About us:
Wielding a sound that would turn classical music scholars to stone, these four folk innovators are reimagining the Western string quartet. By inviting back voices previously regarded as too ugly for “polite society,” Medusa tempts us to redefine what is beautiful.
Medusa continues this manifesto on their new record:
“Weaving Gold in Broken Places”
It is said that pottery mended with the Japanese art of Kintsugi is stronger than before it was broken. This practice, which uses gold to repair and reconnect lost pieces, is the inspiration for our album.
In it, we weave a tapestry of original music and traditional tunes from around the world, each with their own story. Blending these stories with the sounds of resonant strings and forgotten fiddles, we invite you to reimagine and redefine what is beautiful.
This album is dedicated to all the monsters and misfits.
Artwork by Czarli Bajka www.czarlibajka.com
Meet Medusa - No Mirrors Required
Saskia Tomkins
Nyckelharpa, Fiddle
Marta Sołek
Suka, Płock fiddle, Lyra, Cello
Lea Kirstein
Cello, Viola
A powerhouse groover and innovative educator, Lea is the founder of “World on a String” - a Toronto fiddle community that values inclusivity and celebrates different learning styles. They are a master musical arranger, and is currently creating a Fiddle Workbook for students of all brains and abilities. worldonastring.ca
Geo Hathaway
Fiddle, Viola, Nyckelharpa
Taking audiences to outer space with their improvisations, Geo is a master-learner and emoter of music. After traveling to Zanzibar to learn Middle Eastern modes, Geo continues to study different traditions and find connections between them. Bringing their background in theatre to the band, she dreams of re-telling the Medusa myth to people around the world. georgiahathaway.com
The Myth of Medusa:
One of the most misunderstood figures in ancient mythology, Medusa was wrongfully punished and cast out for being the victim of a violent act, but is remembered solely for her frightful ugliness and lithifying gaze. Medusa Quartet aims to retell this story by bringing back what has been cast out.
Marta Solek and Saskia Tomkins resurrect the Suka, the Płock fidel, and the Nyckelharpa - near-forgotten traditional folk fiddles with disreputable connotations that were rejected for centuries in their home countries of Poland and Sweden.
