Tag: norway

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Music Remixes

Lemaitre – Wait (Jerry Folk Remix)

Jerry Folk funks up Lemaitre’s electronic-centric track, “Wait” in the best possible way. Both artists originate from Oslo, Norway, which has produced such acts as Lido and Cashmere Cat. There’s a lot of talent up there! In this mix, Jerry has completely reworked the song by adding groove-able bass and synth, while at the same time keeping just enough of the lyrics intact. He emphasizes a nu-disco style that is easy to vibe to.

Just groove with me. Don’t forget I don’t want to see you fade away.

Waiting seems impossible in today’s society. Instant gratification doesn’t come quickly enough! Have a question? Google has the answer right now. Want a package tomorrow? Pay a little extra and you’ll have it. And what’s this drone business? We will be receiving packages in minutes in the not-so-distant-future! With answers and fulfillments to our needs so accessible, it’s difficult to be content with the things out of our control- the things that require patience. Anticipation is good though. I tend to enjoy things more if anticipation leads me to the final result. The excitement of the build oftentimes adds pleasure to my experience. Think about it: instant gratification is easy, but is it the most fulfilling option? Sometimes, yes. Cravings are best fulfilled on the spot; but what about long-term gratification? Relationships, holidays, getting into college, getting a response to a letter? It’s in these situations where we have to exercise patience. If you ask yourself what the rush is, you’ll often come to find there isn’t one! So sit back and chill, and try not to worry about things out of your control. Try to let go of that 21st-century psyche that’s telling you to you need to know. Now. 

Wait…

Lemaitre – Wait (Jerry Folk Remix)

Categories
Music Remixes

Kings of Convenience – I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (Röyksopp Remix)

Royksopp++Karin+Dreijer+Andersson+RoyksoppThisMustBeIt21

Every so often, a song comes along that lodges itself not only in your ear, but in your mind. You relate to it, but aren’t sure why. Is it the wistful lyricism, or the hollow acoustics reminiscent of grandfather’s guitar? The puckering bass line, tripping through a bath of whirring starsplashes…it becomes the soundtrack your universe, along with the many other songs and stories and memories that make you who you are.

The combination of Norway’s Kings of Convenience and Röyksopp is divergent from expectations for casual fans. Kings are known for their spare, delicate guitar ballads, equally calming and staccato. Röyksopp is one of the preeminent electronic acts of the past two decades, rising to the top through sustained quality production and showstopping live performance.

Sure, electronic acts remix pop acts all the time. In this case, however, it’s a matter of history. Both duos met in grade school (as in, the Kings singer me the Kings drummer), and had records out by high school (though under different monikiers). In the early 1990s, the Norwegian electronic scene settled in Bergen, a city of two million, and the recently formed Röyksopp collaborated with future Kings singer Erland  Øye. And 17 years later, this fantastic remix dropped.

“I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From” is a song I’ve kept to myself for a long time. I don’t put it on shared playlists, or play it at public gatherings. I feel greedy for it, the chance to settle into the music and let my imagination drift. Our digital world pressures us to share, share, share; to brand ourselves through posts and shapshots. And we oblige, for no specific reason. But we all know that no digital footprint can ever show the person inside. Only years of intimacy can ever offer a partial image of the soul.

Today, I offer this track as a glimpse of the person behind the posts. Really, every song we post is a taste of us, a coy reference to something going on behind the screen. In this anonymous world, the music gives us voice. And we hope that, every time we share a piece of ourselves, your day gets just a little bit better.

Kings of Convenience – I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (Röyksopp Remix)

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Music

Paperboys – Boatdrinks

Paperboys

Øyvind “Vinni” Sauvik and Ole Aleksander “Pope Dawg” Halstensgård.

I am in absolute awe of the awesomeness of these names. The two Norwegian MCs are Paperboy, a hip-hop group with little to no internet presence, but more than enough lyrical prescience.

Two standout stanzas:

1. “Koolaid and cannabis I’m sick of these scavengers
i’m like a anarchist standing in panic demanding damages
they only flash cameras at muthafucking amatures
wanna trade a good review for some bandages?”

2. “Yo, whatever turn of events
it’s only paper that’s concerning ma gets
this tournaments leaving permanent dents
I’ve got a burning of earning cents and I’m bent
only human, thinking bourbon or rent? hmmm..”

l’m not a big “conscious” rap guy, though Kendrick has definitely moved the needle for me. And you know those Norwegians, always conscious. But I dig Paperboys, and I respect them for continuing to utilize grassroots efforts to push out music in a tough commercial environment.

Enjoy the track, and give Vinni and Pope Dawg some love next time you’re in Norway.

Paperboys – Boatdrinks

Categories
Music

Young Dreams – Fog of War

Age looms just beyond the horizon; it casts its shadow just a little farther each day. As I’ve become more aware of myself, I can feel the frenetic idealities of youth solidify into maturity. For instance, I’ll be mailing my very first set of Christmas cards this year, including a well-posed photo of me and my family (of cats). While wildly attempting to photograph my two formerly feral cats, I thought of myself 10 years ago, eagerly on the brink of freedom. I was about to turn 18, and with all of my sass and determination, I had no idea who I was. Misguided as we may be in youth, that is the spirit that drives us.

Off the beaten track is where I am
Waiting for my own Athena
The crowd is high in blood, and crying sad
 
This is just what it is
It’s what I call the fog of war
There’s nothing here that’s clear to me
This place is not, not you
It’s just not my day,
I’d rather take freedom, than smoking arenas.”

Ah, Young Dreams. The Norwegian collective orchestrates anthems true to its name, especially with Fog of War. The drums roll in with an appropriate, battle-like quality before the lonely vocals emerge with simple determination. Suddenly our lone soldier’s army appears with a swirl of synths and strings, and the battle continues. The band released Fog of War with a set of stunning and diverse remixes from Baio of (Vampire Weekend),  Korallreven and Lemonade. While we wait a full-length, I’ll drink to my youth and the music that reminds me of it.

Young Dreams – Fog of War