A new record (!), an unconventional salad, and several good books

Lia Kohl's July Newsletter

Hi buddies,

I hope you’re listening to Summer bugs and eating Summer fruits.

I’m sending this newsletter a little late this month because today I’m announcing a new solo record! Normal Sounds comes out August 30th on Moonglyph Records. It’s a collection of field recordings of anthropogenic sounds — car alarms, fridge drones, grocery store beeps — woven in with cello and synthesizers. For me, it’s a love letter to the mundane sonic world, to the part of my brain that just can’t stop listening to everything, all the time. I hope it catches your ears; I hope it helps you listen to something you might not otherwise have noticed.

If you listen to vinyl or if you stream music online and want to support me, you can pre-order the record here. The first “single” is available now, featuring incredible New York-based sound artist Ka Baird, along with a video that I made, featuring many images of the sidewalk (more mundane things I think are beautiful):

I’m celebrating the release in Chicago at Constellation on September 14th!

in other news:

I contributed a track to this compilation, benefitting the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. It’s a very cool lineup and a very good cause!

I’m back from a lovely East Coast tour, playing duo with Whitney Johnson. We had a great time, playing a dreamy, drone-y set of improvisations, seeing some friends/meeting new ones, swimming, and listening to a bunch of audiobooks. Whitney is such an intelligent, kind, and even-tempered person, I’m really grateful to have spent so much time with her.

Here we are in Mikel Patrick Avery's backyard - photos by MPA

a few shows:

7.11 Heavy Tiny (duo with Nick Meryhew): Comfort Station Logan Square, Chicago, IL

7.13 Trio with Cole Pulice and Andrew Broder: Berlin, Minneapolis, MN

7.15 Music for dance by Corinne Imberski: Chance Dance, Sherman Park, Chicago, IL

7.23 Trio with Gerrit Hatcher and Sam Wagster: California Clipper, Chicago, IL

7.26 Trio with Lynn Avery and Mari Maurice: Cassette, Ridgewood, NY

EARLY WARNING: Album release show at Constellation, September 14th

tiny recommendations:

1. As I mentioned, Whitney and I listened to several audiobooks on tour — a new format for me! The best of these books by far was The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels, an exploration of the potter’s fields of modern Los Angeles. Dying alone is a potentially grim subject, but the book is fascinating and infused with both hope and empathy. We also enjoyed Haruki Murakami’s Dance Dance Dance, and James Bridle’s Ways of Being.

2. Good sign-offs. I’m a big fan of “go play,”

3. These are salad days, and (stay with me) we’ve been making a lot of breakfast salads. The current iteration includes: radicchio, red cabbage, cucumber, baby greens, feta, and a little granola (omitting dried fruit). Dress with olive oil/white balsamic/dijon mustard and serve with a poached egg. See? Egg makes it breakfast.

4. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car. It’s beautiful and complex and moving and also feels grounded in reality — a rare cinematic feat. And, I know I’m late to the party but: Paris, Texas.

5. Using a cocktail shaker to make hot coffee into iced coffee — makes a lovely foamy layer.

6. Sando Street, on North and Ashland (in Chicago) makes delightful Japanese style sandwiches.

7. In celebration of the album, a favorite poem by Sarah Ruhl

that’s all, for now.

Lia