Anna Van Hausswolff

Anna Michaela Ebba Electra von Hausswolff was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, on September 6, 1986. Her father, Carl Michael von Hausswolff, is an avant-garde sound artist. During her early life, she pursued studies in architecture at Chalmers University of Technology. Her musical career officially began in 2008 when she made her performance debut. In 2009, she performed at the Way Out West Festival, signaling her emergence in the music scene. The following year, on February 5, 2010, Hausswolff released her debut single, “Track of Time.” This was quickly followed by her first album, “Singing from the Grave,” which garnered positive reception from the Swedish press. She gained further exposure in 2010 by opening for Tindersticks on three separate occasions and embarking on a tour of Brazil with Taken by Trees and Taxi Taxi! In 2011, she supported Lykke Li and M.Ward with multiple performances, including one at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. She also performed at several major Swedish festivals, including Peace and Love, Storsjöyran, Way Out West, Arvika, and Made Festival.

Her work with the pipe organ became particularly notable with the release of her 2012 album, “Ceremony.” This album marked a significant shift in her sound and was subsequently released in North America on July 9, 2013, by Other Music Recording Co. Her North American debut performance took place on July 10 at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. “Ceremony” received strong support from NPR’s Bob Boilen, who highlighted her ability to convey both power and delicate emotion. In 2017, she collaborated with Wolves in the Throne Room, contributing vocals to their song “Born From the Serpent’s Eye” on the album “Thrice Woven.” Her fourth album, “Dead Magic,” released in March 2018, was critically acclaimed as her “darkest, most ambitious record to date.” This album was recorded on a 20th-century pipe organ at Copenhagen’s Rococo-style Marble Church, and she worked with producer Randall Dunn. The album aimed to encourage listeners to embrace mystery in a materialistic society. She also contributed guest vocals to Swans’ 2019 album “Leaving Meaning” alongside her sister Maria and appeared on Sunn O)))’s live album “Metta, Benevolence.”

Her fifth album, “All Thoughts Fly,” launched in 2020. This album utilized the pipe organ of Örgryte New Church in Gothenburg, a reproduction of the Arp Schnitger organ. This organ is recognized as the largest in the world to be tuned in quarter-comma meantone temperament. In 2022, her music was featured at the “Organ Reframed” festival at the Union Chapel in London, where the London Contemporary Orchestra performed her compositions. Throughout her career, Anna von Hausswolff has consistently received praise for her expressive voice and powerful live performances.