Hi, I’m Randi Pontoppidan — a vocalist, improviser, and composer who loves exploring what the human voice can do when you really push its boundaries. I work across free improvisation, jazz, performance art, sound poetry, and electroacoustic composition — basically, if it makes sound, I’m curious.
My music is often described as creating vast, poetic soundscapes — with a voice that’s been compared to Diamanda Galás and Maja S.K. Ratkje (which I’m honored by!). I’m especially known for my extended vocal techniques and how I weave live electronics into my performances.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with amazing musicians like Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Joëlle Léandre, Sissel Vera Pettersen, and Peter Bruun. In contemporary classical music, I’ve worked with Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices, Damkapellet, and the vocal collective IKI.
I’m driven by a deep fascination with the human voice — its outer limits, secret textures, and all the unexpected places it can take us.
People have said nice things too:
“5 stars to a voice with power and magic” — Berlingske Tidende
“Sound art appears from empty space using only her voice” — Politiken
“A sound journey into the untranslatable alphabet of voice and body” — Information
I’ve been nominated for Best Album at the Danish Music Awards Jazz in both 2021 and 2022, and for Best Vocalist at the Steppeulven Awards.
If you want to dive in, here’s my discography — from solo works to collaborations across continents and genres.
Discography:
1. Life In Life 05.26.2022 Randi Pontoppidan & Povl Kristian, Chant Records, NYC
2. Inner Lift 05.26.2021 Randi Pontoppidan & Sissel Vera Pettersen, Chant Records
3. Voicescapes 01.22.2021 Randi Pontoppidan & Thomas Buckner, Chant Records
4. Head¨Space 02.22.2020 Randi Pontoppidan & Christian Rønn, Chant Records
5. ROOMS 02.19.2019 Randi Pontoppidan solo, Label: Chant Records NYC
6. Space Geode 2018 Randi Pontoppidan & Greg Cohen, Chant Records NYC
7. Silence Trio 2 2018 Randi Pontoppidan, Jakob Davidsen & Sissel Vera Pettersen, Label: ILK
8. Skuggor Och Ljus 2016 Joel Illerhag & Nephilim Ensemble, Randi Pontoppidan, Johanna Sulkunen, Lo Ersare, Ania Rybacka & Elina Silova. Gateway
9. Vi Er 2014 Other Gardens: Randi Pontoppidan, Linda Edsjö & Jennifer Dill. Label: CDklassisk
10. Jamaaladeen Tacuma & Legend of The Pipe and Sweater 2013 Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Randi Pontoppidan, Jens Jefsen, Martin Fabrisius & Ole Theil. Label: JAP-5
11. Convocation 2012 Sissel Vera Pettersen, Randi Pontoppidan & Thomas Agergaard. Label: Time Span Records, Gateway
12. Ton & Träume 2012 Morten Søndergaard & Randi Pontoppidan
13. Stories 2011 – Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier, Randi Pontoppidan, Else Torp, Jakob Bloch Jespersen, Chris Watson & Miriam Andersen. Label: Harmonia Mundi
14. LIFT vs Sydow, 2007 – Sissel Vera Pettersen, Randi Pontoppidan & Hans Sydow. Label: Gateway
15. Kasper Bai Orchestet 2006, Kasper Bai, Fredrik Lundin, Anders Banke, Knut Finsrud, Thomas Caudery, Peter Jensen, Niels Gerhardt, Robert Karlsson, Tobias Wallin, Johan Segerberg & Randi Pontoppidan. Label: Gateway
16. Corrosion 2002 – Poul Doornbusch, Randi Pontoppidan, Stephie Büttrich Label: Poul Doornbusch