Vivien Koh Is The Self-Taught Harpist Melding Musical Experimentation With Sound Design
To say that Vivien Koh’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 – who studied film, editing and writing – 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’s musical interest was piqued again – this time, at the age of 16. “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,” she shares.
It is Koh’s sense of wonder and play that makes her approach to classical music an intriguing one – 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 – her SoundCloud (thistlemorse) for example, hints at her interest in R&B – Koh’s practice inevitably sees a melding of two worlds. Her conquest of the classical music world isn’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… Perhaps glass sculptures too.
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 – 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 – and am still – working within the confines of my bedroom, so it hasn’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 – but this time, for my own art installations or films.
Credits
Photography JOEL LOW
Styling GREGORY WOO
This story originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of L'Officiel Singapore.
