Lara Somogyi

Lara Somogyi is a Hungarian-American harpist & contemporary classical performer-composer and is known for her work in forging a new artistic identity for the harp. With an unwavering dedication to sculpting a world of sonic exploration, Lara has seamlessly integrated electronics & pedal effects with deeply classical roots, redefining the artistic possibilities of the harp. 

Cultivating an individual sound – she brings a fresh, passionate, modern sonority to the instrument. Years of sculpting her sound and developing her set of contemporary expressions on the harp ushered her to a renewed clarity of expression and identity with the instrument.

Her debut album, ! , ! (expansion), and newest EP blueprints released via Decca Records’ innovative imprint Mercury KX, stand as testaments to Lara’s innovative and sensory-led approach, blending harp with electronics & pedal effects. Weaving exclamatory musical statements from expansive sonic landscapes, Lara delves into hyper-creative deviations from traditional harp techniques, to expand the instrument’s capacity. Praised by BBC 6’s Mary Anne Hobbs as “an artist who takes the harp into contemporary worlds,” Somogyi’s debut album was met with acclaim by Pitchfork for its innovation, & showcases Lara’s mastery in pushing boundaries of the harp’s expressive capabilities. 

Lara’s sonic footprint resonates across a myriad of records including Bonobo’s Fragments, & traverses genres by recording for film & TV. Notably a pivotal role in Hans Zimmer’s score for Blue Planet II, featuring Radiohead, & heavily features in The Lion King, The Color Purple, Bridgerton, Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods & more. Her collaboration also extends to live performances, where Lara has performed alongside alongside Anderson. Paak, Ms. Lauryn Hill, & HER.