galás, Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac, and are compared to Kate Bush and A Kiss In The Dreamhouse-era Siouxsie Sioux. Her music is associated with the Krautrock genre with odes to Einstürzende Neubauten and Swans.

Anna von Hausswolff live at Live at Orgelkraft Festival in Stavanger. Film made by Jonny Engelsvoll and sound by Anders Oliver. Filmed and recorded at Stavanger concert hall

I see it coming closer now I see it very clear The tree, the spring, the history The spirits that are there I see it coming closer now The picture of a place I see myself inside the house I’m covering my face