Karin Höghielm

SWEDISH COMPOSER & SINGER.
The voice is her main instrument but she also plays the dulcimer, bone flute, mouth organ and percussion.
Her compositions are influenced by medieval tunes combined with folk and- contemporary music. She writes mostly for acoustic instruments sometimes mixed with different sound sources such as glass and scrap iron. She also made some of her own instruments including the Viking Bone Flute, Bull Roar and Drums.
She has a genuine interest in using distinguished language such as old Gotlandish, Gutniska and Latin in her works. She performs both solo and with her ensemble.
She has created several original music performances including as a short opera Phantasmagoria. She has also composed pieces for choir, dance, theatre, water/light shows, short films and poetry recitals. Discography: Apocryphal (-99) 2005 Prikosnovenie, Fabra 2004 – Särart productions, Ooppera - Yucca tree records 2004.
Karin Höghielm was born and raised on Gotland, the Baltic Island in Sweden, now living outside Stockholm.
Studies in compositions, classical vocal training, Classical piano, cello, art, dance & movement.
Reviews about her CD Fabra
"One of the more fascinating and mighty addictive albums to find its way into my stereo recently comes from the Swedish composer, multi instrumentalist, and singer Karin Höghielm. Karin’s music is an eclectic mix of avant-garde chamber music with various traditional music influences. The thing I really like about ‘Fabra’ is that the music is very diverse and differs from song to song. On this recording you can hear classical, folk, medieval, Celtic, and even some other indefinable influences, which of course all sound fantastic."
Lunar Hypnosis-USA-
-Cd of the month April
vocal quality: * * * * * *
intepretation: * * * * * *
sound: * * * * *
Nordische Musik-Germany
Reviews about her CD Apocryphal
Karin Höghielm - Apocryphal (Prikosnovenie) "Yet another talent brought to our attention by Prikosnovenie, a Swedish artist whose main instrument is her own voice. Karin Höghielm's Apocryphal is a seducing nocturnal work in which ancestral forces seem a driving motif. There's a lot in this album, there are folk elements, there's a veil of sacred and an overall mystical atmosphere that is the right ingredient for re-conciliating with our own souls, which some need badly these days. Karin's vocal work is superb, comparisons have been drawn to the likes of Lisa Gerrard, which are not very far from the truth indeed. She sings in the native language of Gotland, her native land, and in Latin and some of her singing does not include words at all, being just vocal melodies or wordless chants. Even fairy moments creep in, making this album a surprise to discover track after track. Although references to Dead can Dance are obligatory, there's so much more to discover in this record and, with late night listening recommended, it is guaranteed to be a soul uplifting experience."
The Darklife Fanzine 2007
"Karin has an incredibly beautiful voice and she uses it as it was a true musical instrument, music is inspired to the Nordic folklore, but also to sacred music…This disc is a small pearl, a disc of rare beauty…music for the mind and the spirit al same time. “
GB
"Prikosnovénie had the excellent idea to republish Apocryphal, album published in Suéde in 1999…Karin Höghielm shows a great vocal control in a register which strongly points out LISA Gerrard and Andrea Haugen (Hagalaz Runedance)… The result is completely attractive, mysterious and new with a contemplative and ritual music where contemporary arrangements, sometimes minimalists, meet the old instruments and sublimate a song come from the bottom of the ages. An artist to be discovered absolutely and a highly advisable disc. “
PJH - June 2006
“This is music with a varied offer to pure beauty”
Caleidoscoop
"The Prikosnovénie label enables us to discover the first album of Karin HÖGHIELM, Apocryphal, left in 1999 to Sweden, which comprises thirteen of its compositions for two female-intonated voices, eight musicians, a male vocal four-bit byte and a mixed chorus. What strikes as of the first second of listening is the powerful voice and spell-binding of Karin, which is not without pointing out those of LISA GERRARD and Andrea HAUGEN of Norwegian group HAGALAZ' RUNEDANCE…The compositions of Karin are a curious and delicious mixture of medieval music and traditional Scandinavian, neo-classic, contemporary, ritual, minimalists and hymns (Kyrie, ave Maria). The instruments are preferably acoustic (besides one synth discrete on two titles): grand piano, clarinet, violoncello, double bass, vibraphone, flute, percussions, organ of church, accordion, fiddle, cromorne... Karin adds to it effects of water, cymbals, cromhorne and bells."
Sylvie Hamon