Totenhagen | Release-Konzert "Raw"

Totenhagen's vocal practice has undergone a radical transformation since 2020. While Totenhagen was previously dedicated to contemporary jazz, she can now be found in free improvisation formats with musicians such as Farida Amadou, Eve Risser, with her performative programme with solo voice or with her a cappella formation "Of Cabbages And Kings". After completing her master's degree at the University of Music and Dance Cologne four years ago, Totenhagen embarked on a confrontational examination of her previous work in an unconventional way. It leads to an emancipated expression in free vocal improvisation, conceptual work and the constant exploration of her stage presence. Her a cappella performances, as well as her work with various effects pedals, strive for a liberation from common musical rules and patriarchal shackles and explore the sides of Totenhagen's extremely multifaceted voice authentically, with a love of detail, humour and a strong desire for directness.

This year, Totenhagen has captured her tireless research of the forms and facets of her voice in five sessions with the musicians DoYeon Kim, Lucy Liebe, Sara Schoenbeck, Nick Dunston and Anton Kaun. Excerpts from each session can be heard on a compilation, which will be released at Stadtgarten Köln on this evening. In the following year, the individual sessions will be released digitally as full-length albums/EPs.
Totenhagen has invited two musicians for the release evening of "Raw": DoYeon Kim from New York and Lucy Liebe from Berlin.

DoYeon Kim is a traditionally trained Korean artist who plays the gayageum, a traditional Korean stringed instrument, and has developed a uniquely wide-ranging musical approach that includes Korean music, jazz and improvisation. Kim has introduced the gayageum to improvised music worldwide.

Lucy Liebe and Totenhagen met musically for the first time as part of the "NICA live" concert series. Without doubt a match and the strengthening of their collaboration can be awaited with excitement. More about multi-instrumentalist and producer Lucy Liebe? "Looong ep" from November 2023 is well worth a listen.