Istanbul born and raised, Berlin based artist Hüma Utku explores the possibilities of how sound textures and rhythm can be used to evoke a sense of ancient within abstract electronics. She fuses the elements of industrial, ambient and techno through an experimental contemporary approach, with field recordings and traditional instruments as she utilises sound and music as tools for storytelling. Combining her self-taught practice of music since early ages with her studies in psychology; Utku's works draw inspiration from human condition, Jungian psychoanalysis and mysticism.
Photo by Muhammad Saleh
Following her release ''Her Trembling Ceased'' via Partapart Records under the moniker R.A.N. in 2015, Utku started touring Europe and the Middle East. In August 2018 ''Şeb-i Yelda'' (EP/12'') was released by Karlrecords, which presented Utku (as R.A.N.) with an evolved sound and strong theme to a wider international audience. Following the success of the EP, Utku released her debut full-length album under her own name ''Gnosis'' in July 2019 via the same label. This release gained Utku recognition for her unique approach of creating story plots by merging themes with electronics and traditional folkloric sounds with a general disregard for genres.
Later in 2019, her rework of Vanessa Wagner's ''Struggle for Pleasure'' (originally by Wim Mertens) in company of selected artists including Wolfgang Voigt (aka GAS), Suzanne Ciani & Vladislav Delay, was released by the Paris based InFine music.
Her work has received notable press from platforms such as The Wire, Noisey, RollingStone, Redbull Music, Groove Mag, Gonzo Circus and Scene Noise among others, as well as getting broadcasted by seminal radio station and platforms such as BBC Radio 3, NTS radio, RAI 3 (Italian National Broadcasting), Resonance FM, YLE (Finnish National Broadcasting).
Her residency is kindly made possible with the support of the Goethe Institut in Stockholm.