Andrea Haugen (born Andréa Meyer; July 6, 1969 – October 13, 2021), also known under her artist names of Aghast, Hagalaz' Runedance, Andréa Nebel, Nebel and Nebelhexë, was a German musician and author.
Modelling
Haugen worked as a model in London, but soon rejected it as a "shallow scene". She was later a fetish model and participated in Cradle of Filth shows.
Music
Haugen cited her influences as the Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, and The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos. She released her first music as Aghast in 1995, then from 1996 to 2002 under the name Hagalaz' Runedance. From 2003 she worked under the name of Nebelhexë, releasing three further albums, and also used the name Andréa Nebel and released electronic horror-mood music as Aghast Manor.
Writing
Haugen began writing in 1995. She wrote film scripts, both horror and satire. Many of her social-critical comments were printed in alternative magazines and also in Norwegian tabloids and magazines; she had a column titled "Seriously - The Things That Irritate Nebelhexë" in a Norwegian gothic magazine. She published an e-book titled Simply Exceptional – How to make it your Way!.
She also wrote Gothic and surreal poetry, and in 2011 released a spoken word CD to accompany her poetry anthology The Dark Side of Dreaming.
A pagan, originally with Anton LaVey's Church of Satan and later an earth-centred Germanic pagan, Haugen criticised what she viewed as patriarchal religions that inhibit people's inner nature. She published a book about Germanic spirituality and mythology, Die alten Feuer von Midgard (English edition The Ancient Fires of Midgard). In 2012 she expressed frustration at some journalists' misconstruing song lyrics of hers as being about "witches in the wood, Nazism, nature, or pollution of the environment" when they were "relatively clearly" about "incest, a friend's suicide, child abuse, or loneliness".
Personal life and death
Haugen was previously married to guitarist Tomas Haugen; they had a daughter.
She lived in the United Kingdom and Norway; she was living in Kongsberg when she was murdered at the age of 52 in the Kongsberg attacks on 13 October 2021.
Discography
Aghast
Hexerei im Zwielicht der Finsternis, CD/PD 1995
Hagalaz' Runedance
When the Trees Were Silenced, 7" 1996
The Winds That Sang of Midgard’s Fate, CD 1998
Urd – That Which Was, MCD/Picture disc 1999
On Wings of Rapture, CD single 2000
Volven, CD/LP/Picture disc 2000
Frigga’s Web, CD/LP 2002
Nebelhexë
Laguz – Within the Lake, CD 2004
Essensual, CD 2006
Dead Waters, CD 2009
Don't Kill The Animals, EP, 2009, with US artist Jarboe
Andréa Nebel
The Dark Side Of Dreaming, CD 2011
Aghast Manor
Gaslights, CD 2012
Penetrate, CD 2013
Guest appearances
Cradle of Filth – The Principle of Evil Made Flesh 1994 (credited as 'Andrea Meyer'). Satyricon – Nemesis Divina 1996
Bibliography
Understanding the Northern Myths and Traditions (2000) Dark Side of Dreaming – poems and short stories Walking With The Night – a book of shadows Feed My Shadow Nature Simply Exceptional The Shadow Of Eloise The Neighbour The Body In The Skeleton House Behind Church Walls Das Erbe der Familie Rimbaud''