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The Nordic Sound
The Nordic Sound is a living archive of Nordic music across traditions, genres, and generations.
85 avsnitt • Längd: 45 min • Månadsvis
Om podden
The Nordic Sound is a living archive of Nordic music across traditions, genres, and generations. Created by Jameson Foster, Musicologist and Nordic Folklorist of University of Colorado Boulder
The podcast The Nordic Sound is created by Jameson Foster. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Avsnitt
#48 - Olav Luksengård Mjelva
30 mars 2025 |
67 min
Over the course of his career, Olav Mjelva has become something of a face of the Hardanger Fiddle, with his fiddle being heard in settings such as Rings of Power, God of War: Ragnarök, and Marvel’s Loki. As well as being featured in over 60 studio projects, he is also well known in the Scandifolk scene for his work with Sver, the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, Rydvall/Mjelva, and the Lodestar Trio. After collaborating with Einar Selvik and Ivar Bjornson for Skuggsjá, Olav has returned to sign with ByNorse for his project Afargang, whose debut album “Andvake” is looking to reimagine what Folk Metal can be.
I hope you enjoy this milestone episode of the Nordic Sound, in which Olav and I discuss his upbringing as a fiddler from Røros, his love of black metal, and how his upcoming album Andvake blends these two worlds, and as always, taking little detours along the way.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:12 Sver in the States
4:38 Origin Stories
10:11 Learning the Hardanger Fiddle
13:00 Becoming a Studio Musician
18:04 Skuggsjá
23:02 Afargang
37:25 Black Metal as a Folk Musician
45:11 The Nordic Sound
48:29 Waiting for Andvake
52:22 ByNorse
56:24 Norway’s Folk Music boom
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
Frigg, "Dreamscapes" - Album Review
13 mars 2025 |
9 min
Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Frigg have long established themselves as one of the leading string bands in Nordic folk. A small army of six musicians, what has always astounded me about the band is how effectively they use their numbers to their fullest capabilities, often times in their recordings sounding like there’s a full orchestra at their disposal. Their attention to orchestration and texture is second-to-none, and even when all three fiddles are chugging along at full steam, everything just fits into the arrangement. This rich texture of Frigg’s sound, combined with a relentless spirit for both innovation and tradition, is what sets Frigg apart as one of the most versatile and captivating bands of their generation.
Website: Nordicsoundarchive.com
Frigg's website: https://frigg.fi/
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#47 - Ale Carr of Dreamers' Circus
25 februari 2025 |
56 min
A beautiful homecoming!
Ale joins the channel once again from balmy California where Dreamers' Circus begin their 2025 U.S. tour to celebrate the release of their new album Handed On.
In this conversation, Ale talks about the importance of music in bridging divides between cultures in tumultuous times, the Handed On project, and of course, that every present question of Nordic Folk music.
Thank you so much for coming back around these parts, Ale. It's always a pleasure!
Check out tour dates near you in the coming weeks here in the states at Dreamerscircus.com/tour
0:00 Intro
1:45 Handed on U.S. Tour
10:30 The Nordic Folk Question
17:25 Touring the U.S. in 2025 - The Elephant in the Room
25:30 The Handed On Project
43:11 Handed On, the Album
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#46 - Norwegian Classical Music with Ola Nordal
24 februari 2025 |
60 min
This year, I made it a New Years' resolution for the channel that we'd finally start an honest effort in expanding the Nordic Sound into new and more diverse genres, and what better way to bring classical music back into the picture than by chatting with one of my favorite music writers.
Join me in welcoming Ola Nordal (Ballade Klassisk, Store Norske Leksikon) to talk about Norway's contemporary classical scene, the practice of active listening, and writing about music. Ola has long been a friend of the channel, often giving his own time to introduce me to composers and artists active in today's Norwegian classical music.
0:00 Introduction
1:55 Ola's Musicology
4:12 Getting into Classical music (from Bathory)
9:59 Becoming a Music Writer
13:34 Active Listening
37:44 Writing About Music
45:28 The Norwegian Classical Scene
53:01 Why Write About Music?
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#45 - Torulf on Musical Storytelling in Ristningar i Ginnungagap
20 februari 2025 |
67 min
Nordicsoundarchive.com
Fredrik returns to the Nordic Sound for his second appearance to talk about Torulf's recent record Ristningar i Ginnungagap and the stories that inspire his music. Along the way, we also talk about his earliest memories as a musician, how he became Torulf, and why it's difficult to keep up with new music.
Thanks for hanging out, Fredrik!
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#44 - Lassi Logrén on the Tagelharpa (Jouhikko) Tradition
20 februari 2025 |
92 min
Jameson and Jouhikko virtuoso Lassi Logrén celebrate Finnish independence day by talking about the Jouhikko/Tagelharpa tradition, Finnish folk music, and the Tagelharpa renaissance we’re experiencing outside of traditional folk circles. We also talk about Lassi’s new solo album “Jouhikko”, why Lassi believes the instrument itself sounds human, and what we might gain from learning how to connect with solo instrumental albums on a personal, communal, and maybe even spiritual, level. Along the way, Lassi offers advice and pointers for those learning, or looking to learn how to play the Jouhikko/Tagelharpa. And of course, being Finnish independence day, I had to take a detour through some Sibelius talk ;)
Lassi’s email for those who want to ask him for Jouhikko/Tagelharpa advice: [email protected]
I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thank you Lassi, it was a pleasure!
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#43 - Ville and Tommie
19 februari 2025 |
69 min
Finnish/Swedish(/Cornish?) duo Ville & Tommie join me in Nordic Sound #43 to talk about their uniquely freeform approach to performing Nordic folk music as an accordion and fiddle duo and their debut album "Stuffed Pockets". Along the way, we talk about how the duo came to be, where they come from as individual musicians, and that tricky line across tradition and innovation we always have to dance as folk musicians.
"Ville & Tommie play for concert and dance, blending traditional melodies alongside original tunes. They each bring their backgrounds to the stage, whether it be a deep knowledge of Gästrikland fiddle tunes or Cornish street music. Yet in essence the duo Ville & Tommie is all about creative empathy. To be more than the some of their parts, they must inhabit each others’ playing. And in whichever setting, the dance is never far away. The groove of polska, waltz, hornpipe and schottis is the heartbeat to their tune."
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#42 - Trollstemt Documentary with Fredrik Akselsen
19 februari 2025 |
54 min
Join me as I dive deep into the history of Norway's folk music tradition with Fredrik Akselsen, acclaimed director of the series "Trollstemt" - a documentary I had been keeping tabs on since Mattias Thedens of Gangar first promoted it last year. It's funny to think I hadn't the slightest idea that I'd end up having the director on the Nordic Sound for a chat, and for that, we all owe a hearty "tusen takk" to Ingrid Aune Falch of Songleikr for putting us in contact after our last interview.
In a first for the channel, this interview will be split into two parts. In the second part, we continue the thorny, provocative, but important conversation to be had about what Nordic Folk music is and why it's a conversation that needs to be had more openly, and more candidly, as fantasies of Nordic Folk enter into the mainstream and risk overtaking this rich, beautiful, and surprisingly animist music tradition dating back over a millennia.
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
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Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
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Clayton
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Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#42 (Part Two) - What is Nordic Folk Music?
19 februari 2025 |
42 min
In part 2 of Nordic Sound #42, Jameson and Fredrik poke and prod at the thorny question of what folk music is, what makes something folk music, and what folk music means in a Nordic context with Fredrik contributing what he learned while writing and directing the documentary "Trollstemt".
I've found these conversations are almost always had behind closed doors in hushed tones, but I think there's much to be gained by bringing it out from under the rug after hearing perspectives from many sides of the Nordic music industry that tend to overlap more than one would expect. Therefore, the purpose of conversations like these is to create a space for open and candid discussion that encourages us to think more intentionally about the ways we think about, talk about, and listen to the music that we love. With that in mind, I hope those who do contribute to the conversation do so in the same spirit.
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#41 - Songleikr with Maria Franz and Ingrid Auné Falch
11 december 2024 |
84 min
Jameson is joined by Maria Franz and Ingrid Aune Falch to talk about Songleikr's history with Midgardsblot and how important storytelling is as a part of Songleikr's music (and folk music in general). After taking us through their history with "medieval music", we get into a rather difficult and provocative discussion about what Nordic folk even is, with Maria and Ingrid both offering extensive commentary on the growing misuse of the term over the years. This particular conversation has been central to the Nordic Sound, and so I anticipate a lot of productive discussion to grow out of what was started here - especially as the vocalist of Heilung, a band so often labeled as Nordic Folk, Maria's perspective is a much needed shake-up to the conversation.
We wrap up the discussion with the question of how Nordic music has exploded over the years and the kind of changes that has brought to the scene, with yet another complex conversation about heritage and roots as they pertain to the reception of Nordic music.
Thank you both for the lively and productive discussion... we've all had quite a bit to think about since recording this!
0:00 Least chaotic nordic sound intro
3:09 Midgardsblot
13:54 Storytelling through music
22:44 Early experiences with "medieval" music
42:30 The Folk Music Question
1:00:07 Heritage and the Nordic music boom
1:14:14 What's next for Songleikr?
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Sean
Simon
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#40 - Kjell Braaten
11 november 2024 |
98 min
In Nordic Sound #40, Jameson is joined by Kjell Braaten to talk about Kjell’s approach to skaldic performance and his recent collaboration on the beautiful Lithuanian sutartines project with Stuba and Skaidra Jančaité as part of an ongoing mission to preserve and revitalize Lithuanian communal singing tradition.
Key topics in this conversation include Kjell telling why skaldic tradition inspires him, how music is a form of active and communal remembering of the past, if viking music can ever be authentic, and a deeper discussion about the value of celebrating the living traditions around us that are at risk of being lost.
Jameson Foster is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in Nordic music traditions with a focus on pagan revivalism.
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Skaldic music
12:53 Do limitation help creativity?
23:32 Making mistakes as a solo performer
28:59 Sources for skaldic performance
38:00 Music as memory
49:00 Sutartines and Stuba
58:26 What are Sutartines?
1:06:00 Serendipitous Meeting
1:11:14 Living Lithuanian traditions
1:22:00 Why vikings?
Previous interview with Kjell:
Nordic Sound #8 - https://youtu.be/Ch6-4uCUT00
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
Alex
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Sean
Simon
Dan
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#39 - Einar Selvik of Wardruna (Live at CU Boulder)
21 oktober 2024 |
63 min
In this co-sponsored event between ByNorse and the University of Colorado Boulder's Ethnomusicology and Nordic Studies departments, Einar joins Jameson in front of a live audience to talk about the animist cosmology behind Wardruna's music, what animism means to Einar, how Wardruna's music has (or hasn't) changed over time, and an inevitable deep discussion about questions of authenticity and reconstructionism often nagging the reception of Wardruna's music. The interview concludes with a thought-provoking conversation regarding the bear, the namesake of Wardruna's upcoming record "Birna", and how Wardruna's music continues its mission to ask questions and give voice to nature and the ecological problems we face today.
Being live, and with the Nordic Sound being very DIY, there are some inevitable imperfections in the audio quality. Thank you for listening!
0:00 Intro
2:50 Red Rocks
6:18 Being a Cultural Ambassador
10:20 How has Wardruna changed over time?
15:13 Any lasting influence from Einar's heavy metal background?
17:04 The Animism of Wardruna
22:49 Animism in Nordic cultural heritage
25:40 Reconstructionism and Authenticity
38:31 Birna
47:44 Q+A
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
Alex
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Sean
Simon
Dan
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#38 - Mari Boine
30 september 2024 |
66 min
In this monumental installment of the Nordic Sound, Jameson is joined by Mari Boine to reflect on her childhood, the rise and influence of her career through Gula Gula, how she has come to be an influential icon to so many around the world, and her place as a powerful voice for Sámi culture since the 1980s.
Along the way, Mari explains what Joik means to her and how it relates to her belief that music has an ineffable power to remind us of our elemental humanity, while also reflecting on how proud she is of the new wave of Sámi poets, artists, and musicians today. To conclude, we discuss Mari’s perspective on the cultural exchange between Nordic and Sámi music, and the indisputable influence Sámi music tradition, and Mari’s music specifically, continues to have on the new Nordic and global “Viking” music scene. In this summary, I’d be remiss to ignore the touching and raw conversation Mari sparks about her struggle with, and for, her identity and heritage throughout her career.
On a personal note from Jameson: this conversation has singularly made the years of effort put into the Nordic Sound project my most meaningful endeavor as a musicologist. My sincerest gratitude to Mari for giving me her time amidst her tour, and to ByNorse for organizing this special interview. I could end the project here and feel like I’ve done something worthwhile… but we all know I’m taking this thing to the grave.
I hope you enjoy this conversation with the qu– an icon of Nordic music.
0:00 Intro
0:47 Signing with ByNorse
4:05 Mari’s Childhood
8:55 What is Joik?
13:29 Into the Music Industry
17:18 Learning Sámi History in College
18:35 Gula Gula and Sámi Heritage
23:11 The Reception of Gula Gula
27:40 Music as Catharsis
29:19 A Reluctant Leader
36:20 Alva
40:46 Sámi Issues and Environmentalism
49:37 Sámi Arts and Culture Today
54:25 Misconceptions about Sámi Music
56:52 Sámi Influence on New Nordic Music (Wardruna, etc.)
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
Alex
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Sean
Simon
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#37 - Jonas Lorentzen of Nebala
26 september 2024 |
71 min
Jonas Lorentzen returns to the Nordic Sound to discuss what Nebala's been up to since last time we met. In this conversation, we have a retrospective on the debut album, and where Jonas wants to take Nebala's sound and vision from there. We also discuss singing as community and Jonas' singing workshops, ponder why we don't sing as much as we used to, and of course, talk about the kickstarter that will be helping Nebala's next album now that Jonas has gone Indie. Oh, and would it be a Jonas episode if we didn't contend with questions of cultural appropriation?
0:00 Intro
1:30 Retrospective on Nebala's debut album
12:55 Working on new Nebala material
18:50 The craft of an album
24:16 Singing as Community
30:00 Why don't we sing anymore?
42:40 The future of Nebala and working with Christopher Juul
48:20 Kickstarter
1:00:25 Fire in the Mountains
1:00:10 Jonas contends with Cultural Appropriation
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#36 - Nils Edström of Hindarfjäll
16 september 2024 |
84 min
(#35 with Rúnahild is only available on Youtube due to unfortunate audio issues on my end)
Today I am joined once again by Nils Edström, the man behind Hindarfjäll perhaps best known for his performance of My Mother Told Me with Peter Franzén from the Vikings television series. I’ve had Nils on before, but now he is back to talk about his latest album Seden which released almost a month ago to the day.
In this interview, Nils talks about his trips to Italy and his experience at this year’s Midgardsblot before we turn the conversation to his origins in the pagan/viking music genre. As is tradition, black metal plays a part in introducing Nils to the old ways, though he himself is not the most dedicated listener of black metal, showing us yet again that the ideology of black metal seems to transcend the music itself. Nils takes us through his nature walks as a kid with his friends as well as his walks with his grandmother learning the names of the trees, where from a young age Nils had an inclination towards animistic questions and perspectives.
He was brought to this genre by the way of Wardruna, Månegarm, and Anders Hagberg, which gave him a more suitable expression for his love of nature, mythology, and older ways. In talking about his growth through the years leading up to Seden, Nils and Jameson talk about the importance of being self-critical (in a healthy amount) to grow as a musician, as well as the experiences he’s had writing and making the music of Seden. We talk about that pesky “is this folk music” question, as well as conflicts of theory and intuition when it comes to writing music. We then spend a long time diving into the mythology of Seden in which Nils takes us through his perspectives on things like Odin, Yggdrasil, Asatru, and thanks to a misunderstanding on Jameson’s part (it keeps him humble): Seidr vs Seden and reconstructionists.
Thank you for coming back on the podcast, Nils, and congratulations on a stellar album.
0:00 Intro
2:57 Midgardsblot
4:20 Performing with Peter Franzén
5:45 Filling in for Gåte
7:21 How Nils got into Pagan folk music
10:21 Nature walks with Nils
12:30 Early Hindarfjäll inspirations
15:17 The rise of Nordic Animism
18:55 The Black Metal influence
20:35 Hindarfjäll’s instrumentation
23:40 The Folk Music Question
30:20 Seden
37:00 The harmonies of Hindarfjäll
41:38 The mythology of Seden
1:04:32 The songs of Seden
1:08:58 Seden restrospective
1:15:17 What’s next?
1:20:02 Nils turns to Scuzzlebutt
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
#34 - Espen Winther of Eldrim
31 juli 2024 |
109 min
In this very special Nordic Sound Channel interview, I sit down with Espen Winther of Eldrim for an exclusive early look at the new record "Daudrastev" as we preview and discuss each track before the album releases.
Espen has long been a vocal supporter of the channel, and it's truly been an honor to do this special collaboration in anticipation for both the new album release and the return to Midgardsblot. Cheers Espen, and thank you for trusting the channel with this cool opportunity to do something a little bit different.
So sit back, relax, and let Espen take us through not only his story, but the story of Eldrim's new record "Daudrastev".
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
[Album Review] Nordein, "Reisa"
23 juli 2024 |
7 min
In Nordein's newest offering, "Reisa", we're given a three-course meal teasing some new and old ideas to expect from the project in the future, taking us from the world of early 2000s "celtic" folk world of into a more contemporary dark folk sound by the EP's end. A short review for a short EP - let's talk about it!
"Nordein, fronted by Norwegian musician and producer Jørn Øyhus, blends Nordic folk with rich, evocative sounds. Known for his work with Nordjevel, Varde, and Byrdi, Jørn brings a unique touch to Nordein’s three albums and new EP, Reisa. This latest release merges traditional and modern elements, capturing the essence of nature's rebirth.
Nordein have for the past years been the main focus, with its three full length albums plus a handful of singles. Reisa is the new EP, hinting both backwards and forward in time musically, hailing back to the debut Nordariket, as well as pointing to new soundscapes. Spring is a journey on its own, beginning with melancholic Irish bouzouki in the forest accompanied by a owl (own night time recording). The track evolves beautifully from an introspective dark folk mood into a triumphant blooming ritual of spring, with sounds of flutes, choirs, viking drums and strings. Listening to the track is like going from a misty and gloomy early dawn, through full blown sunny mid-day and into the night. Spring is the celebration of nature coming back to life after the harsh northern winter, and encapsulates the very essence of growing, blooming and thriving, though with thoughtful undertones all the way."
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
Album Review: Floating Sofa Quartet, "Kystnaert"
17 juli 2024 |
9 min
One of my favorite groups in the Nordic folk scene today is finally back, joined by the wonderful Norwegian hardanger fiddler Gura Kvifte Neisheim for the new maritime record "Kystnaert"
This has been my most anticipated album of the summer, and for good reason. I fell deeply in love with this group back in 2016 with their incredible "The Moon We Watch Is the Same" due to the fresh, exciting, and organic nature of their sound and original instrumentation which continued through "Neighbourhood" and "Sofa Songs".
Kystnaert has delivered in every way, and I really hope you all give this album a spin to experience the many things to love about the Floating Sofa Quartet.
"Revived coastal music from Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Finland.
For almost a decade Floating Sofa Quartet (FSQ) has been working across borders with their own take on Nordic folk music – shedding light on the shared cultural heritage of the Nordic countries and creating music that is both preserving and renewing their tradition(s).
Now FSQ joins forces with the renowned Norwegian fiddler Guro Kvifte Nesheim to take a plunge into the kindred musical traditions of the coastal regions of Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Finland!
Commissioned by the Farsund Folk Festival the project Kystnært (near the coast) is centered around the regional folk music of Agder in sourthern Norway – a tradition that has a clear kinship to the music of its neighbouring countries. With Agder as a starting point Kystnært explores the similarities between an assortment of musical bits and pieces from the Nordic coastal regions, fusing them all into a vivid contemporary concert experience."
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Bülows Kvartett - "Vad än som i världen händer" [Album Review]
12 juli 2024 |
12 min
Let's dive into the debut album from a daring new folk/jazz quartet from Sweden.
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Eivør, "Enn" - Album Review
10 juli 2024 |
19 min
A new kind of album review on the Nordic Sound Channel. And what better way to return to the grind than with a new release from one of my favorite Nordic singers, Eivør.
Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
"Eivør calls her Nordic home in the remote Faroe Islands a landscape of extremes. Sitting in the North Atlantic Ocean just above Scotland and southeast of Iceland, with a total population of about 50,000, the climate is “full of contrasts—very dark, heavy winters and bright summers.” Growing up in a small village there, of about 400 people, it’s those contrasts that have inspired Eivør’s music throughout her career.
Often considered to be one of the most prolific and unique Nordic artists of her generation, Eivør has released 11 studio albums to date, crossing musical genres and always pushing the envelope of the expected. Awarded with the Nordic Council Music Price in 2021, Eivør’s musical journey continues to fascinate and has seen her perform across the globe; from Europe’s biggest festival stages to providing the soundtrack to Netflix’s hit series The Last Kingdom and the video game God of War: Ragnarök.
Her forthcoming new album ENN ties back to Eivør’s Nordic roots. Most of the lyrics, sung entirely in Faroese, were penned in collaboration with the Faroese poet Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs. Eivør calls the lyrics to the title track especially “hardcore.” The song is about war—“the wars that are going on in the world especially lately, but that have always been going on,” Eivør says, “and how to find a glimpse of light in this overwhelming darkness.” The guttural penultimate track, “Upp Úr Øskuni,” is a thrilling outlier mixing growling beatboxing with visceral throat singing (it’s certainly Eivør’s most metal moment).
ENN stands out among Eivør’s discography as a bold new venture. Her debut for Season of Mist, the album leans heavier into dark electronics. Her new Prophet-5 synthesizer hardly made it out of the box before she keyed up “Hugsi Bert Um Teg”, a swooning bit of dream-pop that dances like the colors of the milky way.
On a grand scale, ENN follows a cosmic arc. The title track is a symphonic, war-torn space odyssey. But the album also dwells on more earthly concerns. Lead single “Jardartra” is told from the perspective of a wounded mother earth, who calls to us with a steadily thumping bassline that’s as dark and warm as our planet’s molten core. “Come lie down in my blue embrace”, Eivør sings, reaching into her operatic register, as if beckoning us toward the light.
On ENN, Eivør moves heaven and earth."
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#33 - Chris Welsh of Sun and Moon Dance
6 juli 2024 |
68 min
In a first for the channel, multi-instrumentalist and folk musician Chris Welsh sits down with me in my own living room to talk about his storied career with over a decade as Sun and Moon Dance, his multiple collaborations with some Nordic Sound Channel fan favorites, and his perspectives as an American working in the Nordic music scene. Along the way, Chris reflects on the importance of animism and land stewardship in his creative voice, some minor grievances with the dark folk scene, and his own work cleaning up thousands of pounds of litter from the North Carolina wilderness with his Clean Sacred Lands project and how it relates back to his music.
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#32 - Jonathan Barendsma of Gealdyr
1 juni 2024 |
64 min
Join me in welcoming Jonathan Barendsma of Gealdyr, a rising star in the dark folk scene. In this conversation, Jonathan and I discuss the importance of music and art as escape and vicarious living for those in difficult situations, a mutual love of soundtracks, and dancing the line between Nordic and Celtic soundworlds.
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#31 - Heathen Musicology and the Ancestral North with Ross Hagen
25 maj 2024 |
92 min
In this very special episode I'm joined by fellow musicologist and mentor Ross Hagen to talk heathen musicology and how he and Mathias Nordvig went about approaching "Ancestral North: Spirituality and Cultural Imagination in Nordic Ritual Folk Music" - a musicological book on the nordic pagan music scene. Thanks for the good hang Ross!
"Ancestral North: Spirituality and Cultural Imagination in Nordic Ritual Folk Music offers a detailed exploration of Nordic ritual folk music, a music scene focused on the revival of ancient folkways and archaic music that has found remarkable popularity around the globe. Once the domain of Viking reenactors and neopagan practitioners, the niche sonic and visual aesthetics of this music have found widespread visibility through a new generation of popular films, television series, and video games. The authors argue that many of these musical and media products connect with longstanding cultural attitudes about the Nordic region that conceive of it as wild, exotic, and dangerous, while also being a place of honor, community, and virtue. As such, the Nordic region and its music often becomes a vessel for reactionary escapes from all manner of modern discontentment. However, the authors also posit that spending time re-creating the music of an imaginary past offers participants the possibility for engagement and re-enchantment in the multicultural present."
Link to the Book
And more importantly, the 30% off code! - LXFANDF30
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#30 - Visy Bloodaxe (Seidrblot)
18 maj 2024 |
69 min
https://seidrblot.bandcamp.com
In this interview, I'm happy to be joined by Visy Bloodaxe of Seidrblot to talk about a range of topics including the music he makes with the band, working with wood, how a love of medieval music led to him learning how to build his own instruments, and finding escape through music in a world filled with noise.
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"Viking Music" and Issues of Genre
7 maj 2024 |
22 min
Do musicians get the final say in what their music is called, and is genre meant to be a literal descriptor of the music we hear?
In the 3 years I’ve been running this channel, covering the music of Wardruna, Heilung, and almost everything in that sphere, I have had endless conversation over what to call this music with many alternatives offered for the sake of “anything but Viking music”. Dark folk, pagan folk, nordic folk (the worst option for reasons obvious to traditional musicians), heathen folk, new nordic folk… and even the major artists themselves have been outwardly disassociating from the level. But why don’t any of the alternatives stick instead of Viking music?
Join me in this conversation about the contentious yet seductive nature of the Viking music phenomenon from the perspective of an ethnomusicologist. Questions here are posed around the nature of genre, the binding themes of this music scene, artist and audience perspectives, and whether or not any of this is about historical accuracy at all, and if that matters to the ultimate enduring label of Viking music.
Or, can we not change how we talk about Viking music at all before we change how we talk about the Viking age itself?
My ultimate hope is that questions brought up in this video start some needed conversations to be carried on as this genre continues to grow, instead of continuing the trend of dancing around the subject as we run on the euphemism treadmill. Because remember, I don’t have the answers, only the questions. The answers are what we as a community make them to be.
Thank you for watching.
-Jamo
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#29 - Aevestaden
30 april 2024 |
62 min
Long have I been enchanted by the music of Ævestaden. The way these captivating musicians utilize instruments typically associated with dark folk (such as the lyre and bukkehorn), but instead put it in a folktronica setting where it somehow just fits so organically is a feat within itself. Solen var bättre där was on my top 10 albums of 2023 not only because of this incredibly original use of familiar instruments, but also because the songwriting is on another level of melancholy - reaching out to the feeling of nostalgia and yearning for a better time in a way that only music could. So, join me in welcoming Kenneth, Eir, and Levina onto the Nordic Sound Channel for the first (and hopefully not the last) time as they bring us into their musical world.
Thumbnail photo: Klara Bond
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aevestaden.bandcamp.com
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#28 - Kati Rán
15 april 2024 |
63 min
In this installment of the Nordic Sound Channel, I sit down with pagan folk veteran Kati Rán to talk about her two decades in the nordic dark folk scene, the changes she's seen take place over time, and of course, her new album Sála and her approach to the feminine skaldic perspective. Thanks for joining Kati, I'm really glad we got to tread some new ground for the channel in this chat!
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#27 - Ruben Terlouw (Heilung)
13 april 2024 |
94 min
A very different interview this time around talking to a fellow academic! Join me in picking Ruben's brain about his archaeology scholarship on immersive sound in museums and music's ability to cultivate affective attachment to our world and history.
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This Month in Nordic Music - Hamferd, Lindy-Fay Hella, Nils Økland, and more! [March 2024]
3 april 2024 |
25 min
What a crazy, eclectic month for Nordic music! As good a time as any to try out recording in 4k ;)
All of the new music this month (including singles and others not included in the video) are now featured in the Nordic Sound Channel's Discovery playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LMGZolMTYQgLu0uFbEHgO?si=b43d29f7017d4917
Join the patreon for the Nordic Sound Journal and the listening circles: Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
Written reviews over on Medium at Medium.com/@nordicsoundchannel
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:37 Lindy-Fay Hella and Dei Farne - Islet
5:45 Udåd - Udåd
9:03 Mads Kjøller Henningsen, Niller Rasmussen, Clara Tesch - Rundt Segen
11:13 From the Infinite Light - Iterum Nata
13:58 Gjenskinn - Nils Økland Band
18:38 Men Gu∂s hond er sterk - Hamfer∂
20:48 Odrüngal - Nordstille
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#26 - Lindy-Fay Hella
30 mars 2024 |
56 min
In this interview, I’m humbled to be joined by Lindy-Fay Hella of both Wardruna and Dei Farne to talk about her new album “Islet”, her undying love for Depeche Mode, and the mysteries of the sea. Thank you for joining, Lindy. As a long time fan, you have no idea how starstruck I am by the opportunity to chat with you about your music and our shared love of birds.
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Medium.com/@nordicsoundchannel
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#25 - Andreas Axelsson (Nattramn)
25 mars 2024 |
58 min
Hailing from beautiful Värmland in Sweden, Andreas Axelsson of the project Nattramn joins Jameson to talk about his latest album Gravmarken, his inspiration, and what brought him to the Dark Folk scene. Like myself, he's of the mind that "less is more" and we dive into our philosophies around writing and performing dark folk music.
And he's NOT the singer for Silencer!
https://nattramnsvitjod.bandcamp.com
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#24 - Jacob Hee Lund (Heilung, Virelai, Asynje)
11 mars 2024 |
95 min
In this interview, I am humbled to invite Jacob Hee Lund for his first appearance on the Nordic Sound Channel. Mostly known as a member of Heilung, Jacob is actually a man of many, many hats and is a seasoned performer in the medieval reenactment scene in Denmark. In this interview, he walks us through his background, his countless music projects he’s contributed to as a percussionist, and offers advice and reflection for young musicians looking to make a full time career. Also, as a veteran of this music scene over the last two decades, Jacob gives us some much needed perspective on the evolution of this genre we begrudgingly call “Viking music” for want of a more satisfying name. We close with a discussion of his new drum project Thrymskapr and reminiscing on Heilung at Red Rocks. Considering how much we still had to talk about after almost two hours, let’s call it a safe bet that Jacob will be back on the channel before long.
Jacob’s associated bands: Asynje (Viking, electronic, folk); Auroq (folk, early music, fusion); Heilung; Mallebrok (folktronica); Virelai (medieval/ Viking); Fabel (renaissance early music); Fortuna (early, classical music); Huldre (folk metal); Leikarar (medieval); Norerne (Viking music for Moesgaard Viking market 40 anniversary celebration); Wicked strings / Lilly and the wicked strings (gothic metal); Eldjudnir (black metal); Bo-Nordmand (Danish folk music); Maja Kjær si orkester (Danish raw folk music). He’s also a session musician for Efrén López and Eivør.
For those who want to further explore the musicians Jacob mentioned: Jordi Savall (viol da gamba) and Otava Yo (Russian folk)
0:00 Preamble
1:53 Introduction
4:25 Jacobs background
8:20 The drum in early Europe
13:05 Back to Jacob’s background!
34:15 Versatility and working as a professional musician
43:04 Heilung
49:36 Reflections on “Viking” music scene
54:30 How genres evolve
1:06:00 Collective imagining through music
1:13:58 Thrymskapr and knowing your roots
1:26:55 Heilung at Red Rocks
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This Month(ish) in Nordic Music - February 2024
6 mars 2024 |
20 min
PLEASE READ:
This audio was stripped straight from Youtube, so I want to clarify for podcast listeners: I will be keeping up with reviews dedicated to podcast listeners even though this format will be leaving youtube. What this means for you all is, instead of getting audio from youtube videos for the podcasts, I will from here on out be recording these reviews specifically for podcast.
Support music journalism through the Nordic Sound Journal: patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
Change is coming with the spring winds to the Nordic Sound Channel, all for the better. Stay tuned for a larger “state of the channel” address, and for a new battery of interviews.
0:00 Preamble
4:16 Torulf
6:00 Akleja
9:05 Tvinna
10:15 Aegir
11:05 Jonna Hinton
12:43 Tyr
14:58: Kati Rán
16:27 Lindy-Fay Hella and Dei Farne
18:29 Korpiklaani
19:38 Afterword
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#23 - Nicolas Schipper of Heilung
19 februari 2024 |
76 min
Live from University of Colorado Boulder, I sit down with the one and only Nicolas Schipper of Heilung after the last stop on their U.S. tour.
In this conversation, Nic tells us about his journey in Heilung as an immigrant from Ecuador, shares his thoughts on the ever-contentious conversation of cultural appropriation, and works through what "music as healing" means to him and his work for Vidaya Community. And, of course, everything in between.
At the end of the video is a q/a section with the audience which also brings us to the beautiful story of Nicolas' body paint he wears on stage, what spirituality means to him through Heilung's music, and more.
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Hot singles in your area! This Month(ish) in Nordic Music - January 2024
17 februari 2024 |
17 min
January is usually a slow month for music in the post-holidays hangover. In spite of this, we've been given some pretty awesome singles from a wide range of bands and musicians since the new year. Let's get into the awesome singles Nordic musicians revealed to us so far in 2024, teasing some highly anticipated new albums from some of our favorite bands.
Featuring: Gåte, Lindy-fay Hela and Dei Farne, Byrdi, Jonna Jinton, Aftenstorm, Iterum Nata, Robert Santa and Folket Bortafor Nordavinden, and Tvinna.
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Top 10 Nordic Albums of 2023!
30 december 2023 |
26 min
And I thought it was hard coming up with a top 5 list in 2022! Little did I know that in 2023, Nordic musicians - Norwegians in particular - would go so hard that I'd be forced to expand it to a list of 10 this year just to feel like I can paint a meaningful picture of this year's Nordic music scene. 2023 was an incredible year to be the Nordic music guy, and I look forward to the years ahead, especially considering how many of the bands towards the top of this list are just getting started.
So, without further ado, let's bid farewell to 2023 and show it our appreciation by revisiting 10 albums that showed Nordic music, and the Nordic sound, as a force to be reckoned with this year.
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Draumkvedet - A Very Pagan Christmas Story
20 december 2023 |
12 min
To offer at least something festive to the channel, the holiday season gives me the perfect excuse to talk about the legendary Norwegian vision poem Draumkvedet, which has inspired so much music for such an old poem. This is also a little experiment for testing out content that ties folklore and music together because the relationship between the two in Nordic music is just so intertwined that it can’t be ignored.
Lastly, as a little easter egg, for those of you who have been around since the days of this being a classical music podcast, some very familiar names of Norwegian music history are going to come back around to emphasize the part they played in Nordic folklore and music history, featuring a wonderful piano sonata. So, let’s dive into Draumkvedet, or the Dream Poem, for a very pagan Christmas story
To look closer at the history of the poem: https://www.visittelemark.com/vest-telemark-museum/our-heritage/the-dream-poem
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November 2023 - This Monthish in Nordic Music
15 december 2023 |
21 min
The November 2023 installment of "this monthish in Nordic music" is here with great music from Gåte, Mari Boine, Sigrid Moldestad, Sowulo, and Kalandra! Also, some more band announcements for Midgardsblot 2024!
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#22 - Noiduin
20 november 2023 |
43 min
Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
With this interview, I'm excited to introduce Noiduin as the first Finnish band to come onto the podcast! In this chat, Noiduin discusses their background as musicians, how Noiduin came to be (more romantic than one would expect!), and how Finnish folklore, rune singers, and witchcraft feed into the band's music.
Other finnish musicians/bands recommended by Jemina and Henri:
Nest
Tenhi
Ruumisto
Gói
Kallomäki
Karneh
Support Noiduin at:
noiduin.bandcamp.com
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This Month(ish) in Nordic Music - New Music Reviews
13 november 2023 |
21 min
Reviews of new nordic music that came out in the last month (or a little bit more!) Let me know if this is a format to keep! Featuring: Myrkur, Mari Boine, Gjermund Larsen Trio, Tonskalv, and more!
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#18 - MÍO
28 augusti 2023 |
33 min
patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
Jameson had the opportunity at Midgardsblot to sit down with the wonderful witches of Mio to talk about how the band came to be how the magic happens with their music. Please go support this gem of Oslo's underground scene at mioofficial.bandcamp.com
This podcast is brought to you by the channel's dedicated and passionate patrons:
-Gen
-Colton
-Drake
-Carrie and Family
-Simon
-Cindy
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Why Vikings?
4 augusti 2023 |
14 min
Let's talk about vikings, heritage, modernity, and spirituality.
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#15 - Jonas Lorentzen
3 juli 2023 |
89 min
Patreon.com/baldskald
Jonas Lorentzen of Nebala joins the channel for an interview all the way from India to talk about Nebala's latest "Live at the Blot" production, the beauty of cultural appropriation, how downtime can be productive for musicians, and of course, what Nebala has cooking up for us next.
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#16 - Jesper Gräs of IOTUNN
3 juli 2023 |
58 min
Patreon.com/baldskald
Jesper Gräs, guitarist of IOTUNN joined the channel to talk about the importance of being open to different styles of music, not boxing yourself in as a musician, and of course, the story of Iotunn and how the band came to be.
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#17 - Midgardsblot Opening Ceremony (Benny Braaten and Gustav Holberg)
3 juli 2023 |
94 min
Benny Braaten and Gustav Holberg of Folket Bortafor Nordavinden join me in this very special interview to talk about the origins of the Midgardsblot opening ritual and what to expect from it if it's your first time going. More importantly, though, Benny and Gustav open up about what they believe makes drumming so special compared to other ways we make music, how important rhythm is to the human experience, and why it speaks so powerfully to people who get to experience such rituals and drum circles in person. If you're interested in the spiritual, social, and personal sides of what making music is all about, then this one's for you - especially if you're an aspiring musician!
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#14 - Aftenstorm
3 juli 2023 |
81 min
Patreon.com/baldskald
In this particularly explicit and rowdy interview, I'm joined by Daniel and Lancelot of Budapest's Aftenstorm who let off some steam about Brosatru and talk about what it takes to set yourself apart starting out in the dark folk scene. Have you checked out their debut album Ondt Blod?
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Cascadian Midsummer 2023 - Thoughts, Impressions, and Reflections
3 juli 2023 |
50 min
[This episode is a test for putting other types of content from youtube onto the podcast beyond interviews.]
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#13 - Gangar
3 juli 2023 |
44 min
Support the show: patreon.com/baldskald
Join me in hanging out with Gangar's fiddler Mathias and drummer Dullum to learn more about making audacious folk rock while respecting the tradition that inspires them. Looking forward to seeing them at Midgardsblot 2023!
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Ana Uribe-Law: Reggaeton and Latin American Musicology
1 mars 2023 |
60 min
Ana Uribe-Law joins Jameson to talk about her path to musicology and the work she does as an advocate for Latin American music.
Patreon.com/baldskald
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#12 - Anette Aga
22 februari 2023 |
59 min
Patreon.com/baldskald
Support Anette: https://anetteagamusic.bandcamp.com/album/skyggestrand-n-kkevatn
Anette Aga joins the Nordic Sound Channel to tell us about her debut album Skyggestrand Nøkkevatn, and the wonderful, beautiful world of Nordic folklore and fairytales that inspires her music and art.
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#11 - Hindarfjäll & Torulf
26 januari 2023 |
62 min
Nils of Hindarfjäll and Frederik of Torulf join the channel to talk about their music, how attitudes have changed in Scandinavia towards expressions of cultural heritage over the last decades, and how this is opening up exciting new opportunities for Nordic musicians to more freely explore new ideas and even reclaim heritage from stigma.
Patreon.com/Nordicsoundchannel
Podcast: nordicsoundchannel.buzzsprout.com
Hindarfjäll: https://hindarfjall.bandcamp.com/
Torulf: nordictribal.com
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#8 - Kjell Braaten
20 januari 2023 |
111 min
Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
Kjellbraaten.com
Deemed one of the "OG's" of Viking music by the chuckleheads over at the Nordic Mythology Podcast, the venerable Kjell Braaten joins the Nordic Sound Channel to talk about his album Blóta, his work with Jonas Lorentzen on Nebala, and a side quest into ethnomusicology and how music travels through cultures.
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#9 - Bjarte Eike (Barokksolistene)
20 januari 2023 |
117 min
Think classical music is boring? Guess again! Bjarte Eike and his Barokksolistene project have been making waves in the classical (well, technically Baroque, but you all know what I mean...) music scene through his audacious performances which dare to make this music fun and relevant to modern audiences, resulting in an incredibly charming fusion of baroque, folk, and jazz styles. Bjarte Eike's approach to baroque performance breathes new life into this old music tradition while staying true to its essence - an incredibly difficult feat to achieve!
Join me in learning about Bjarte's journey as a baroque musician and his work with both his 2017 Alehouse Sessions and the new 2022 follow-up Playhouse Sessions to gain a new perspective (and dare I say appreciation!) on this near-ancient, yet timeless, music.
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#9 - Nordic Animism (Raven Brings Runes)
20 januari 2023 |
75 min
Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
https://kjellbraaten.bandcamp.com/album/raven-brings-runes
Today we're joined by Christine Kammerer (Jotun Revolution, Gjaldulei), Kjell Braaten (Wardruna, Nebala), and of course Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen of Nordic Animism to discuss the music project Raven Brings Runes.
Raven Brings Runes is a song bridging the worlds of Animism and Music to create a discursive music experience which seeks to reconnect ourselves with humans and non-human persons alike, to transcend national borders, and cultivate a stronger sense of solidarity and hope in the face of an absolutely fucked global ecosystem. (Not usually so brash here, but this is one issue I don't sugar coat.)
But, can music actually make a difference in this regard? It is just pretty sound after all - what can it really do for the environment? Tune in to hear our thoughts on the matter from a diverse range of perspectives from musicology, to performer, to historian of religion.
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#10 - Nanna Barslev (Asynja, Huldre)
20 januari 2023 |
64 min
Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel
https://youtube.com/@UCNtd9doSiKQm8mbaSbQJEyg
https://www.facebook.com/nannabarslevsanger
The wonderful Nanna Barslev (Huldre, Asynje, and more) joined me to talk about her debut album as a solo artist, how she uses her music to find balance in life, and much, much more! Lysbærer has earned high praise and acclaim across several music journalism outlets, so if you haven't had the pleasure of listening to it yet, be sure to check it out!
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#7 - Nytt Land
18 januari 2023 |
57 min
Anatoly Pakhalenko of Nytt Land joins the Nordic Sound Channel to talk about Midgardsblot, making music as a family, their American music influences inspiring the upcoming EP Blood of the West, and connecting with your land and home through music.
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#6 - Emilie Lorentzen (Heilung)
18 januari 2023 |
94 min
http://Patreon.come/nordicsoundchannel
The incredible Emilie Lorentzen of Heilung joins me to talk about her journey in Heilung from Warrior to Singer, but even more special I think, to also talk about 'Moersmål', her debut album in the traditional folk music scene. Be sure to purchase her EP on bandcamp!
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#5 - Jonas Lorentzen (Nebala)
2 november 2022 |
94 min
Support the show
In this episode we have a first - someone who I've met before interviewing! Jonas and I met at Fire in the Mountains and again at Midgardsblot and this renaissance man somehow found the time to join us to talk about his music, his experience making music for the Northman, and how music festivals can bring people together communally as well as spiritually.
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#4 - Hoven Droven
25 oktober 2022 |
59 min
Kjell-Erik and Bjorn of Hoven Droven - one of my long-time favorite Swedish bands - join the channel to talk about their 30 years as a band, how they keep things fresh, and what it was like approaching their latest album. As I like to say: if you don't listen to Hoven Droven, are you really even living?
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#3 - Benny Braaten (Folket Bortafor Nordavinden)
26 september 2022 |
102 min
Patreon
This week I was humbled to be joined by Benny Braaten of Folket Bortafor Nordavinden on the Nordic Sound Channel. Benny is a grizzled veteran of the Nordic music scene and it was he and the rest of FBN who led the ceremonial music for this year's Midgardsblot. Among many things, Benny shares his wisdom and experiences after many years of finding himself as a musician. We also talk about cosmic jam rock sessions in A, Midgardsblot, Harald Foss, what "viking" music is (or isn't), what it means to be true to yourself as a musician and how special of a gift it is to be able to make music.
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#2 - Rúnahild Kvitbjarkan
19 september 2022 |
58 min
It's with great pleasure that I present my lovely conversation with Runahild to you all - the channel's second guest! Together we talk about her becoming Runahild, her music as healing, and why Midgardsblot is such a special place. Check out her newest album Wounded Healer - you won't be disappointed!
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Patreon - Toss a Coin To Your Skald!
8 september 2022 |
6 min
Starting today, for the price of a to-go coffee a month, you can help keep the lights on around here and in return you get some pretty neat bonuses. Listen to the episode or watch the youtube video, and head on over to patreon.com/thenordicsoundchannel to become a patron today and toss a coin to your skald :)
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Heilung, "Drif" Album Review
2 september 2022 |
11 min
How does one even begin to "review" a Heilung album? Unless you haven't been on Youtube since 2017, Heilung is a music group with such a unique musical, spiritual, and performative experience, that reviewing their music is quite a daunting task. However, because it's Jameson's job, he's going to try anyway using the album's single "Tenet" as the foundation. Nordicsoundchannel.com
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Amon Amarth, "Great Heathen Army" Album Review (Hello from Norway!)
15 augusti 2022 |
12 min
In this episode of the Nordic Sound Channel, Jameson discusses his mixed feelings on the latest album from Amon Amarth - the Swedish metal band that got him hooked on Nordic metal in the first place. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment/review to help grow the show!
Nordicsoundchannel.com
(P.s. reminder that Cricket the parrot is my cohost, and will chime in with his own opinion from time to time)
Nordicsoundchannel.com
(P.s. reminder that Cricket the parrot is my cohost, and will chime in with his own opinion from time to time)
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Wardruna, "First Flight of the White Raven", Fire in the Mountain Festival, and Midgardsblót
1 augusti 2022 |
9 min
For the last episode of the summer, Jameson returns to review and discuss Wardruna's latest album, his trip to the Fire in the Mountain Festival in the Tetons, and his upcoming trip to Midgardsblót in Norway. Follow the instagram account @nordicsoundchannel or the subreddit r/nordicsound
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Sara Futtrup, "Jordens Åndedrag" - The Nordic Sound Today 6/29/22
30 juni 2022 |
8 min
Today we're taking a listen to up-and-coming artist Sara Futtrup and her beautiful jazzy album with a folk touch "Jordens Åndedrag" or "Breath of the Earth". Catch it wherever you listen to music!
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Hoven Droven, "Trad" - Nordic Sound Today 4/27/22
27 april 2022 |
11 min
We return to our regularly scheduled programming this week to get to know one of my favorite Swedish music acts, Hoven Droven! Their 2021 album "Trad" is nominated for an Swedish Grammy which will be hosted in a few weeks. Let's have a listen to this chaotic folk-rock-jazz fusion band's latest album to see what there is to love about Hoven Droven (spoiler: there's a LOT to love!)
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[Norway] Episode 12: Christian Sinding, the Black Sheep of Norwegian Music History
25 april 2022 |
12 min
Today we kick off a two-part series re-evaluating late-19th century composers whose legacies were forever marred by the Nazi occupation of Norway. In this episode, we talk about Christian Sinding, who, in his own time, was considered an equal of Grieg and Svendsen despite having nothing to do with Norwegian nationalism or patriotism and most of his success coming from Germany. Do you think Sinding's legacy deserves a second look? Listen in and decide for yourself!
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[Norway] Episode 11: Johan Halvorsen, The Norwegian Concertmaster
11 april 2022 |
20 min
With marching giants, fiddling trolls, and roaring saga dramas, Johan Halvorsen brought his love of all things dramatic and theatrical to the music life of Oslo through the 300+ concerts he led over the course of his 20 year career, and his music is everything you could want from a staunch Norwegianist composer. Not to mention making opera popular in Norway, which was no small feat! Don't forget to leave a review and subscribe to the podcast!
Theamericanskald.com
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Tyr, "Ragnar's Kvæ∂i" with the Faroe Island Symphony Orchestra - Nordic Sound Today 4/6/22
6 april 2022 |
10 min
Today we're going to follow up on a discussion about Faroese music tradition with Ale Carr and talk about the Faroese ring dance tradition while also bringing Faroese metal act Tyr's latest collaboration with the Faroe Island Symphony Orchestra, "Night at the Nordic House" into the conversation. This is the Channel's first episode about heavy metal, so I hope you enjoy it! Theamericanskald.com
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#1 - Ale Carr of Dreamer's Circus
4 april 2022 |
46 min
In this special episode I sit down with Ale Carr of Dreamers' Circus - the channel's very first guest! Ale and I talk about some of the history behind traditional Nordic Folk music as we know it today and the vision behind the music of Dreamers' Circus - particularly how it plays into their upcoming album and their most recent single Brestiskvæ∂i (Brestiskvaedi), based on an old Faroese ballad!
Dreamers' Circus's new album Lost Swans will be available on April 8th, 2022!
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Knut Buen, "Sound of Telemark" and "Edvard Grieg: Slåtter" - Nordic Sound Today 4/1/22
1 april 2022 |
16 min
Today we continue our Hardanger fiddling marathon with Norwegian music titan Knut Buen. Join the mailing list at theamericanskald.com for early access to next Monday's interview with Ale Carr of Dreamers' Circus!
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Johanne Flottorp & The Northern Belle, "Hitterdal" and "Chicago" - Nordic Sound Today 3/30/22
30 mars 2022 |
15 min
To kick off our two week Hardanger fiddle marathon, we're going to be looking at a captivating up-and-coming Hardanger fiddlers Johanne Flottorp with her newest album "Hitterdal" and take a peak at the latest Northern Belle single Chicago - the Norwegian/Americana fusion band she fiddles for. Very cool stuff!
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[Norway] Episode 10: Edvard Grieg, the Life and Legacy of a Mountain King
28 mars 2022 |
40 min
This week, I ask you to join me in learning the life and legacy of one of music history's most beloved, but just as misunderstood composers, Edvard Grieg. This special episode is essentially my thesis condensed into a 30 minute podcast episode, and will cover Grieg's upbringing, education, personal life, his place as Scandinavia's most significant musicians, and the mark he left on Parisian culture during the Belle Epoque as one of its most popular composers. In the process, we will better understand how Grieg left a remarkable and personal influence on the generations after him, from Maurice Ravel, to Bela Bartok, to Duke Ellington, to John Cage, and many in between. It is my hope that you come away from this episode with a newfound appreciation of Edvard Grieg's music, life, and legacy.
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Dreamers' Circus, "Befal du dine veje" - Nordic Sound Today, 3/23/22
23 mars 2022 |
13 min
This week I'll be reviewing one of "new nordic" folk band Dreamers' Circus' singles for their upcoming EP "Lost Swans". Visit theamericanskald.com to join the mailing list, or join the reddit community over at r/nordicsound to join in on the conversation!
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[Norway] Episode 9: Johan Svendsen, Norway's Symphonic Beginnings pt. II
21 mars 2022 |
11 min
This week, we get to know a Norwegian titan of old - a virtuoso-turned-symphonist hailed in his own time as a masterful composer and conductor, who has since fallen out of the spotlight of music history. His works include grand sweeping symphonies, a captivating violin concerto complete with moving lyrical passages and invigorating dance rhythms, and of course, folk tune arrangements that may or may not be about saeter girls... Join us at r/nordicsound or visit me at my website theamericanskald.com!
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Wardruna, "Skugge" - The Nordic Sound Today 3/16/22
16 mars 2022 |
11 min
[NOTE: Podcasting apps are adding a dead-air period of about 20 seconds after the intro. This dead air is not present on the Buzzsprout website. Hopefully it will get fixed soon!]
Welcome to the newest addition to the Nordic Sound Channel - The Nordic Sound Today, where I will be reviewing and discussing current events and releases in the world of Nordic music and culture. Today, I will be reviewing Wardruna's newest single Skugge from their upcoming live album First Flight of the White Raven, releasing April 22, 2022.
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[Norway] Episode 8: Otto Winter-Hjelm - Norway's Symphonic Beginnings, Pt. I
14 mars 2022 |
11 min
This week is the first part of a two part series looking at Norway's symphonic beginnings, where we get to know Otto Winter-Hjelm, a somewhat obscure, but nevertheless charismatic, figure of Norwegian music history. Remember to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review, and follow the channel over at r/nordicsound or americanskald.nordicsound on Instagram!
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[Norway] Episode 7: First Lady of Norwegian Art Music, Agathe Backer-Grøndahl
7 mars 2022 |
10 min
In this episode we learn about the life and legacy of one of Norway's most compelling soloists, Agathe Backer-Grøndahl. Along with Edvard Grieg and Johan Svendsen, Agathe was one of the leading figures of Norway's "Golden Age" of music.
Performance of "Tre Sanger" by Noelle McMurtry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck6uipiKMcc
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Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
[Norway] Episode 6: Halfdan Kjerulf, the "Norwegian Schubert"
21 februari 2022 |
20 min
Halfdan Kjerulf may not be as widely known as Ole Bull, but he played an equally important role in the development of Norway's classical music culture on the home front. Come and learn about what made this composer so unique, and why he's known to some as the "Norwegian Schubert"
Syng, Syng Nattergal Du: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jotKFzcY7FU
Piano Miniatures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3kKwaZbPaA
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
[Norway] Episode 5: Ole Bull, The "Norwegian Norseman from Norway," The "Paganini of the North"
7 februari 2022 |
33 min
From Robert Schumann to Franz Liszt, the King of Denmark to the Queen Dowager of Naples, and from Mark Twain to Longfellow, Ole Bull left a lasting impression on all who heard him play, yet his legacy has somehow been lost to time. Join me in learning about this "Paganini of the North" and how he went from failing out of college to winning the hearts and minds of audiences and icons all across the Western world. Listen to his "Norges Fjelde" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi3wq5SXhIE
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
[Norway] Episode 4: Unsung Women of Early Norwegian Romanticism, Olea Crøger and Camilla Collett
31 januari 2022 |
10 min
Today we get acquainted with two women whose work would set foundation for Norway's 'Golden Age' of music - the age that gave us Grieg, Svendsen, Backer-Grøhndal, and others. Alas, because of the male-dominated state of publishing, both Olea Crøger and Camilla Collett had to have their work published along with work done by men. Effectively, their names faded into the background as their work remained front and center.
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
[Norway] Episode 3: Into the Mountains with Waldemar Thrane and L.M. Lindemann
24 januari 2022 |
19 min
If you came here for giants, fjords, witchcraft, and fairytales, then your time has finally come! For, with this week's composers, we're finally in the Romantic era with Waldemar Thrane's "Fjeldeventyret" and L.M. Lindemann's journeys through Western Norway in search of the "essence" of Norwegian music. Things are gonna get far more "Norwegian" from here on out, so warm up some gløgg and make yourself comfortable!
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
Welcome to Norway: A Nation Forged by Wind and Tide
17 januari 2022 |
15 min
And we're back! New episodes roughly every other Wednesday (depending on my course workload)! This first episode is meant to be a primer on Norwegian history up to the 18th century, when classical music in Norway really starts to get going. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and follow @american.skald on instagram and on the subreddit r/nordicsound! Visit my website theamericanskald.com to leave a donation, as I like to leave the podcast ad free! Episodes now available on Youtube along with all major podcasting platforms!
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
[Norway] Episode 2: A Tale of Two Berlins, Johan Daniel and Johan Heinrich
17 januari 2022 |
15 min
This week we meet Norway's first two recorded composers: Johan Daniel and Johan Heinrich Berlin, representing the Baroque and Classical eras respectively! Episodes now on Youtube! Come visit me at theamericanskald.com or the r/nordicsound subreddit, or follow me on Instagram @american.skald or youtube at The American Skald channel. Don't forget to leave a comment, review, or subscribe if you're enjoying the content! Recommended works: Johan Daniel Berlin, "Sinfonia a 5 for Cornetto and Strings in D Major"; Johan Heinrich Berlin, "Clarinet Symphony in D Major".
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons:
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.