Varien
Nikki Kaelar (born Nicolas Pittsinger; May 15, 1990), better known by her stage name Varien, is an American composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Varien has incorporated or experimented with styles of industrial, metal, orchestral, neofolk, and ambient music. She is known for her work on film soundtracks, along with her unconventional approach to electronic music, including many live instruments not normally found on tracks within her genres.
Varien | |
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| Born | May 15, 1990 Tampa, Florida, United States |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
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In 2019, EDM.com described her as "Trent Reznor dark lord of this generation in electronic music".[1] In 2020, Varien came out as transgender.[2]
Early life
Kaelar was born Nick Pittsinger on May 15, 1990 in Tampa, Florida. She had a connection to music from a very young age,[1] and her family supported her passion. At the age of 11, Varien began playing the guitar and attempting songwriting,[3] and she joined a number of bands experimenting with genres of rock, grindcore, metalcore, and jazz. Kaelar developed perfect pitch when playing the keyboard at age fourteen.
Kaelar was in multiple bands in high school, playing grindcore, metalcore, screamo, post-hardcore, and power metal before joining her school's Jazz band for two years. She cites these years as pivotal to her artistic development, learning sheet music, jazz theory and improvisation. She also cites this as the time she developed a profound interest in electronic, folk, and metal music.[4]
She decided to focus on solo composition and began producing in 2009, with music in video games serving as her most longtime influence to date.[3] She cites Shin Megami Tensei, Final Fantasy, and Metroid as her biggest influences when it comes to games, as well as the works of the Wachowskis.[5]
Career
2010–13: Career beginnings
In August 2010, Kaelar achieved online virality with her slowed-down remix of Justin Bieber's "U Smile", titled "Justin Bieber 800% Slowed Down". She was interviewed by Entertainment Weekly and MTV about the track.[6]
In July 2011, Kaelar released her first Monstercat single "The Force" under the alias Halo Nova. She subsequently released two more singles under the alias before abandoning it and continuing to make music under the alias Varien. One of the first subsequent releases as Varien was a remix of Ephixa's song "Division".[7]
On February 26, 2013, Kaelar released Pick Your Poison Vol. 1, a compilation album of trailer cues that she wrote for the purpose of film, television, and video game licensing. She released a followup, Pick Your Poison Vol. 2, a year later.[8]
2014–16: The Ancient & Arcane and My Prayers Have Become Ghosts
In 2014, Kaelar teamed up with Two Steps from Hell on a private trailer cue compilation entitled Open Conspiracy. 2014 saw an abundance of licenses for Varien. Her music was used in trailers and promotional media for 300: Rise of an Empire, Bones, The Purge: Anarchy, Face Off, America's Next Top Model, PlanetSide 2, and Monsters: Dark Continent. Los Angeles-based singer Roniit's song "Runaway", produced by Varien, was used in multiple trailers and TV spots for the film The Loft.[9]
On August 5, 2015, Kaelar released her first LP, titled The Ancient & Arcane, on Monstercat. Prior to this, she had released two tracks, "Beyond the Surface" and "Aether and Light". In an interview with UKF, she elaborated on her songwriting process for the album, saying: "I make so many other types of music so I thought I’d sit down and write – no theme, no story. It’s a very Zen experience. Very spiritual. Wake up. Do yoga. Make music. No regard for the club. No regard for where it will be played or comparisons to my past music or anything else that’s going on. I’ve never gone to any of these places I’m exploring right now. I want people to listen to it and think ‘is this Varien?’ Psychedelic, worldly, ethnic, trippy... People have never seen me go there. Yet."[3]
The Ancient & Arcane met with critical acclaim upon release, with EDM website Dancing Astronaut calling it a "cinematic masterpiece", giving particular praise to "Ghost Spores" as "reinvigorat[ing] the soul with its harp-tinged melody and orchestral instruments that once again highlight Varien’s idiosyncratic musicianship."[10]
Kaelar's next EP, My Prayers Have Become Ghosts, was released on October 31, 2016 via Monstercat.
2017–present: Hiatus and return
In 2017, Kaelar announced a hiatus from the Varien alias and removed all of her social media accounts. Across two interviews with EDMSauce, she cited the psychological impact of social media as her reason for going on a blackout,[11] also saying she "needed a break from it.".[12] In 2018, Kaelar announced via her YouTube channel that she would continue producing music under the Varien name, after her hiatus had allowed her to "take a deep breath from it all".[13] As of 2018, Varien has released music on her own imprint, Kitsune Soundworks.
In April 2018, Kaelar wrote, arranged, and produced K-Pop group VIXX's lead single for their album Eau de VIXX, "Scentist". The track went on to hit #1 on the Mnet charts and was licensed for Korean television shows like The Return of Superman.
On October 26, 2018, Varien released her next EP, Death Asked a Question, through Most Addictive Records.[14] In an interview with EDM Joy, she described the EP as being the physical manifestation of her struggles during her hiatus, in contrast to the "fantastical" narrative of The Ancient & Arcane.[15]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
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| The Ancient & Arcane[16] |
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| La Douleur Exquise
as Nick Kaelar |
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| The Second Industrial Revolution[17] |
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Extended plays
| Title | Details |
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| Pick Your Poison, Vol. 01[18] |
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| It's Showtime!, Vol. 01
as Chrono Rabbit |
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| Pick Your Poison, Vol. 02[19] |
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| Mirai Sekai
(with 7 Minutes Dead)[20] |
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| My Prayers Have Become Ghosts[21] |
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| Into Oblivion[22]
as Nick Kaelar |
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| Death Asked a Question[14] |
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As featured artist
| Title | Details |
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| Bangarang EP | |
| Tokyo (The Remixes) |
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| Space & Time EP |
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| Cataclasm (The Remixes)
by Crywolf |
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| Regenades of Light
by LSDREAM |
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Singles
As Varien
| Title | Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloak and Dagger | 2011 | Monstercat 003 – Momentum | Monstercat |
| Throne of Ravens | Monstercat 005 – Evolution | Monstercat | |
| Skrillex Orchestral Suite | Bangarang | OWSLA | |
| Mirrors | 2012 | Monstercat 005 – Evolution | Monstercat |
| The Alchemist's Nightmare | Monstercat 006 – Embrace | Monstercat | |
| Seduction | Monstercat 007 – Solace | Monstercat | |
| Resurrection of the Dagger | Monstercat 009 – Reunion | Monstercat | |
| The Anthem (with Project 46 & Ephixa) | Monstercat | ||
| Nights in Bangalore | data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | non-album single | Play Me Records | |
| Morphine | Monstercat 011 – Revolution | Monstercat | |
| Lilith | Monstercat 012 – Aftermath | Monstercat | |
| Nights in Bangalore Pt. 2 | 2013 | Monstercat | |
| Toothless Hawkins (And His Robot Jazz Band) (with Razihel) | Monstercat 013 – Awakening | Monstercat | |
| The Scarlet Dawn | Monstercat 016 – Expedition | Monstercat | |
| Memories of Melodies Past | Monstercat – The Best of 2013 | Monstercat | |
| Metalworks | data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | non-album single | FiXT/Position Music | |
| Moonlight (with SirensCeol) [featuring Aloma Steele] | 2014 | Monstercat 017 – Ascension | Monstercat |
| Valkyrie (featuring Laura Brehm) | Monstercat 018 – Frontier | Monstercat | |
| Gunmetal Black | Monstercat | ||
| Valkyrie II: Lacuna (featuring Cassandra Kay) | Monstercat 019 – Endeavour | Monstercat | |
| Mirai Sekai Pt. 3 – Aeon Metropolis | Mirai Sekai, Monstercat 019 – Endeavour | Monstercat | |
| Whispers in the Mist (featuring Aloma Steele) | Monstercat 020 – Altitude | Monstercat | |
| Aether and Light | 2015 | Monstercat 022 – Contact | Monstercat |
| Supercell (featuring Veela) | The Ancient & Arcane, Monstercat 023 – Voyage | Monstercat | |
| Hypnotique (featuring Charlotte Haining) | Monstercat | ||
| Beyond the Surface | data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Valkyrie III: Atonement (featuring Laura Brehm) | Monstercat 024 – Vanguard | Monstercat | |
| We Are the Lights (with Mr FijiWiji) | Monstercat 025 – Threshold | Monstercat | |
| Sacred Woods (featuring Skyelle) | 2016 | Monstercat 027 – Cataclysm | Monstercat |
| TEVA833 | My Prayers Have Become Ghosts, Monstercat 029 – Havoc | Monstercat | |
| Catherine (with K?D) | 2017 | Non-album singles | Self-released |
| Wrath of God (with Teri Miko) [featuring Flowsik] | Spinnin' Records | ||
| Mutiny | Outerloop Records | ||
| Blood Hunter | 2018 | Self-released | |
| The Dark Harvest | Self-released | ||
| Of Foxes and Hounds | Self-released | ||
| Claws | Self-released | ||
| Monarch Butterfly | Self-released | ||
| Never Ending (with SWARM) | Self-released | ||
| Eventide (with Diskord) | Circus Records | ||
| Oh, Sparrow | Self-released | ||
| Death Asked a Question | Death Asked a Question | Most Addictive Records | |
| Born of Blood, Risen of Ash | 2019 | Non-album singles | Lowly Palace |
| Can You Feel My Heart (feat. Andrew Zink) | Self-released | ||
| Hush the Storms Away (feat. STRIX) | Self-released | ||
| A Pale White Horse | Self-released | ||
| One Shot, One Kill | Metanoia Music | ||
As Halo Nova
| Title | Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Force | 2011 | Monstercat 001 – Launch Week | Monstercat |
| Triceracops | Monstercat 002 – Early Stage | Monstercat | |
| Totally Radical | Monstercat | ||
As Koinu
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Milkshakes and Chill | 2016 |
| Storm the Gates (with Sakuraburst) | |
| #SHIBESQUAD | |
| Gainax Bounce | |
| Tomodachi | |
| Kuroneko |
Film/TV/video games
Kaelar's music has appeared in the following works:
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Intervention |
| 2013 | Breaking Amish: Los Angeles |
| 2013 | Pain & Gain |
| 2013 | The Tomorrow People |
| 2013 | The Challenge: Rivals II |
| 2013 | NASCAR Race Hub |
| 2013 | Runner Runner |
| 2014 | America's Next Top Model |
| 2014 | 300: Rise of an Empire |
| 2014 | PlanetSide 2 |
| 2014 | The Purge: Anarchy |
| 2014 | Face Off |
| 2014 | M.A.V. |
| 2014 | Monsters: Dark Continent |
| 2014 | Bones |
| 2014 | The Loft |
| 2015 | The Walking Dead |
| 2015 | Furious 7 |
| 2017 | Injustice 2 |
| 2017 | Doki Doki Literature Club |
| 2018 | America's Got Talent |
| 2018 | The Return of Superman (TV series) |
| 2019 | Replicas [26] |
References
- "Varien: Trent Reznor Dark Lord of This Generation in Electronic Music". June 12, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- Varien (May 15, 2020). I'm Transgender. // Varien (YouTube video).
- Jenkins, Dave (January 27, 2015). "Exclusive: Varien is about to blow minds with her new album!". UKF Music. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- "NP Unzipped: Varien". May 10, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- "Up Close and Personal with elusive US producer Varien". IhouseU.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- Lyons, Margaret. "The man who slowed down Justin Bieber: 'It was a joke, and now it's this phenomenon'". Ew.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- "LISTEN: Varien's (formerly Halo Nova) remix of Ephixa's "Division" - Suburban Apologist". Suburban Apologist. October 26, 2011. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- "Varien Releases "Pick Your Poison Vol. 02"". January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- "Two Steps From Hell: Open Conspiracy « Trailer Music News". trailermusicnews.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- Diaz, Jordan (August 10, 2015). "Varien's debut album 'The Ancient & Arcane' is a cinematic masterpiece". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- "Varien Goes On a Social Media Blackout... What Does It Mean? [EDMSAUCE Exclusive Interview]". December 1, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2018.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- "Varien Rises From Ashes Victorious [EDMSAUCE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]". July 13, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- Varien (January 27, 2018), Varien is Returning [VLOG], retrieved February 1, 2018
- "Varien weaves a dark and vulnerable web in 'Death Asked A Question' [EP Premiere + Interview]". www.dancingastronaut.com. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- "Interview With Varien On Mental Health & Coming EP". October 15, 2018. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- Endykiewicz, Paige (August 6, 2015). "The Ancient & Arcane LP by Varien Finally Emerges [Monstercat]". Your EDM. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- Desk, TV News. "Varien Release New Album, 'The Second Industrial Revolution'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- "NEWS: Varien Releases Cinematic Inspired Album « Bring the Noise UK". www.bringthenoiseuk.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- "Varien discusses composing for video games, Pick Your Poison Vol 2". The Untz. January 31, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- Meadow, Matthew (September 3, 2014). "Varien & 7 Minutes Dead - Mirai Sekai EP [Monstercat]". Your EDM. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- MrRyanHarcourt (November 8, 2016). "Varien - My Prayers Have Become Ghosts EP - EDMTunes". EDMTunes. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- "Position Music - Nick Kaelar "Into Oblivion"". www.positionmusic.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- "Skrillex - Bangarang EP - Reviews - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- "Gareth Emery - Tokyo (The Remixes) - EDMupdate". EDMupdate. April 9, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- "Space & Time [Discontinued]". Klayton.info. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- "Mona’s Imprint (Varien Remix)" on YouTube
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