Meet the up-and-coming performers challenging the arena of classical music. Here, Vivien Koh talks soundscapes, paintings and using music as a means of self-expression.

To say that Vivien Koh&rsquo;s foray into the world of classical music was an unconventional one would be an understatement. The 28-year-old LASALLE College of The Arts graduate &ndash; who studied film, editing and writing &ndash; initially took to paint, pastels and textiles as a means of letting off creative steam. After a brief touch-and-go affair with the piano, Koh&rsquo;s musical interest was piqued again &ndash; this time, at the age of 16. &ldquo;I discovered how to record music using GarageBand. It became apparent that music could be a medium like paint on a canvas. I could use elements of sound to express my ideas. I began to experiment with this, creating soundscapes that reflect the inner world for those who wish to discover it,&rdquo; she shares.

It is Koh&rsquo;s sense of wonder and play that makes her approach to classical music an intriguing one &ndash; a fitting narrative given her eventual instrument of choice: the harp. Armed with a second-nature know-how of sound design and wide-ranging taste in music &ndash; her SoundCloud (thistlemorse) for example, hints at her interest in R&amp;B &ndash; Koh&rsquo;s practice inevitably sees a melding of two worlds. Her conquest of the classical music world isn&rsquo;t quite over yet, either. A freelance video editor by day, the self-taught musician hopes to try her hand at the alto flute next. And for good measure&hellip; Perhaps glass sculptures too.

&nbsp;

What drew you to the harp in particular?

I think the harp conjures a lot of mystical and spiritual imagery, which I found very appealing. It also imbues a sense of mystery, which I absolutely love. And then of course, the sound it produces &ndash; it is ethereal and like no other instrument.

How would you describe your sound?

I would describe it as dark, mysterious and dreamy.

Who inspires you?

I have so much love for the painter Leonora Carrington. The way she approached life and her treatment of the unconscious mind as the imagery of her paintings really inspire me. I aspire to uphold similar values in my lifetime. My favourite book on her is called The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington: A Surreal Life by Joanna Moorhead.

Music has a very introspective quality to it. Has more time by yourself over the last year changed the way you approach your craft?

I started out &ndash; and am still &ndash; working within the confines of my bedroom, so it hasn&rsquo;t exactly changed for the most part, but I love being alone when I create. I need that kind of space in order to focus on the things I wish to convey in my pieces.

What else would you like try your hand at?

A step forward for me would be to write music and soundscapes &ndash; but this time, for my own art installations or films.

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Credits

Photography JOEL LOW

Styling GREGORY WOO

&nbsp;

This story&nbsp;originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of L&#39;Officiel Singapore.&nbsp;

Vivien Koh Is The Self-Taught Harpist Melding Musical Experimentation With Sound Design

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