Xani Kolac

Xani is an Australian contemporary violinist who uses live looping, electronic effects, and contemporary violin extended techniques to create exploratory, dynamic and innovative sound worlds. Influenced by the artistry and innovation of Kraftwerk, Krautrock, Bjork and improvising violinist Jean Luc Ponty, Xani mixes indie, jazz and cinematic strings with shredding, distorted violin solos in art music, experimental and improvised music contexts.

Winner of the Best Musician award at the 2022 Music Victoria Awards, Xani also plays regularly with the likes of Clare Bowditch, Eddie Perfect, First Nations artist Jess Hitchcock and makes sound design and composition for live theatre. Xani is a feminist and advocate for getting more female and non-binary instrumentalists on stages.

In May 2024, Xani was selected as the only Australian artist to showcase at Classical:NEXT in Berlin, Germany and was also awarded the Cn:Insider Fellowship by the Australian Music Centre. Xani has just performed at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (performing her new works in quadraphonic sound), at Tallinn Music Week, RISING, DARK MOFO and many other music festivals. She just recently opened for Polish pianist/composer Hania Rani and is an official Yamaha artist.