With their first collaboration cemented and reverberating throughout the halls, the duo of Lia Kohl and Whitney Johnson are set to tour Europe this summer! Later this month, they'll play across the Midwest to start up the For Translucence trip, with an album release celebration in Chicago at Three Top Lounge on April 24.

For Translucence is the debut album from Whitney Johnson and Lia Kohl. Their dialogue, found initially in free improvisation on viola and cello, has evolved over time into a neophonic orchestral expression: a living, breathing meditation in which layers of acoustic strings, synthesizers, field recordings, radio and sine waves illuminate and change each other as they twine and grow. The two Chicago-based composers/improvisers began playing together in 2018, exploring the space between Lia’s cello and Whitney’s viola with their shared tuning one octave apart. Lia’s work explores the possibilities and dualities of mundane and profound sounds; Whitney, under her own name and as Matchess, presents the listener with the effects of sound on bodies and mind. Their goal is “for translucence”: for each successive part to add clarity to its others.

Watch & listen to an excerpt of “73|74” and witness the unique organic nature of For Translucence, as it blooms, in a city near you! For Translucence is out now.

Whitney Johnson & Lia Kohl Live Dates 2025

24th April @ Three Top Lounge - Chicago, IL, US
For Translucence album release show

25th April @ Dear Mom - Indianapolis, IN, US
w/ Mark Tester, Rob Funkhouser

26th April @ Orbit Room - Bloomington IN, US
Sounds from the Black Hole w/ Brandon Spaulding, Local Hypertext

11th June @ La Dynamo de Banlieues Bleues - Paris, FR
w/Macie Stewart

12th June @ AB Club - Brussels, BE
w/Macie Stewart

15th June @ POM (Paviljoen Ongehoorde Muziek) - Eindhoven, NL
w/ Macie Stewart

18th June @ Occii - Amsterdam, NL
w/Macie Stewart

19th June @ Trix - Antwerp, BE
w/Macie Stewart and Tomo Katsurada

Matchess

4th June @ Huset - Aalborg, DK w/Macie Stewart
6th June @ Milla Club - Munich, DE w/Macie Stewart
7th June @ Trafo - Jena, DE w/Macie Stewart