projects

Anna Sophia Defant - piano

Jakob Gnigler - saxophone

Kenji Herbert - guitar

Michael Prowaznik - drums

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This quartet is not defined by specific musical genres or particular compositions, but rather by a unique lineup of musicians, each with their distinct artistic stance and approach, mutually admiring the individual artistic inclinations of their fellow ensemble members. Conventional role assignments are dissolved, and tasks are alternately taken on by different members of the ensemble. The joy of actively listening to each other takes center stage in s:e's musical work. While drawing inspiration from various genres, the music never remains static within them but continually evolves—transitioning from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from density to transparency, from point to plane.

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release coming up 27/06/2025 via Unit Records

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s:e via Unit Records

Anna Sophia Defant - piano

Bernhard Hadriga - guitar & electronics

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søch is a musical project that places free improvisation at its core. It delves into contemporary avant-garde, built upon the juxtaposition of electronic and acoustic music, the natural and the constructed space.

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website

Anna Sophia Defant Group

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Anna Sophia Defant - piano

Franz Hautzinger - trumpet & electronics

Raphael Preuschl - bass

Michael Prowaznik - drums

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The pieces and sound of the ensemble are shaped by the individuality and authenticity of each protagonist. Less focused on genre and more on personality, the work of the four musicians is open and highly concentrated as they embark on a musical path located in the present moment. In this moment, artists and audience meet on equal ground. This moment thrives on attentive listening and the structure of the instant.

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interview

Anna Sophia Defant - piano

Christian Reiner - voice

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June 7 is a duo distinguished not by volume but by subtle intensity. The music unfolds an extraordinary power through its fragile atmosphere. Language and music together create a strangely dark yet humorous sonic world, following in the footsteps of Christine Lavant. An improvisational tightrope walk, where apparent fragility releases a much higher energy than could ever be generated through reckless bravado. In this, there is no sense of lament, melancholy, or heaviness.

Anna Sophia Defant - piano

Bernhard Hammer - composition & electronics

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'Reflektierende Echos' is a composition for piano and electronics by Bernhard Hammer. This piece marks Hammer's first compositional exploration of the piano, with which he maintained an ambivalent relationship for most of his artistic career. The transformative turning point occurred through his encounter with his mother's inherited Pokorny piano. Early childhood memories resurfaced: as a child, he would lie beneath the piano, tapping and knocking on the soundboard, shouting into it, anticipating the resonant response of the instrument. Transferred into a sonically abstract realm, these memories form the basis of the composition—manifesting themselves as reflective echoes.

With the kind support of bmkoes and the Cultural Department of the City of Vienna.

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video

Anna Sophia Defant - piano

Raphael Schuster - drums

 

"The Word as Score." Two Viennese artists tracing the paths of the Second Viennese School. Improvisation serves as an approach to Webern's op. 7, Kandinsky's "Point and Line to Plane," and Schönberg's op. 19. Alternating improvised spoken sentences act as catalysts for close interweaving of piano, drums and voice. A retrospective on reduction, exploring the essence of artistic expression.

Anna Sophia Defant - piano/keybird x1

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Anna Sophia Defant, as a solo artist, has dedicated herself to a straightforward and independent exploration of the piano. The instrument has been her companion since early childhood. Artistic authenticity, devoid of gimmickry, and delicate sound craftsmanship are at the core of both her improvisational and compositional work.

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audio

Anna Sophia Defant - keybird x1 & electronics

Isabella Forciniti - electronics

Jakob Gnigler - tenor saxophone

 

The improvised music of this trio impresses as a musical toolkit. Strands of noise are extracted from sound spheres to reassemble in an ensemble context. The combination and, on the other hand, the juxtaposition of acoustic and electronic elements allow for a great deal - from small, intimate structures to large arcs and spatial expanses - promising an exciting journey into the unknown. Nevertheless, it sometimes evokes a sense of nostalgia, yet remains far from kitsch.

Anna Sophia Defant - keybird x1 & electronics

Isabella Forciniti - electronics

Jakob Gnigler - tenor saxophone

 

The improvised music of this trio impresses as a musical toolkit. Strands of noise are extracted from sound spheres to reassemble in an ensemble context. The combination and, on the other hand, the juxtaposition of acoustic and electronic elements allow for a great deal - from small, intimate structures to large arcs and spatial expanses - promising an exciting journey into the unknown. Nevertheless, it sometimes evokes a sense of nostalgia, yet remains far from kitsch.