Trio Solo is set for release on September 25th, 2026 via Unit Records.

Growing up in a small mountain village in the Swiss canton of Uri, Horat first learned classical piano as a child before gradually developing her own compositional and improvisational language through jazz and years of self-taught artistic exploration. Her music draws on personal experiences, memories and observations, using concise musical ideas as starting points for performances that evolve differently each time. Rather than filling every space, Horat’s approach values patience, silence and the expressive weight of individual notes.

The album combines recordings by her longstanding trio with solo piano performances captured over four days at Gabriel Recording in Stalden. For more than a decade, bassist Simon Iten and drummer Samuel Büttiker have been central collaborators, developing the level of trust and responsiveness that allows Horat’s compositions to unfold freely in performance. The double album follows a deliberate solo–trio–solo structure, illustrating how the same musical ideas can take on different forms through collective improvisation.

Many pieces begin from short composed phrases, rhythmic ideas or simple harmonic frameworks before opening into spontaneous interaction. Improvisation remains central throughout, with Horat often incorporating prepared piano techniques – including felt, cymbals and seashells placed directly on the strings – to introduce unexpected textures and elements of chance. Several pieces, including Leben, revisit musical ideas she has returned to over many years, allowing them to reflect her changing perspective while remaining rooted in the present moment.

Balancing lyricism with experimentation, Trio Solo reflects an artistic philosophy built on reduction rather than excess. More than a collection of compositions, the album documents an improvisational practice developed over many years – one that values trust, attentiveness and restraint as highly as virtuosity. It captures an artist continuing to explore how the smallest musical gestures can carry the greatest emotional resonance.