Antje Vowinckel

Antje Vowinckel (born December 14, 1964) is a Berlin-based German sound artist, radio artist, and musician. Her work involves experimental radiophonics between language and sound. She is known for examining the musical aspects of spoken languages, including the rhythms and intonations of dialects, everyday speech, and other vocal expressions. She also composes for ensembles, and some works are created for presentation in public space.

Early life Antje Vowinckel was born in Hages, Westphalia. She received flute and piano lessons during her childhood and youth and later played flute in a student orchestra and soprano saxophone in jazz bands.

She studied literature, music, and sociology, completing a thesis on collage forms in radio drama titled Collagen im Hörspiel. Die Entwicklung einer radiophonen Kunst.

After her studies, she completed a radio editorial internship and worked for one year as a radio drama producer at Sudwestrundfunk (SWR) in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Career Since 2000, Vowinckel has been based in Berlin, where her work has been influenced by the Echtzeitmusik scene. Her compositions have been broadcast on various public radio stations. She has collaborated with ensembles including Ensemble Mosaik, Die Hochstapler, Maulwerker, and Zink & Copper.

Her works have been presented at numerous international festivals, such as the Donaueschinger Musiktage, Prix Italia, Prix Europa, Klangwerkstatt Berlin, Eclat Fastival, and the Festival Musica Contemporanea Alicabte. The piece Call Me Yesterday has been broadcast and presented in 18 countries. (CD: charhizma 037)

A central focus of her work is the musicality of spoken languages, including the use of dialects and endangered languages, as well as forms of "automatic speaking," which involves spontaneous verbal responses to surroundings. In recent years, she has also developed installations and performances in public space, including Hubraum. Quartet.

Selected works

Major radiophonic works

Daily Sop (2000)—radio play; awarded Prix Europa. Die Zahler (2004)—sound composition with spoken word (WDR). Call Me Yesterday (2005)—a radiophonic composition using international language course recordings; broadcast in 18 countries. 2009: Lohnarbeit und Liebesleid- radio play, Terra Prosodia (2011)—compositions based on European dialect melodies. Ferrari Entre (2011)—experimental radio composition: awarded the ZKM "Ferrari recoute" prize. Goarse Things / A Spoken Landscape (2014). The Goal (2014)—composition using global football commentary recordings. Melody Minus One. Eine Jagd (WDR 2016). Galapagos-Kreuzblende (SWR 2017) evolution with an ornithologist. Goethe to Go. A spoken landscape (DLF/HR 2018)—a sound composition using automatic speaking Second Floor (2022)—Sound Cinema Award. Opdoppling (2024). Recycling Ritual in Four Parts—Prix Phonurgia Nova. Vague Guess: Human (SWR 2025). Relais ouvert. Legba's synesthetic night. Together with Rafiy Okefolaham, DLF Kultur 2026.

Installation, Performance, Compositions

Newsroom (2019)—Sound Aquarium installation. Nesthau, a solo performance for a vibrating speaker and voice. Fehlerwiesen / Frist Chance (2022)—multimedia performance work. Trockenzeit (2025), multichannel installation. Hubraum (2020)—a duo composition for vibrating speakers and objects.

Hubraum, Quartat (2022), a composition for public space with ensemble Sawt Out. Hold the line. Composition for brass ensemble and call center voices, 2024, with ensemble Trigger.

Work as a director Kurze Interviews mit fiesen Männern (2020), a radio adaptation of "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men," by

Albums and sound publications

Calls Me Yesterday (2005, Charhizma 037). Ferrari enters (2011, WERGO 2066/ZKM Milestones). Linguamoto on Leghedivacje (2009, finalmuzik) Terra Prosodia (2014, Gruenrekorder)—sound composition based on dialect melodies. Tuning Butterflies (2019, Errant Bodies)—reinterpretation of dialect recordings through vocal imitation. Gipfeltreffen (2021, DEGEM): Im hier und jetzt oder nie. The Goal (2024 DEGEM, Horen - in dieser Zeit)

Awards and recognition

2000—Prix Europe (daily soap). 2000—Medienpreis Plopp-Awards, ADK, Berlin (Nachricht aus Bastia). 2001—ARD Horspielpreis (nothing hurts together with Falk Richter). 2005—Karl-Sczuka-Forderpreis (Call Me Yesterday). 2005—Prix Ars Acustica (Radio Nacional de Espana) (Call Me Yesterday). 2011—ZKM Prize "Ferrari recoute" (Ferrari entre). 2012—Prix Ars Electronica—Honorary mention (Terra Prosodia). 2021—Phonurgia Nova—Special mention (Gipfeltreffen) 2022—Nominee Deutscher Musikautorenpreis, sound art category. 2023—Sound Cinema Awards (Second Floor). 2024—Phonurgia Nova Awards—Winner, Sound Art category (Opdoppling), 29th edition in Marseille, France. Various international residencies and grants (Casa Baldi, Italy; Villa Aurora Los Angeles; Cite International des Arts, Paris; Binauralnodar, Portugal; Villa Concordia Bamberg).