Vision Mantra by Adrianne Munden-Dixon

In the quest for discovering new realms for the violin to explore, Vision Mantra will be seen as a revelation along the path. Acclaimed violinist, improviser, and composer Adrianne Munden-Dixon’s second album is a genre-defying collection that pushes the expressive boundaries of the violin and electronics into breathtaking new territory. Featuring four newly commissioned solo works and two intimate chamber pieces by a diverse group of powerful artists, Vision Mantra is a fearless testament to sonic innovation and emotional rawness.

At the core of Vision Mantra are four electrifying new compositions by Martin Gendelman, Kimia Koochakzadeh, Gemma Peacocke, and John Thompson — each created through close collaboration with Munden-Dixon. These solo pieces, enriched with electronics, transform the violin into an instrument of striking unpredictability: from the aggressive hum of a swarm of bees to the delicate shimmer of light on water.

Complementing these solos are two chamber works by inti figgis-vizueta and Marcos Balter, performed alongside longtime collaborators violist Carrie Frey and cellist Julia Henderson. Together, the trio crafts a shifting sonic landscape, rich in timbre and texture, immersing listeners in a continuous spectrum of expressive color.

“Vision Mantra is like light breaking through a fractured window after a storm,” writes Rosalie Chretien. “The diffused glow alleviates tension, while thunder still rumbles in the distance. A true sonic catharsis, Adrianne Munden-Dixon’s playing is raw and visceral, sometimes evoking a swarm of angry bees about to attack, sometimes the shimmer of dew covering a bed of moss at dawn.”

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Munden-Dixon now works between Montreal and New York, where she is a vital presence in both cities’ experimental music scenes. Praised for her “shapeshifting technical facility” (I Care If You Listen) and “white-knuckle energy” (Bandcamp Daily), she continues to redefine the role of the violin in contemporary sound practice.

Adrianne Munden-Dixon is a violinist, improviser, and composer living in Montreal and New York City.

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