Composer and violist Eyvind Kang announces the release of Riparian, his first album of solo viola d’amore performances via Kou Records. Kang is a long time collaborator of Jessika Kenney, Bill Frisell, Laurie Anderson, Bennie Maupin, Stuart Dempster and many other luminaries, as well as a substantial contributor to recordings by SUNN O))) (Monoliths and Dimensions) and Blonde Redhead (Misery is a Butterfly). He is a disciple of spiritual jazz violinist Michael White and a lifelong student of raga-based music with Padma Bhushan Smt. Dr. N. Rajam. For over three decades, Kang has dedicated himself to dissolving the boundaries between composer, performer, and listener. In recent years, he has focused on developing what he calls ecomusicality. With Riparian, he turns inward, offering a rare and intimate work centered on the viola d’amore - an instrument he began exploring in depth during the pandemic. Across two longform pieces, Kang improvises within self-devised modes, unfolding melodies with a quiet intensity that traces ancient echoes through a contemporary ear.

“Riparian is a nickname for this method of improvising, which compares pizzicato and arco dialogue to criss-crossing a stream or river,” says Kang. “I also thought of a frog or turtle alternating between land and water, or a cat freezing in response to an overwhelming smell before resuming motion - especially in the long tones. There’s a sense of randomness that feels at once very grounded.” To develop this ecological-improvisational approach, Kang created two microtonal frameworks, dubbed Riparian A and Riparian B. The recordings on this album are the first takes of each mode - captured in the studio in what Kang describes as “a kind of storytelling among like-minded friends.” This sense of ease and presence permeates the album, though moments of strong emotion occasionally surface, carried by the flow of Kang’s lyrical phrasing. Produced and recorded by Randall Dunn (SUNN O))), Benny Safdie, Preston Singletary, Anna von Hausswolff, Ellen Arkbro, Erkin Koray, Annea Lockwood, Omar Souleyman, Kali Malone), Riparian inhabits a rich sonic space where the unique resonance of the viola d’amore is rendered with warmth and clarity. Dunn’s sensitive production amplifies the intimate nature of Kang’s improvisations, allowing each gesture to resonate with nuance and depth. Riparian is music that listens as much as it speaks - inviting the listener into a meditative space where sound, time, and image flow freely. The record features commissioned artwork by artist and architectural designer Maura Chen and a portrait by renowned illustrator Randy Ortiz. 

Eyvind Kang is a composer and violist whose work spans experimental, classical, and traditional music forms. Known for his explorations of microtonality, modal improvisation, and sonic ritual, Kang’s work has been presented at leading festivals and venues worldwide. Kang is currently a faculty member at CalArts in Los Angeles, teaching Composition and Experimental Sound Practices. Riparian marks his first solo instrumental release.