Petra Haden
An inventive musician who uses her violin and ethereal voice to create haunting soundscapes, from indie rock collaborations to solo a cappella violin albums.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American violinist and singer·Birthday: October 11·Generation X
Biography
Petra Haden operates in the beautiful interstice between classical training and avant-garde curiosity. The daughter of legendary bassist Charlie Haden, she grew up immersed in jazz and creative freedom, first gaining attention as the violinist and vocalist for the quirky alternative rock band That Dog. Her true signature, however, is a unique solo project: using a multi-track recorder, she builds intricate, wordless covers of entire albums using only her voice and violin for every instrument and sound. Her breathtaking a cappella rendition of The Who's "The Who Sell Out" is a cult masterpiece, a delicate re-imagining of rock bombast. This experimental spirit has made her a sought-after collaborator, lending her haunting string arrangements and harmonies to a vast array of artists including Green Day, The Foo Fighters, Beck, and her father's jazz ensembles. Haden is not a traditional soloist but a sonic colorist and a fearless re-interpreter. She moves seamlessly between genres, treating her violin as much a vehicle for texture and atmosphere as for melody, crafting a body of work that is deeply personal, technically fascinating, and quietly influential.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Petra was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Petra Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Petra's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released "Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out," a critically acclaimed a cappella and violin multi-track cover of the entire classic rock album.
- Was a founding member and violinist/vocalist for the 1990s alternative rock band That Dog.
- Has contributed violin and vocal work to a wide range of artists, including recordings with Green Day, The Foo Fighters, and Bill Frisell.
Did You Know?
She is one of triplets; her sisters, Rachel and Tanya, are also musicians who have performed with her.
She attended the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division as a teenager.
She provided the violin parts for the soundtrack of the animated film "The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue."
“I like to find the melody hidden inside the noise.”
