Last weekend one of Norways’s biggest club festivals, Trondheim Calling, invited to discover new music from Norway. NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION was there to check out the most promising acts from the Northern country. Ten different venues in a range less than one kilometer, 2500 guests per day and 100 concerts. Trondheim was calling with indie, jazz, hip hop, electronica, shoegaze, rock, pop and (which simply belongs to Norway) blackmetal.
Together with our colleges from The Line of Best Fit, The 405, Noisey Germany and Electru we watched as many concerts as possible and were amazed by the beauty of the city of Trondheim. Days that where literally about climbing mountains. First, because we really did climb a mountain near Trondheim – just to understand in how far the stunning Norwegian nature influences artists. Thesis: if you grow up (or live) in an area like this you’ll find access to creativity that is waiting to be found deep inside yourself. Second, Trondheim Calling was about climbing mountains because of its musical diversity, in a positive sense. From blackmetal (MØRKEMAKT) to indie rock (EYE EMMA JEDI and HEROS & ZEROS and more), from Norwegian hip hop to singer songwriterism to jazzy and experimental tunes: everything could be found. Even JESUS FUCKING CHRIST played, seriously. A musical Kinder Surprise for the visitors.
On the next pages you’ll find the most interesting new acts from Norway – as Trondheim was calling them. No doubt: Norway has jewels that you will hear a lot about in the near future.
FARAO – Photo by Karl Erik Brøndbo
FARAO
Currently there is a hype around the Norwegian songtress FARAO who combines wistful melodies, keyboards that quietly fizz in the backdrop of her finger-picked guitar murmurs and lo-fi bumps and whistles. Sadly her wondrous Nordic iciness wasn’t 100% touching at Trondheim Calling, maybe because the set was one without beats and drums. Still one thing became clear: FARAO is a highly talented act. Just the “acoustic dress” didn’t fit her that perfect. However: keep an eye on FARAO!
EINAR STRAY
EINAR STRAY are currently working on their second album. As the band’s head, Einar, told in an interview “concerts are the best practice”, because songs develop on stage. That the songs really developed after touring a lot with their debut album Chiaroscuro was proven at Trondheim Calling. So the upcoming album will surely be a great one, and probably also have a guest appearance by Einar’s good friend MODDI.
DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA
DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA not only have one of the strangest bandnames ever (according to Urban Dictionary “Unga Bunga” means “being violently raped in the ass”), but are also an amazing live act. Musically located somewhere between THE INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONSPIRACY and THE HIVES (although way more close to THE HIVES), these guys showed what it means to feel alright and how to make people dance and go crazy. We still hope that no one died by Unga Bunga right after the show.
LINT
Bergen-based post-rock band LINT took the listeners breath. It’s always hard to say who was the best band at a festival, since musical tastes are simply different, but in case of LINT it is a no brainer to say that they will also take your breath. Promised. There are no words that can express this musical beauty.
INTERTWINE
INTERTWINE, the “bedroom boogie” project of Tarjei Ekelund played live at Trondheim Calling. Strange melodies soaked in trumpets, drums, funky basslines, resonance and reverb. Synthgaze sounds that now and then remind of the beautiful KORALLREVEN. Worth a listen for everyone who is into chillwave.
BOW TO EACH OTHER
Synthpop band BOW TO EACH OTHER create music that “in spite of its melancholy also indicates hope and a light at the end of the tunnel”. At Trondheim Calling Megan Kovacs (originally from Canada) and Gunhild Kristoffersen (from Norway, of course) brought darkness and 80s atmosphere to the Yacht Club – and brightened up everything with their wonderful sounds.
RYTMEKLUBBEN
The Trondheim-based band, producer collective and dj crew RYTMEKLUBBEN brought electronic tunes to the club. They definitely want the listeners to join their rhythm club – and that’s exactly what you should do!
BROEN
Influenced by different styles BROEN are simply not categorizable. With glittering outfits the band presented there avantgardesque music. Currently they are about to write and record their album, which will be out in early 2015. And it’s definitely worth to keep an eye on them. Surely not a band to dance to, but one to dream away and get lost in thoughts about tubas on vacation.