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Genre(s): Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Jazz/Improvised MusicFrom: Vienna, Austria
Website: www.koer.at
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Label: www.electrolandrecords.com
Contact: info@susannaridler.com
BIOGRAPHY
Susanna Ridler is an Austrian composer, vocalist and producer whose work moves at the intersection of film, theatre, literature and contemporary music. A poetic approach to storytelling and the search for atmospheric sonic spaces connect her diverse musical worlds, which range from contemporary composition, electronics, jazz and improvisation to art pop.
After studying acting in Vienna and music and voice in Maastricht, Amsterdam and Los Angeles, Ridler developed a distinctive compositional language in which acoustic instruments, electronics, sound design and the human voice interact seamlessly. At the centre of her work lies the search for the emotional core of a text, a film or a theatrical scene. Whether composing for chamber ensemble, film or spoken word, she combines notated composition with improvisation and experimental sound design.
Her early project [koe:r] established an individual musical language between jazz, electronics and art pop. The intensive work with music production, live electronics and vocal performance laid the foundation for her later work as a composer.
A major turning point in Ridler’s artistic development was her long-standing engagement with the writings of Austrian author Gert Jonke. It led to an exploration of language as musical and vocal material and resulted in numerous works for voice, chamber ensemble and jazz ensemble, culminating in Geometrie der Seele – A Musical Homage to Gert Jonke (1946–2009), which was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award in 2021.The eponymous trio with Peter Herbert and Wolfgang Puschnig has performed the work in numerous concerts since its premiere in 2017.
Since 2024 Ridler has been re-editing and digitally reissuing her catalogue on her label Electroland Records Vienna. The ongoing three-part edition Geometrie der Seele comprises Chlorophyllklang, Der Sprachkomponist and Radio Jonke. In parallel, she released Greatest Little Hits I and II, bringing together the complete original compositions from the two [koe:r] albums in newly remastered editions.
Among her most recent works are FRETTEN, a large-scale musical adaptation of Helena Adler’s novel commissioned by Festival Retz, which also marked the beginning of the ensemble VoCe Plus, and the original score for Maria Arlamovsky’s documentary sich langsam nähern. Alongside her work as a composer for film, theatre and radio drama, Ridler creates music for ensembles, literature and contemporary concert formats. Her compositions are characterised by the interplay of acoustic and electronic sound worlds, a strong sense of dramaturgy and an unmistakably personal musical language.
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