Artist description Somewhere between Townes Van Zandt and John Cage: sometimes folk, sometimes noise, sometimes ambient, sometimes classical. Deeply rooted in folk traditions but not limited by them. Listen to Doc Watson and Kronos Quartet in a blender and you might be in the right ballpark.

Music Style Essentially folk music, sometimes with an experimental, electronic, noise, ambient, minimalist edge. Currently working on some pieces for solo violin and a string quartet, both of which lie somewhere between Mark O'Connor and John Cage.

Musical Influences Influenced heavily by Appalachian folk music, mimalism, and noise artists.

Similar Artists Chris Whitley, Townes Van Zandt, John Lennon, Doc Watson, Jim White, Steve Reich, Knurl, Terry Riley. (Yes, I know it's confusing.)

Artist History When first signed by Australia-based experimental/noise label Extreme, an A&R rep was heard to say, “Yes, ‘Welcome to Hard Times’ is a folk CD. Folk music is the noise music of the future.” This statement underscores the thin line that Kiefer’s music rides: somewhere between folk and noise, between classical and spoken word. Christian Kiefer’s folk, noise, classical, and improvised works are becoming recognized by critics and musicians alike as stunning examples of the future of music. At one moment pure folk, the next pure noise, Kiefer continues to break apart the tightly built categories of music, turning away from these constrictive labels and instead continuing to record and play what is in his heart and in his mind. Kiefer has been dabbling in music and musical concerns for fifteen years but it was not until he began work on his first full-length CD, “Welcome to Hard Times,” that the music industry began to take notice. Extreme signed Kiefer and in a matter of months he began to perform in the U.S. and Canada. His performance of improvised banjo noise music at the 2nd annual No Music Festival in London, Ontario will be released in January 2000 by Entartete Kunst, Canada. Kiefer’s current project is “Nacht for Dr. Ma,” a noise/soundscape/ambient/opera co-written and performed with avant-garde percussionist Jason Sinclair Long. “Dr. Ma” features the talents of Canadian noise/ambient artists Knurl, Jason Bellchamber, and Tim Glasgow, as well as Japan’s Maju, noise guitar wunderkind Jon Borges, and avant-guitar's reining king, Loren MazzaCane Connors. "Nacht for Dr. Ma" will be completed by the end of 1999. No definite plans to release it have yet been made.

Instruments dobro, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, programming, kitchen sink, nuts and bolts.

Albums Medicine Show

Press Reviews "I have only one thing to say about Christian Kiefer: it's great to hear NEW music!" (Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth); "Christian Kiefer's tools of the trade are a banjo and a MIDI unit, but any hint of corny picking was quickly brushed aside as Kiefer's minimalist explorations left you slack jawed with amazement." (Exclaim!, May 1999); "Improvisor Christian Kiefer performed on an FX-laden banjo, which reminded everyone that it was as much a percussion instrument as a string instrument. Inspired by a Morton Feldman piece for John Cage, Kiefer took the banjo's hillbilly echoes into a delicate, meditative space." (The Wire, June 1999)

Location Sacramento, CA - USA

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