Harlequin is the new album from Viennese artist and singer-songwriter Sofie Royer. The album is a testament to the musician’s passion for her hometown’s opera and ballet traditions, as well as the baroque lyricism of cabaret, medieval pageants, and the court jester. Blended with nostalgia for early ‘80s reality TV and American mall-punk subculture, Harlequin presents a montage of strange characters, vernacular backdrops, and mysterious timelines that are as theatrical as they are musical.
Following the release of her debut album Cult Survivor in 2020, Sofie began to experiment with her own identity through the act of dressing up. From the Harlequin artwork to Sofie’s live performances, she embraces the visual aesthetic and gestures of the jester, clown, and cabaret performer.