Hind LP: https://found.ee/hind-1
12" Vinyl:  https://shop.lamour.se/shop/vinyl/seb...

Sometimes in life things fall into a perfect circle. One such example is the project ‘HIND’ by acclaimed Swedish Grammy nominated musicians Sebastian Mullaert and Henrik Frendin, constituting the pinnacle of over 40 years of combined research and creative explorations in the space of contemporary electro-acoustic music. 

The first encounter between the two was back in 2006 at the Malmö Academy of Music. Following an illustrious career in the electronic dance music scene, Sebastian received support from tastemakers like Mixmag, FACT, Electronic Beats and Crack and nominated twice for Swedish Grammy both for his solo work and under his Minilogue project. He was voted in the “Top Live Acts In The World" by Resident Advisor, for his awe inspiring performances touching all corners of the globe form Boiler Room, through Berghain and Fabric. Mullaert became interested in returning to his roots as a classically trained musician, seeking novel ways of integrating classical and electronic music, culminating in his stunning “Natthall” LP with Zurich Philharmonic Orchestra which featured in the BBC Music Magazine “Top 10 Post Classical Albums” of 2020.

Meanwhile, Frendin was touring internationally promoting his solo album ‘Viola con Forza’ (2004), nominated for a Swedish Grammy in the category ‘Classical solo’, at that time already considered one of Scandinavia´s leading violists.

This album was a compilation of works by leading Swedish composers, all pieces dedicated to Frendin. To meet his vision of expanding and developing the sound palette of an electro-acoustical string instrument, a new amplified string instrument called Electric Viola Grande, built, and created by Richard Rolf, was constructed especially for him. This unique five-string viola set a new standard of authentic sound and design in the field of electro-acoustical instrument making. Frendin´s first appearance on stage with the new instrument was at a performance in Wiener Concerthaus as a feathured solo artist at “Lange Nacht der Neue Klänge”.
Naturally, this sparked Mullaert’s interest, so he enrolled for private lessons with the viola professor Frendin.

Fast forward to 2024 and the pair reunited for the resulting ‘HIND’ project, with the main inspiration and starting point nature, and it was an up-close experience with a baby wild deer and its protective mother while they were both meditating in the woods from which the album takes its name. “Almost getting showered by the beauty of nature – it was quite a magical moment that has never happened to me before or anyone else I know for that matter,” adds Mullaert.

Across ‘HIND’, both Mullaert and Frendin’s creative practises and different musical backgrounds are taken to a new level of technical and artistic achievement. Album opener ‘Dawn’ peacefully unfolds – the sun comes up, the darkness clears – while the sprightly ‘Stepping Stone’ and album title track ‘Hind’ elegantly use melody, rhythm, and harmony; a result of a series of long takes in which Frendin’s playing is processed, looped, and warped in real time by Mullaert, with Frendin adding real-time string layers through improvisation and Mullaert performing multilayer looping.

Sebastian Mullaert & Henrik Frendin - Stepping Stone

Bookings:
alma@lb-agency.net
ralf@vdhaardt.com (Classical Ensemble Requests)

Management: niko@starling.works

Music and more:  https://linktr.ee/sebastianmullaert

When you listen to Sebastian Mullaert’s music you will feel something enchanting, a resonance that delivers truth, integrity and reminds us to simply be. The Swedish artist has a distinct approach to life, as well as music, which is centred around tranquillity, stillness and the convergence of Zen meditation, nature and creativity. Known for his work as one half of Minilogue, Sebastian is also an accomplished solo artist with new material ready to roll. As an artist that is constantly evolving he has taken a bold new direction in his sonic exploration, immersing himself in the neo-classical scene and joining forces with one of the top 10 philharmonic orchestras in the world - Tonhalle Zürich. Working with great care and innovation he has created a truly immersive audio-visual performance experience, combining a mesmerising integration of electronic and classical instrumentation, with a visual art installation based on breath taking nature landscapes shot from a helicopter perspective. With such an innovative approach he aims to bridge the gap between classical and electronic music and introduce a whole new generation to the neo-classical concept. 

Sebastian's deep connection with music can be traced back to his formative years; from playing the organ and violin as a child, to performing in orchestras, string quartets and pop band, progressing into electronic music in his late teens. Discovering house and techno in the mid-nineties was the catalyst behind a revolution in his life, he set out on a new musical pathway, to promote the simplicity of being. Throughout the late nineties he experimented with electronic sounds, forming cult duo Minilogue with a friend and releasing with Crosstown Rebels, Traum Schallplatten, Wagon Repair and more, plus two albums via Cocoon – ‘Animals’ (2008) and ‘Blomma’ (2013). In 2014, the duo decided to take a break and invest their time in solo projects and Sebastian has since been hard at work cultivating a collection of new music already snapped up by hugely influential labels such as R&S sub-label Apollo, Drumcode, Hypercolour and Minus.

Sebastian Mullaert’s live performances are awe-inspiring, combining technical wizardry with energy, atmosphere and euphoria, you only have to watch his “Interpretations” performance for XLR8R or Boiler Room appearance for examples of his prowess. Recognition of his aptitude has led him to perform at institutions and festivals such as Panorama Bar - Berlin, Labyrinth Festival - Japan, Fabric - London, Concrete - Paris, The Block - Tel Aviv and Blackmarket - NYC. 

Sebastian’s collaborative work runs parallel to his solo endeavours and he has teamed up with several figures in the techno world to produce some unforgettable releases. Collaborators include Mathew Jonson, Eitan Reiter, Aril Brikha and Ulf Eriksson, and releases have come via underground platforms such as Hypnus, Mule Musiq and Kontra Musik. He also produces under the alias Wa Wu We, offering a serene, understated take on the techno aesthetic. Furthermore he is involved in the new Be Yokai project, a trio formed of Sebastian, Douglas Holmquist and Kristoffer Ström. The three men formed a natural alliance, finding their flow after several sessions together. Their first EP is signed to Hypercolour sub-label Space Hardware, with a live show and more music in the pipeline.

Sebastian Mullaert is already established as a potent force in the world of electronic music. Serious about reminding people to BE on the dance floor, or in the comfort of their own home, the music he makes is deep, progressive and utterly unique. Whatever the future holds, you can be sure he will continue to channel the infinite energy that surrounds us into every facet of his life.

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