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Elisa Thorn

Contributor Information

Portrait of Elisa Thorn

Elisa Thorn

During my residency, I will investigate how sculptural form can serve as a generative
framework for musical composition. Using selected sculptures as source material, I will
create new works for harp, voice, and electronics, translating their shapes and spatial
qualities into melodic, rhythmic, and textural structures across multiple scales. This
project extends my ongoing interdisciplinary practice by engaging directly with
three-dimensional form and developing a compositional methodology that treats sculpture
as an active structural agent. In dialogue with Jeffrey Rubinoff’s ideas about the
relationship between music and sculpture, this research explores form as something
experienced over time, fostering a dynamic exchange between visual and sonic expression.

Contributor Biography
Contemporary harpist Elisa Thorn (pronounced eh-lee-sah) finds it hard to describe her music but lately has lovingly been calling it "experimental folk for the bathtub". Known for her distinct contemporary use of the instrument, her sound draws influences from folk, pop, jazz, post-rock and experimental music. An insatiable collaborator, she is part of many of her own projects including Gentle Party, HUE, and The Giving Shapes, and has contributed to recordings and performances with artists such as Haley Blais, Ora Cogan, Loscil, Khari McClelland, Wallgrin, and Mauvey. Invested in the intersection of abstraction and creative accessibility, she often works alongside other mediums to inform her process, including dance, literary works, and visual art. She is currently focusing on her solo project, which celebrated its debut release, xiik, in November 2025. For fans of Bjork, Andrew Bird, and Feist.

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