Kaðlín Sara Ólafsdóttir is an Icelandic composer and performer based in The Hague, where she recently graduated from the Institute of Sonology at the Royal Conservatoire. Her work reflects on deterioration by drawing parallels between the imperfections of memory and technology, using cassettes and cassette players to explore the possibilities of low-quality sound and obsolete materials.
On Hljóðfirring (2022) she combines field recordings and wind instruments with electronics to bring out themes of homesickness and belonging. The result is an intimate glimpse into travelling between homes, asking whether our homes travel with us. On stage, Kaðlín performs as a duo with collaborator Toby Kruit, in which they delicately weave together her clarinet and voice with electronics and cassettes.
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Education:
2021-23 Master of Arts in Sonology, Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.
2016-20 Bachelor of Music in Sonology, Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.
2013 Sound engineering at Musik og Teaterhøjskolen, Toftlund, Denmark.
Selected Work Experience, Curation, and Production:
2021-22 Ung Nordisk Musik Festival. Board member of the Icelandic delegation.
2021-22 Curation and organisation of event series ‘New Music Lab Sessions’.
2020-21 On-Call worker at the Institute of Sonology, Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.
2019-20 Internship at the Electronic Workshop, Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.
2018-19 Curation and organisation of event series ‘CASS’.
Selected Performances, Residencies and Gallery Installations:
2023 In Bloom 10th Edition: Nostalgia, Korzo, The Hague, Netherlands
Study Sounds, HU Library, Utrecht, Netherlands
Low Sessions by Radio Kikuno, Lugtje Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
crawl space, The Hague, Netherlands
2022 Ambient Listening Session x u?, Le Guess Who, Utrecht, Netherlands
NEXT Festival, Bratislava, Slovakia
Living Room, cosmos, Lisbon, Portugal
2021 Threads: Sonic Ceremonies, Trixie, The Hague, Netherlands
Live processing with field recordings and cassette players.
Museumnacht, Studio Loos, The Hague, Netherlands
Performance of my work-in-process.
Space Echo, Het Hem, Zaandam, Netherlands
Performance of 8-channel fixed media piece ‘flutter’.
Studio Loos, The Hague, Netherlands
Artistic Research Residency.
2020 RASK#4 in Mengi, Reykjavík, Iceland
Live processing with multiple cassette players. Accompanied by Toby Kruit.
2019 RASK#2 in Mengi, Reykjavík, Iceland
Live processing of vocals and multiple cassette players.
Willem Twee, Den Bosch, Netherlands
Premiere of ‘Teipitog’ for piano and cassette players in addition to a performance of 8-channel
fixed media piece ‘wow’.
Rear Ear Steim, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Live processing of vocals and multiple cassette players.
next_generation Festival Karlsruhe, Germany
Premiere of 8-channel fixed media piece ‘wow’.
Raflost Electronic Arts Festival, Reykjavík, Iceland
Live processing of vocals and multiple cassette players.
2018 Frá Íslandi KEG, Schijndel, Netherlands
Sound installation called ‘Hverfandi’, a cassette with two stories. Performed a smaller-scale
version of hringrásir at the opening.
Haagse Kunstring, The Hague, Netherlands
Premiere of sound installation ‘hringrásir’, two cassette players playing two giant tape loops.
2017 next_generation Festival Karlsruhe, Germany
Premiere of 4-channel fixed media piece ‘Men in groups: No meaning.’
Commissions and Grants:
2023 The Composer fund of The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service and STEF.
2021 The Composer fund of The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service and STEF.
2019 Sound Installation for KABK Open Day.
2018 Fixed media and Live Processing with a trumpet player for their final exam.
Fixed media for KABK Fashion department final exhibition.
Kaðlín Sara Ólafsdóttir 