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Sonja Vectomov

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Sonja Vectomov
Vectomov in 2016
Background information
Birth nameSoňa Večtomová
Born (1979-05-21) 21 May 1979 (age 45)
Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia
GenresElectronic, classical
Occupation(s)Musical artist, philanthropist, music pedagogue

Sonja Vectomov (born 21 May 1979) is a Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer who descends from a family rooted in the classical music world.[1] Vectomov is married to American conductor David Woodard.[2] Her parents are Vladimír Večtomov and Sonja Vectomov.

Education

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In the early 2000s Vectomov studied at Norwich University of the Arts, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree in 2005.[2][3]

Career

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Vectomov's initial music experiments began during the 1980s in Finland and involved musique concrète with home tape recorders, four years of performing and touring with the children's choir Vox Aurea [fi] under the direction of Kari Ala-Pöllänen [fi],[4] and violin and piano studies under a curriculum for precocious children at Keski-Suomen konservatorio, where her father Vladimír Večtomov taught classical guitar. Her grandfather Ivan Večtomov, also a composer, was a cellist with the Czech Philharmonic for 22 years, and her uncle was the cellist Saša Večtomov.[2]

During the mid-1990s, Vectomov moved to Prague to assume a 1st violin chair with the Pražský studentský orchestr under the direction of Mirko Škampa [cs]. Concomitantly she monitored the electronic music scenes in Finland and England.[5]

As a solo artist Vectomov's concerts sometimes involve elements of installation, e.g., the transformation of a stage into a salon.[6] She has stated that Conlon Nancarrow and David Byrne are important influences.[7]

Lamprophrenia

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The title of Vectomov's experimental debut album is her self-coined portmanteau of the Neo-Latin / Greek words lampron (bright) and phrenia (mind).[8] The album features electronic compositions with vocals,[5] and is considered unpredictable and "full of unexpected twists and turns."[9]

The first single "Two in One," for which Mika Johnson directed a music video featuring prima ballerina Jana Andrsová, "recounts a story of death and transfiguration, interspecies karma and plant consciousness—this maiden release from Lamprophrenia pulses with nucleopatriphobic synthesizer rhythms, violin, viola, harmonica, mandolin and the consummate intonements of Vectomov."[10]

Miscellaneous

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Like both of her parents, Vectomov is a pedagogue.[citation needed] She has designed and taught music workshops for at-risk youths and disadvantaged Romani children in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic.[11][12]

Vectomov makes a cameo appearance in H*art On, Andrea Culková's 2016 documentary film about the virtually unknown early 20th century writer Milada Součková and her husband, Devětsil-era painter Zdeněk Rykr.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Poncar, M., "Sonja Vectomov právě vydala album Lamprophrenia", Techno.cz, Sep 26, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Uneventful Records, Sonja Vectomov bio, 2016.
  3. ^ Master Guide, Norwich University of the Arts.
  4. ^ Vodolánová, K., "Rozhovor se Sonja Vectomov, aka Neverstop", The Black Light, Jan 13, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Spaceboss, P., "Sonja Vectomov albově debutuje s Lamprophrenií," Spaceboss, Oct 4, 2016.
  6. ^ Perälä, K., "Jyväskylän Kesässä taiteeseen törmätään taas kadullakin", Keskisuomalainen, Jun 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Meronen, A., "Kaikenlaisissa laittomissa metsäbileissä tuli käytyä—Jyväskylässä kasvanut suomalais-tsekkiläinen Sonja Vectomov tekee sekä klassista että konemusiikkia", Keskisuomalainen, Feb 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Räty, H., "Sonja Vectomov nimesi debyyttilevynsä itse keksimällään sanalla", Finnish Urban Media, Oct 10, 2016.
  9. ^ Franta, T., "Premiéra: Sonja Vectomov—Lamprophrenia", AlterEcho, Sep 23, 2016.
  10. ^ Franta, T., "Echolokátor: Sonja Vectomov—Two in One", AlterEcho, Jul 25, 2016.
  11. ^ Galerie Středočeského kraje (GASK), "Umění spojení 014 / Junior", Dec 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Pinnoy, V., "Obrazem: V GASK se konaly další akce projektu Umění spojení", Kutnohorské listy, Jul 1, 2014.
  13. ^ Jægtnes, H. S., "The artist’s talking head", Modern Times Review, Oct 28, 2016 (translated from Norwegian, "Kunstnerens snakkende hode", Ny Tid, Oct 13, 2016).
  14. ^ Institute of Documentary Film, H*art On (Czech Republic / France), 2016.
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