'The bittersweet grief of realising you're no longer who you once were'
New Nordic: featuring Orbits, Emelie Hollow, Moyka, MAIH, Emmelie de Forest, Eivør, A-ha, Kloss Major, Vaarin, Dagny, Skaar, Kaleo, Nordic Music Days, Vier Live, Calum Jones.
Hello and welcome to New Nordic, the new name for Made in Norway.
There is so much amazing music crossing the borders between Norway and neighbouring countries, it just made sense to now include talent from across the region.
There will still be the ‘Made in Norway’ obsession with all things there you’ve come to expect, but now in addition also looking at the scene in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden plus the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland where we can.
We’re also playing around with the idea of incorporating other cultural activities that might be of interest such as film and TV, events and possibly even travel, as we look to open up connections with Scotland.
So please do share your ideas and feedback and most of all news. In the meantime, welcome to our new followers, and enjoy today’s edition.
New Music
❤️ Singer songwriter MAIH will release her new heartbreak anthem ‘Close To Dying’ this week ahead of her debut EP slated for delivery in October. It is the follow-up to her singles ‘Red Sleeves’ and ‘What I Know Now’ which came out earlier his year. "The song explores the heartache and tension of growing apart from someone," explains MAIH. "I tried to capture the bittersweet grief of realising you're no longer who you once were and how chasing the extreme highs and lows of the relationship becomes the only way to feel anything at all." ‘Close To Dying’ is out on August 23 via DUR/Playground Music Scandinavia.
✨ All kinds of love for ‘Emelie’ out now from the fabulous Emelie Hollow. She’ll be on tour across Norway this winter.
🎦 🚗 💔Hallingdal singer songwriter Moyka has been asking fans what they think of this new track she debuted on the road over summer. A: it’s a bop!
🌲Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest has teased new music coming in a month’s time when she plans to release the first single from a promised new album.
🖋 So too has Døssi who has signalled new music is on its way soon.
🎤 For a burst of nostalgia, or timeless discovery for the younger generations, A-ha have released their Ultimate collection on vinyl feature their hits and hidden gems. Similarly Sweden’s First Aid Kit have released a 10th anniversary version of Stay Gold.
🎵 ENN is the new album from Faroese singer songwriter Eivør including a cameo on Times Square’s promo circuit. A tour follows, including a date in Glasgow.
Record of the Week
🎺 A new band project with its origins in the 2022 Moldejazz festival called Orbits have released their debut single ‘Synthetic Sweetness’. Lars Horntveth, leader of Norwegian jazz-rock legends Jaga Jazzist, producer Erlend Mokkelbost and Natalie Sandtorv, solo artist and the voice behind Neon Ion, first worked together on a commission for the festival, and kept going. "The song is a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and personal growth," explains singer Sandtorv. "The song's lyrics delve into the complexities of relationships, capturing the bittersweet emotions that come with both closeness and separation." It’s a song with layers, made for summer, effortlessly carrying you away down stream from the first casual listening to suddenly finding yourself dancing where you stand. You can listen here.
📸 Anne Valeur (main image)
Live
🍁 Kloss Major have released a new single ahead of the launch of their album Naturen and tour which will take in Trondheim, Kongsberg, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Songdal and Oslo. Tickets.
⭐️ Mercury and Brit nominee Tom McCrae is heading back to Norway on tour in October with dates in Oslo, Bergen, Haugesund, Kamar and Bodø.
Festivals
🍓Dagny joins the line up for Northern Norway’s largest music festival Rakettnatt on Friday.
🎵 Festivalenstua has revealed its line up of intimate gigs happening in October including the likes of Vaarin. The full programme is here.
🎶 Sigrid and her band ended their summer break in style at Bakgaarden in Harstad.
On Screen
📺 Hit LA soap The Bold and the Beautiful has reportedly signed up Icelandic band Kaleo’s lead singer Jökull Júliusson to appear on the show, and include a performance of the band’s hit song Way Down We Go.
🎦 Loving this stripped back version of Skaar and Dagny for their collaboration on Something Like This.
📱Calum Jones captured his most recent road trip to Norway last week in video.
💻 Vier Live: Indie /alternative pop music trio After Berlin are live streaming from Paris on September 5. Supported by visual artist Stephane Line.
🎬 EIFF: Today - Premier of Armund.
Industry Events
🎵 The countdown has begun for Scotland hosting the prestigious Nordic Music Days contemporary classical festival outside the Nordic region for what will be only the third time in its long history. Glasgow will host musicians from Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland for 12 days from October 30, and preceded by the soundfestival in Aberdeen and the North East from October 22. A taste of the programme is available here. It features details of live music, installations, talks and screenings celebrating new music and sound from across the Nordics and Scotland, delving into contemporary society and cultural connections as we build long-lasting and sustainable partnerships for the future.
📍Congratulations to Stian Tangerud who has been appointed new general manager for the prestigious Spellemann organisation and awards.
Travel
🏨 Strawberry Hotels are currently promoting 25% off stays in the Faroe Islands on bookings made by September 3.