Originally from Oslo, Norway, Garcés moved to Bergen to study vocal performance at the Grieg Academy. During her master’s degree, she specialized in classical and contemporary music from the twentieth century, premiering numerous works by emerging and acclaimed composers. In search of new expressions, Garcés explores acoustic classical music, electronics, and free improvisation. Her performances have graced diverse venues, including art galleries, bars, libraries, restaurants, opera houses, churches, and concert halls.

De La Chica’s Op. 9 cycle began as an idea during his studies in northern Germany and evolved into an exercise, inviting us all to embrace the beauty of Silence in a world often saturated with noise. Musicologist and composer Susan Campos—Fonseca describes Julian’s music: “The reason lies in our need for saturation, rational self-complacency in excess, in the spectacle where nudity is not enough, where open flesh and blood, even death, do not sate us. No, we will not find that in the music of De La Chica. It is writ large across the works that make up this experience: the aggression of the minimum lies there.”

Rooted in texts from Santa Teresa de Avila and San Juan de la Cruz, as well as Buddhist meditation, the cycle offers a profound journey into the depths of our spiritual life.