THE NEW SOLARISM’s ‘The Kiss’ Transforms Solitude into Sonic Artisanship

Released on 28 March 2025, The Kiss is THE NEW SOLARISM’s fourth release, from Leipzig-born composer and violinist Izabela Kałduńska. What was initially a lockdown distance theatre project with Berlin writer Tomas Blum in 2020, The Kiss has become a studio album, rich in introspection, emotional depth, and sonic experimentation.

Composed for violin, loops, and understated effects only, these ten new works cover a broad emotional spectrum. All evoke feelings explored in the theatre piece The Kiss – in theory and practice, which could not be finished while the pandemic lasted. What results is a hypnotic soundscape of classical restraint in its foundations but impelled by experimental intent.

Influences are global, from Nils Frahm, Arvo Pärt, and Hania Rani, among others, yet Kałduńska isn’t bound by classical traditions of the violin but rather opens up its huge expressive range. Recorded in Leipzig, a city with a deep musical heritage, the album has a sense of cultural continuity yet also addresses the specific needs of our time.

NEW SOLARISM has travelled western Germany since its release, with performances in Krefeld, Düsseldorf, Essen, and Wuppertal in the recent past. Live, played without the aid of pre-recorded tracks, the performances are a raw and intense experience in keeping with the album’s spirit.

The Kiss is an experience of music. Rather than a statement, it’s an emotional ride. Looking back, Kałduńska says, “To express each feeling with music demanded from me great amount of energy and insight to my deepest self.” Sincerity that shines through in every note.