Laurie Anderson

Beginning her experimental music career over 40 years ago, Laurie Anderson is beyond electric violin early adaptor -- she is a true inventor.  By the 1970's she was already so far ahead of her time that modern violin technology is only just catching up to many of the electric violin technologies techniques she devised decades ago.

EVS founder Blaise Kielar reflects on her visit to Electric Violin Shop in 2008:

"Laurie Anderson's visit Electric Violin Shop September 18th demonstrated how our role is a two way street. She has been a pioneer of advanced technology with the violin for decades now. I am still inspired by the bow with audio tape instead of hair. When she ran the bow over a tape head on the instrument, you could hear fragments of words at various speeds, until finally she played the whole phrase - “Listen to my heart beat.”

Given the complexity of electronic effects she performs with, I had some trepidation about her visit. What could we possibly turn her on to? Well, it was something to see her face light up as she played a Jordan 7-string violin. As she reveled in the extreme low tone of the F and B flat strings, and I could feel her excitement at the creative possibilities."

Laurie Anderson is an NS Design endorser and continues to record, perform and inspire with her unique craft.