Helena Espvall

Helena Espvall is a cello player who is comfortable in indie rock and improvised music circles. She was born and raised in Sweden, playing guitar and cello in rock bands and a silent movie orchestra. Moving to the U.S. and settling in Philadelphia in 2000, Espvall further explored Arabic music, performed with the Amnesiac Music & Dance Ensemble, and joined the contemporary psychedelic-folk group <a href="spotify:artist:5oskjjKT8YsWJV0o8NEV9R">Espers</a>, recording the CDs Weed Tree and II with them. Her penchant for playing free jazz has resulted in collaborations with guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:3VWsCRWk23WloHRP9ilRsw">Eugene Chadbourne</a>. She is a featured artist with saxophonist/flutist <a href="spotify:artist:7kcF7YiakE4CjtwtKd7WDi">Oluyemi Thomas</a> on his recording Before the Beginning, and with <a href="spotify:artist:6AhmXzz4CuFc99zfQn2NHB">From Quagmire</a> on Habitats in the Wound. Espvall's debut CD as a leader, Nimis & Arx, from the Pax/Fire Museum label is produced by George Korien, where she plays cello, guitar, and recorder, sings and uses electronics. Other artists she has worked with include <a href="spotify:artist:3GBmJGhzees1bg5Okwp9w8">Katt Hernandez</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0iUNmVah4zM1wQp5NDvMpN">Lukas Ligeti</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0JxR7HzydWMu2Fg66ndphj">Masaki Batoh</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7lhjMSuJsrbitedwB0vquo">Gui Mallon</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5BssZExQqRjHHQdFfKtBiC">Nick Castro</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1FqG6mhiJbhbMg43ohCT6D">Bert Jansch</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4p5KkWGoCb2K65AN7FpR9S">Sharron Kraus</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3vok9b2dEHwKvl9R3RH1VK">Fürsaxa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4chuPfKtATDZvbRLExsTp2">Vashti Bunyan</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7m0vo8YcqFNXFOoKycpOES">Samara Lubelski</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5zjaF8JUdylMWrA7AVo3hJ">Marissa Nadler</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6G9fFcgoCm8I7nkYMul4sE">Damon & Naomi</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3OSbCdYlnPD8IMgs9ZEGsG">Arborea</a>, Curia, <a href="spotify:artist:6k6hf30uA82jUNnKOhek2S">Golden Ball</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7A12LedqgDKXK3NNUyDOqs">the Valerie Project</a>, Polineros, and Scorces. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi