We are very happy to announce the first release for 2025 on elsewhere, to be out in early March. (We accept CD preorders here and on Bandcamp.)

Sarah Hennies - SOVT (richard valitutto) (elsewhere 034)

'SOVT' is an album containing one 55-minute piece, written for piano by Sarah Hennies in 2017. SOVT stands for Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract which refers to vocal exercises that strengthens the voice by helping the vocal cords vibrate more efficiently. One may practice SOVT exercises by singing with a straw in the mouth which regulates air pressure and reduces strain on the vocal folds. Hennies encountered these exercises in a class on so-called “voice feminization” for transgender women which also inspired her other works “Falsetto” and “Contralto."

Almost all the strings of the piano in this piece are muted with Blu-Tack poster putty and this along with the rhythmic language of the piece results in a sound that is a hybrid piano/percussion-like sound. By connecting all the strings with putty, a dramatically rich sympathetic vibration occurs throughout the piano similar to the way in which one feels increased vibration in the mouth and throat by singing through a straw.

SOVT was originally commissioned by R. Andrew Lee and for this recording was performed by richard valitutto, who recorded the work at the Bard College studio in the spring of 2024 with Hennies engineering. 

(CD release: March 1, 2025)

To help fund our upcoming release projects (many exciting projects on the way from both elsewhere and Erstwhile) and to clear some much-needed storage space, we are offering free shipping on all orders over $50 (domestic shipping in the US) and $140 (international shipping) through February 9th. 

This applies to everything we have in stock, including recent releases, on Erstwhile, elsewhere, Gravity Wave and ErstDist (https://www.erstwhilerecords.com/erstdist.html), every in print release through 2024. It does not apply to pre-orders for upcoming releases, those must be placed in a separate order. 

All orders must be made directly via email ([email protected]), send us the list of what you want and we'll make sure we have it all and send you back a total, then you can pay via PayPal and we are happy to send DL/Bandcamp codes for releases on our labels (not ErstDist titles) if you like, just let us know if you want digital as well.

We are also concerned that the US Postal Service may become more expensive and chaotic in the near future under the new US administration beginning this month, so if you are planning to place CD orders from overseas, we recommend that you take advantage of this sale before things get complicated.

We appreciate your kind support of our labels, past and future, and hope you can take advantage of this sale.

Thanks for looking and wishing everyone a good year despite the crazy times...

Yuko

https://www.elsewheremusic.net/
https://www.erstwhilerecords.com/