Helena Espvall

Violin

Helena Espvall is a cellist who is comfortable in indie rock and improvised music circles. She was born and raised in Sweden, playing guitar and cello in rock bands and in silent film orchestras. Moving to the US and settling in Philadelphia in 2000, Espvall explored Arabic music further, performed with the Amnesiac Music & Dance Ensemble, and joined contemporary psychedelic folk group Espers, recording the CDs Weed Tree and II with them. His tendency to play free jazz resulted in collaborations with guitarist Eugene Chadbourne and saxophonist/flutist Oluyemi Thomas on the recording of Before the Beginning, and with From Quagmire on Habitats in the Wound. Espvall's debut CD as leader, Nimis & Arx, by Pax / Fire Museum is produced by George Korien, where she plays cello, guitar and flute, sings and uses electronics. Other artists they have worked with include Katt Hernandez, Lukas Ligeti, Masaki Batoh, Gui Mallon, Nick Castro, Bert Jansch, Sharron Kraus, Fürsaxa, Vashti Bunyan, Samara Lubelski, Marissa Nadler, Damon & Naomi, Arborea, Curia, Golden Ball, o Project Valerie, Polyneros and Scorces.