Marla Hansen

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Marla Hansen has been active as a performing and recording musician throughout the United States and Europe.

Marla’s latest record, ‘Salt’, was released March 15th, 2024, on Berlin’s Karaoke Kalk label. Produced by Simon Goff, ‘Salt’ is a strong, unique and innovative collection of songs that combine acoustic and electric elements in an entirely new way. It has a five star review from Musik Express, and was featured on BBC6 on Guy Garvey's Finest Hour. It features collaborations with Andi Haberl, Benjamin Lanz, Kyle Resnick, and DM Stith.

“Dust,” Marla’s first full-length record, was released on March 6, 2020, also on the Karaoke Kalk Label. A delicate but powerful blend of folk and electronic songwriting, “Dust” was recorded by Robbie Moore at Berlin’s Impression Studios, and features contributions from Barbara Morgenstern, Andi Haberl and Knox Chandler. In 2007, the Indianapolis-based Standard Recording Company label released “Wedding Day,” a collection of songs that Marla wrote for voice, viola and acoustic instruments. She also composed the score for the 2012 documentary film, The Other Half of Tomorrow, a film about women working for change in Pakistan.

As violist of the New York based string quartet Osso, Marla toured and recorded with many different artists including Sufjan Stevens, and can be heard on his beloved record ‘Illinois.’ Marla has also collaborated extensively with The National, contributing backing vocals to their albums ‘Boxer’ and ‘High Violet.’ Marla has also worked with Jens Lekman, My Brightest Diamond, The New Pornographers, Mocky, Denison Witmer, Oneida, The Hidden Cameras, DM Stith, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Duncan Sheik and Alice and Ravi Coltrane among others.

Marla currently lives in Berlin, Germany.