Kristin Hayter (born June 17, 1986), known professionally as Lingua Ignota (Latin for "unknown language"), is an American classically trained multi-instrumentalist... Just google your way to a http://https://www.stereogum.com/2156234/lingua-ignota-sinner-get-ready/interviews/qa/" rel="nofollow - Steregum-interview (because links like this don't seem to work anymore) for more fascinating + devastatingly sad and heartbreaking background on her. 

RYM claim her music is "basically": Neoclassical Darkwave, Avant-Folk, Chamber Music, Christian Liturgical Music, Appalachian Folk Music, Death Industrial, Drone, Singer-Songwriter... Her previous "breakthrough" release CALIGULA from 2019, may be something I won't revisit all that often. I'm just a little too emotionally fragile for the hellish screaming (that makes early Burzum sound cute), cacophony and total darkness that's scattered around an otherwise stunning album. Just check out http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ZweG__q-w" rel="nofollow - DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR , and you'll get the idea.

SINNER GET READY is differnt though. Still quite challenging music and not for everyone. But the "Death Industrial" is largely replaced with "Appalachian Folk" and while there's plenty of intense singing/chanting - there's no more diabolic screams. I'm currently obsessing, crying my eyes out whilst listening to all her soul crushing music. But this, her latest album is a good place to start. I'll end with a few examples of Lingua Ignota's unconventional and spine-tingling beauty.

Dark as it is, I find it strangely comforting:

This is the albums opening track, a continuation of CALIGULA - and the "industrial noise" parts largely begins and ends here.

A dance of death, or a funeral march

I don't know... if one person discovers Kristin Hayter's music because of this post and find it half as intriguing as I do, I'm happy.

Also, Alexis Marshall can rot in hell 

Necrotica wrote: Also, Alexis Marshall can rot in hell

Indeed. I've watched interviews and read a lot about that and her in general, but chose to leave all that out this little introduction.


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After SGR there's two new releases posted on her bandcamp-page: 1) four musically accompanied readings of letters written to televangelist Brother Jimmy Swaggart (the sex worker who brought him down, is speaking about him in the Man Is Like a Spring Flower-intro), but 2) perhaps more interestingly, this incredible version of Katie Cruel*

*old folk tune previously made famous by Karen Dalton and Nick Cave

It's been quite some time since I first became aware of her, but haven't really taken that deep, second dive into her music until very recently. And her latest release feels like the perfect direction for her to pursue. But I'm guessing she's the kind of artist that will bring something new and surprising to the table with each release.

Logan wrote: I listened to the whole Sinner Get Ready album followed by the whole Caligula album, and wow! Quite the experience; I was mesmerised. Musically, I think it does relate to various music quite well that I have been into of late as well and both albums connected with me immediately and held my attention.

I was kind of hoping this was something you'd connect with. I've seen her music compared to Diamanda Galas, Anna Von Hauswolff, Swans... but to me it's really a totally immersive experience like nothing else before (but those artists mentioned can all be uniquely immersive as well. Swans in particular). With Lingua Ignota it seems I don't really seperate the art from the artist, but feel emotionally invested way beyond the music.   

-Anyway, now you need to hear the rest of her output too.

This may come off as a bit of a novelty maybe (as I could have posted more of her own written material), but a bonus track on Lingua Ignota's first official release (making it a 43 minute long EP) is a cover of Inner Circle Bad Boys - from that cop-show... which I've always hated. But in Kristin Hayters hands this song is transformed and suddenly the Bad Boys are doomed sinners witth no redemption or forgiveness in sight to hope for. Makes me think of Nina Simone's version of Sinnerman.

If you buy the album long EP Let the Evil of His Own Lips Cover Him for $2, you'll get it as a hidden bonus, and 100% of artist proceeds will be donated to National Network to End Domestic Violence

So I got to listen to the whole Sinner Get Ready and all the adjectives mentioned above apply. It is a very singular work and very beautiful - you can be happy because I discovered this artist thanks to your post. Thank you! And, added to the "to buy" list.

I also listened to the first three tracks of Caligula, but got a bit put off by the screaming... (and the lyrics are very violent, indeed, but I could get over that, since it's part of the concept).

...I don't know the screams are somehow the most impressive, bonechilling screams I've ever heard. So in a way I find them disturbingly attractive. But Caligula will never be part of "let's see, what shall I listen to today...hm maybe this?", but I appreciate it as a work of art and wouldn't hesitate if I got a chance to see it performed live. I'm glad that:

To be honest, I've been thinking of recommending her to PA for a while now. I'm not entirely sure where she'd belong, but I guess the closest fit would probably be the post/math category. Or maybe eclectic prog 

HolyMoly wrote: Been meaning to get this album. The prior album sure packed a whallop. Hard to say I enjoy it, because actually enjoying such an outpouring of rage and pain would be perverse in a way, but it’s great art.

Yes it is. But I've always been attracted art "such as this" - whatever that means. It has to feel genuinely authentic, and I prefer that it's performed by people with an amazing gift and extraordinary talent. Kristin Hayter is undoubtly 100% all of that. I can say that I enjoy a psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions... without feeling like a pervert:)

Btw: I don't think it's possible for Sinner Get Ready to dissapoint you

Yes I actually just posted the definition of the adjective "cathartic" instead of the term:)

My approach is that it's possible to empathize with "any" human experience - even if we will never fully understand anyone but ourselves (I don't really believe the latter part is true though, lol). I believe that's one of the main reasons great art "works". I can empathize and share someone's pain, fear or joy, but that doesn't mean I'm unaware that what I feel isn't exactly the same. Anyway, although I seem to presume things here that you don't, my guess is that we pretty much experience similar things while listening to something like Caligula. I'm quite certain I understand where you're coming from, and if I simply wrote "yeah, I agree with you" instead, it wouldn't have changed my actual experience. Perhaps being an artist myself, is why I presume like I do. I sort of have to.

Appearently the Lingua Ignota project is no more. But she's back as Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter and All of My Friends are Going to Hell (from her fourthcoming album SAVED!) sounds somewhat different, but also a natural continuation.

New song. Love this.

Oh man, how I would loved a Kristin Hayter / Swans-collaboration of some sort (for some reason I just started thinking about what it would - or could be like).

Logan wrote: The problem is that that youtube code you used between the tube tags, DWvWM52pmZE&t=0s, has the time stamp, &t=0s", Without it as DWvWM52pmZE it works. And I manually add the tube and url tags, by the way.

I done exactly the same with these two last videos as I've always done. This is the code I used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWvWM52pmZE

Is that somehow the wrong now, or do something weird happen to it when I post here (as with my regular links)?