Karina Utomo

Karina Utomo is an Indonesian extreme metal vocalist, composer, and co-founder of Rinuwat, KILAT, and High Tension. Her interdisciplinary vocal practice blends extreme metal, experimental cross-cultural approaches, and extra-normal voicing, often inspired by Javanese mythology and storytelling. Her compositions delve into themes of intergenerational trauma, power, and the interplay of tradition and rebellion.

Utomo has collaborated widely across industrial, avant-garde improvisation, grindcore, and black metal genres. Her commissioned works have been featured at venues and festivals such as Project 8 Gallery (Australia), the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Korea), and TONO Festival (Mexico). She has also performed at notable festivals, including Download Festival (with Slayer and Anthrax), Dark Mofo, Mona Foma, and Soundrenaline Festival in Indonesia.

Recent projects include Kasekten with Juliet Widysari Burnett and Michaela Gleave, as well as her collaboration with Leyla Stevens on GROH GOH (Rehearsal for Rangda) for the Tarrawarra Biennial 2023.