ÆTLA – [ˈatla]
The name comes from Icelandic and Faroese and means to want or to strive for something. And that is exactly what we do – we strive. To make music that matters. Music that comes from a place where we have something at heart – as people and as artists.

Our shared foundation is classical singing, but as a collective we also bring experience in composition, performance, text, movement and visual art. We draw on all of this in our work – especially in the rehearsal room, where we explore, play and discover new ways of using the voice and the body together.

We take the unpredictable seriously, and we take play seriously too. We make room for taking risks and following what feels exciting, unusual or unexpected – without fear of failure. Curiosity and desire are what drive us. We believe the most interesting things emerge when we listen our way forward – to ourselves and to one another. We see difference as a strength, both personally and artistically. We want to create a space where every voice has room, and where we meet one another with respect, trust and openness. We believe that it is precisely within this shared space that music can take on new and unexpected forms.

We strive to create concert experiences that move people – and to open up classical vocal music through new perspectives and collaborations. Even when we do not quite know where we are heading.

There is no recipe. But there is will. And there is something at stake.

We keep striving.