Captivating Norwegian bands and artists: a new doorway to Nordic music

Take On Mea-ha

a-ha – Take On Me (Radio 2 In Concert)

A-ha is a three-piece band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1982.

They moved to the UK in 1983 and debuted with Take On Me in 1984, produced by Tony Mansfield.

The song was rearranged by Alan Tarney and re-released in 1985, becoming a worldwide hit, reaching No.

1 in the US and No.

2 in the UK.

The music video directed by Steve Barron won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

Although the band disbanded in 2010, they reunited in 2015 for two years to mark the 30th anniversary of their debut, releasing their 10th album, Cast In Steel.

MisreadKings of Convenience

Kings Of Convenience – Misread

Kings of Convenience are an acoustic pop duo from Bergen, Norway, formed in 1999.

The two members are Eirik Glambek Bøe—vocals, guitar, and also a therapist, who also plays in the band Kommode—and Erlend Øye, a guitarist and vocalist known for his solo work and for the band The Whitest Boy Alive, standing over 195 cm tall.

Misread is a track from their 2004 album Riot on an Empty Street.

With a downtempo style, its music video carries a characteristically Nordic natural atmosphere, and the blend of acoustic instrumentation and piano makes it a soothing song.

FadAlan Walker

Alan Walker – Faded

Alan Walker is a young music producer from Bergen, Norway, born in 1997.

He was born in Northampton, in the East Midlands of England, and moved with his family to Bergen in western Norway when he was two, where he has lived from childhood to the present.

He began producing music on his PC at 15, caught the attention of a record label, and released his debut single “Fade” in 2014 on the UK label NCS, followed by the tracks “Spectre” and “Force” in 2015.

He later signed with MER Musikk under Sony Music Sweden and released a remastered version, “Faded,” featuring Norwegian singer Iselin Solheim’s vocals.

The track reached the global top 10 on Spotify’s Top 50 Global and won Song of the Year at the 2016 Spellemann Awards.

He has a dog named Happy.

EpleRöyksopp

Röyksopp – Eple HD (Offical Video)

Röyksopp is an electronic duo from Tromsø, Norway, formed in 1998.

Based in Bergen, they are one of the leading Nordic dance acts and have played many live festival performances, including appearing at Coachella in 2017.

They first came to Japan for Fuji Rock in 2003, and performed there three times—in 2003, 2005, and 2009—headlining the White Stage in 2009.

Eple is one of Röyksopp’s signature tracks: a Norwegian take on electronic dance music with an ’80s electropop feel.

It is included on their debut album, Melody A.

M.

, released in 2001.

MajestyMadrugada

Madrugada – Majesty [Official Music Video] [2002]

Madrugada, a Norwegian band whose name means “dawn,” crafts a dark yet beautiful sound that anchors itself in alternative rock while blending in elements of blues and dark country.

They debuted in 1999 with the album Industrial Silence, winning Best New Artist at the Norwegian Grammys.

Their song Lift Me, a collaboration with Ane Brun, is also widely known.

Sivert Høyem’s soul-stirring vocals and the guitar tones woven by Robert Burås, who passed away suddenly in 2007, seize listeners’ hearts and won’t let go.

If you’re looking for melancholic yet grand rock in the vein of Nick Cave, this is a band you should hear.

Winter BirdAURORA

AURORA – Winter Bird

Aurora, whose full name is Aurora Aksnes, is a young singer-songwriter from Stavanger, Norway.

She gradually gained recognition after performing before Queen Sonja of Norway at a domestic festival, and in 2014 she was nominated on NRK’s P3 radio station.

Winter Bird is a song released in 2016, and its music video is a characteristically Nordic, creative, and artistic work.

Progenies of the Great ApocalypseDIMMU BORGIR

DIMMU BORGIR – Progenies of The Great Apocalypse (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Bearing the name “Dark Castle,” Dimmu Borgir emerged from Norway, the land of ice and fire.

Since their formation in 1993, they have boldly fused majestic orchestration with black metal, establishing the unique style of symphonic black metal.

With albums like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, they cemented their global acclaim, and in 2007, In Sorte Diaboli topped the charts in their home country—the first-ever achievement for a black metal band.

Their sound, where ferocious aggression intersects with dramatic beauty, is like a grand epic.

They are the perfect band for those who want to immerse themselves in a dark, fantastical world.