AUDREY CHEN is a 2nd generation Chinese/Taiwanese-American musician who was born into a family of material scientists, doctors and engineers, outside of Chicago in 1976. Parting ways with the family convention, she turned to the cello at age 8 and voice at 11. After years of classical and conservatory training in both instruments, with a resulting specialization in early and new music, she parted ways again in 2003 to begin new negotiations with sound in order to discover a more individually honest aesthetic.

I listened to the piece In The on Audrey’s album and I was amazed at how much she could transform her voice and do so without post-production.The interplay of vocals and cello in Chen’s piece creates a powerful sonic impact. She pushes the vocals to their limits, from a low growl to a whisper-like whisper that becomes part of her work. At the same time, her approach to the cello is unique, utilising a variety of unconventional techniques to explore new sonic expressions from this familiar instrument.

After listening to “In the,” I had the feeling that I had entered an unknown forest, where every sound was like a creature of the forest, some low, some murmuring, some silent, some wild. I was lost in this forest of sound and found a new self in it.