Violinist Pauline Kim Harris Releases First Album on New Label Sono Luminus

Pauline Kim Harris

Sono Luminus Releases Heroine, the First Album on the Label from Pauline Kim Harris 

Pauline Kim Harris, otherwise known as PK or Pauline Kim, released her album Heroine, a melding of ambient and classical style featuring two new works for violin and electronics, on Sept. 29, 2019, and recently announced a series of release concerts in New York City, Berkeley, and Los Angeles. 

Those two new works mentioned include Ambient Chaconne, a reimagining of J.S. Bach’s Chaconne from the Partita in D minor, according to the press release, and Deo, a reimagining of Johannes Ockeghem’s Deo Gratias – both co-composed by Harris and Spencer Topel.

In a press statement released in mid-September, Pauline Kim Harris announced that the title of the album reflects her personal dedication of the work to “those taking care of loved ones who are suffering.”

Harris is quoted saying, “In the process of making this album, it feels as if a lifetime has passed. Much has happened, not to mention how destabilized the world we live in has become – chaos, distrust and brokenness. We have lost many loved ones. Not all related to the state of the world, but due to other very real and personal battles such as depression, addiction and mental illness. Yet, so many continue to hang on in a constant state of pain. I began to think about what it must feel like: the unimaginable task of caring for loved ones going through and living in this state. There are people – angels – though, that make the sacrifice of dedicating their lives to caring for them, keeping our loved ones around if even for one more day.”

Harris, the youngest studio to ever be accepted into the studio of violin legend Jascha Heifetz, is world-renowned, in high demand in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Asia, and Australia. Harris has toured extensively with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the SEM Ensemble and OstravaskaBanda, and has been a guest artist with ensembles like Talea, ICE, Alarm Will Sound, TRANSIT, and more. 

Though classically trained, Harris is widely known in the experimental music scene, extended her work into interdisciplinary worlds that cross boundaries to connects arts, electronics, media, film dance, and more. 

The three performances that Harris has announced as album release concerts are meant to provide listeners with unique experiences. According to the press release, the New York concert at DiMenna Center on Oct. 9, 2019, is meant to be a meditative experience—the audience is even encouraged to bring their own yoga mats. Harris plays music from the album at CNMAT at the University of California, Berkeley, on October 13. In Los Angeles, she performs at Hot Shot Muffler as part of Kensington Presents on October 16, the press release states. 

For a list of upcoming album release concerts, see below: 

October 9, 2019, at 9 pm - DiMenna Center, New York, NY

October 13, 2019, at 8 pm - CNMAT, University of California, Berkeley

October 16, 2019, at 8:30 pm - Hot Shot Muffler, Kensington Presents, Los Angeles, CA