Soap&Skin

"Soap and skin are two substances which react on each other in different ways"

Thats how Anja Plaschg, 19 years old, is explaining her choice of calling Soap&Skin her musical solo project. And I wouldn't have find a better way to describe what effects her music has on me.

Anja Plaschg would be part of the music "freaks" that we sometimes find on our musical way.

Born in 1990, she grew up in a small village called Gnas in south east Styria, where her parents had a farm. (If you're like me & don't have a clue of where it is - its in the middle of nowhere in Austria)

Early musician, she started to play piano at the age of 6, violin studies at 14, along with developing some interests in electronic music. She did a couple attempts of studies in graphic design and fine arts, but finally dropped out to focus on her music.

Her first EP was released in 2008, quickly followed in 2009 by a second one, "Marche Funèbre". Her first album, called "Lovetune for Vacuum" (Couch Records/Pias Recording), was also released in 2009.

To say that Anja Plaschg's little world is strange would be an euphemism. Everything about her and her music will attract and make you feel uncomfortable at the same time. Whether it will be the visual ambiance of her clip, her gauzy skin and disturbing beauty, her fragile -sometimes whining - voice, so pure and clear in the same time, ...

She may remind you of Fever Ray/The Knife singer Karin Andersson in some ways (her weird silence receiving an Austrian Amadeus Award seems indeed familiar) or Björk, but she is for sure unique.

Soap&Skin is a Love it or Hate it artist - but I doubt her world will let anyone indifferent. Describing her music, one of my friend said something which I fully agreed on : it has its wonderful power of letting you see all the beauty and sadness of this world.

To understand this, I shall advise you to listen to the track "Inter View feat. Heartmill", which - in my opinion - reflects this feeling perfectly...

Soap&Skin - Thanatos - "Ages of delirium/Curse of my oblivion"

Artist Website : http://www.soapandskin.com/

Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/soapandskin

Facebook fan page : http://www.facebook.com/soapandskin