The album "Eynni Idri (the inner island)" is released on the artist-driven record label KOSO. The album title uses the old name of the artist's hometown, Inderøy, and explores a dreamy, acoustic sound with richly composed instrumentation. Together with talented musicians, Bjerkan has created an album that both connects musical styles and explores existential thoughts.
The album features a solid team of contributing musicians, including Erland Dahlen, Håkon Brunborg Kjenstad, Einar Stray, Camilla Hole, Kenneth Ishak, Jørgen Natland Apeness, Ellen-Martine Gismervik, and Tuva Hellum Marschhäuser from Tuvaband. The latter contributes with guest vocals on the tracks "The Wind is a Horse" and "Sailor Moon".
The album consists of seven tracks that take the listeners on a slow-paced journey and address themes such as heartbreak and change. Bjerkan describes the album as a tribute to life, nature, and the intricate paths of love. The vocals were recorded live together with Håkon Brunborg Kjenstad on guitar, who also produced the album.
"In the past, I have always tracked all the instruments first and then recorded the vocals last. This time, I wanted the vocals and the 'imperfections' to take priority," says the artist.
Contributeres:
Ane Bjerkan (vokal & harmonium)
Håkon Brunborg Kjenstad (gitar, bratsj, pedal steel, keys & vokal)
Erland Dahlen (perkusjon)
Einar Stray (keys, effekter, vokal spor 4)
Ellen-Martine Gismervik (cello)
Camilla Hole (sopransax spor 4, 6 & 7)
Tuva Hellum Marschhäuser (vokal spor 1 & 4)
Kenneth Ishak (bass spor 7)
Jørgen Natland Apeness (trommer spor 7)
All musikk og tekst av Ane Bjerkan, utenom spor 7 “Arrows” som er skrevet av Einar Stray og er en coverlåt fra hans debutplate “Chiaroscuro”.
Artwork til plata og singler er av Tor-Finn Malum Fitje og foto av Signe Luksengard.
En spesiell takk til Georg Blichfeldt på Kråkeslottet og Håkon Brunborg Kjenstad, min magiske medmusikervenn, som har gjort denne plata til det den er.
Linker:
Vagō is both an existential and playful project. Musically it’s wrapped into something colourful and rich, with saxophones, strings and analogue 80s synths.
The 25-minute short album is produced together with her band and Simen Hallseth (Gold Celeste), recorded in an old prayer house outside Oslo, Flerbruket. Francesco Donadello (Jóhann Jóhannsson, Thom Yorke, Efterklang) in Vox-Ton, Berlin, has mixed some of the songs on the release.
Media:
Kulturmagasinet Plnty:
Eklektisk, ukjent og i verdensklasse – Ane Bjerkan slipper EP-en «Vagō»
https://plnty.no/2021/04/ane-bjerkan-vago/
Fullmoon Magazine:
Ane Bjerkan vydává nový singl
https://www.fullmoonzine.cz/ane-bjerkan-vydava-novy-singl
The four track EP «Songs for Jirka» caught daylight in a dark and cold part of Czech Republic, recorded in a cabin just outside of the city of Tábor in January 2019. The EP was named after Jiri Vydra, who invited Ane Bjerkan in the first place to play her first solo gig back in 2016, in Valdstejnska Loggia, Jicin.
The innovative harmonium and vocal based EP «Songs for Jirka» was curated, written and performed by Ane herself. It also features «Ulvekirkevisa» which is an old Norwegian folk song from the end of the 17th century. The EP was recorded by David Zeman from the award-winning Czech band KALLE, that Ane was touring with in March in Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Spotify: Songs for Jirka
Nordic Spotlight: We are the young ones
Winter Grit (EP) is a subtle and mesmerizing release colored by the nordic dark season. Telling stories of the complexity of love; longing, break-ups and changes, with vocal and keys as main ingredients. Piano, analoge synths, cello and harmonica embrace the emotions in the lyrics.
The first track, Slowly Collapsing Star, is about leaving someone with a feeling of sorrow and relief. Ane Bjerkan and producer Kenneth Ishak (Beezewax, Universet) captured the songs fragile character in the beautiful Ocean Sound Recordings.
Following this opening is a live acoustic version of Rainy Railway, a delicate track from Bjerkans debut Nothing but cherry blossoms from now on. While recording in her hometown, Inderøy’s Culture House, Ane Bjerkan shot a live video that was released with the EP. Closing Winter Grit is the Lynch-inspired Passage, recorded and mixed by Karl Klaseie in Greener Studios back in 2013.
- In February I often find myself in a winter-state of mind, lacking daylight and optimism. These days I listen to Mark Hollis, Nils Økland and Richard Skelton. Their music resonates in me and somehow that makes me feel happier. In a way Winter Grit is my contribution to this musical atmosphere.
Recorded & produced by Kenneth Ishak at Observatoriet studio, Oslo, June 2014 to november 2016 and at Ocean Sound Recordings, Giske, July 2016, assistant Sondre Christoffersen. Mixed by Marcus Forsgren at Studio Paradis, Oslo, February 2017, and mastered by George Tanderø, april 2017
Nordic music review: https://www.nordicmusicreview.com/single-post/2017/10/18/Ane-Bjerkan---Nothing-But-Cherry-Blossoms-from-Now-On
Ane Bjerkan, vocals and indian harmonium
Jon Kristian Bye, piano
Morten Bessesen, keys
Helga H. Blikås, vocals and cello
Fredrik Bechensten, drums
Kenneth Ishak, gitar & bass at track 2
Camilla Hole, saxophones at track 3 & 7
