Carla Kihlstedt

American violinist, singer and composer

Born: 23 November 1971
Lancaster
Country: United States
Active: 1998–
Record labels: Tzadik Records, Intakt Records
Discography: 9 albums

Biography

Carla Kihlstedt is a jazz musician who plays violin and voice. Carla Kihlstedt was born on 23 November 1971 in Lancaster. The music is usually filed under avant-garde music. Record labels: Tzadik Records and Intakt Records. The discography here lists 9 albums, from “Sonarchy 1998” (1998) to “26 Little Deaths” (2025).

Carla Kihlstedt (born 1971) is an American composer, violinist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and currently working from a home studio on Cape Cod. She is a founding member of Tin Hat Trio (1997, renamed Tin Hat), Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, The Book of Knots, Causing a Tiger, and Rabbit Rabbit Radio. Other musical projects include 2 Foot Yard, Charming Hostess and Minamo (Carla Kihlstedt & Satoko Fujii). She is a recognized classical composer who has performed with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), has worked occasionally on projects with Tom Waits, John Zorn, and Fred Frith, and recorded numerous albums as a guest or session musician. Kihlstedt has studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Sonarchy 1998 1998

2 Foot Yard 2003

Flying Low 2004

Minamo 2007 · Live

Ravish and Other Tales for the Stage 2008

Causing a Tiger 2010

Still You Lay Dreaming: Tales for the Stage, II 2011

Necessary Monsters 2021

26 Little Deaths 2025

Also plays on

Albums where Carla Kihlstedt is credited as a sideman

2002	Alice — Tom Waits	violin
2006	The Compass, Log and Lead — Fred Frith, Stevie Wishart & Carla Kihlstedt	nyckelharpa, violin
2006	The Happy End Problem — Fred Frith	violin
2006	Half the Perfect World — Madeleine Peyroux	violin
2009	Nowhere, Sideshow, Thin Air (Music for Dance Volume 6) — Fred Frith	violin
2009	Bare Bones — Madeleine Peyroux	violin, nyckelharpa, trumpet
2019	Nocturnes — Trevor Dunn	violin
2022	She Found a Moviola: OST — Trevor Dunn	bass harmonica, violin, viola

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Carla Kihlstedt play?

Carla Kihlstedt is known for playing violin and voice.

When and where was Carla Kihlstedt born?

Carla Kihlstedt was born 23 November 1971 in Lancaster.

What are Carla Kihlstedt's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Sonarchy 1998 (1998), 2 Foot Yard (2003), Flying Low (2004), Minamo (2007) and Ravish and Other Tales for the Stage (2008).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.