Nordic Records are a family-run record label introducing the world, and us, to some incredible new talent. This week sees the release of ‘Game Changer’ by the excellent Anorakk. We got to find out more about the band and their plans for 2021 as well as discover their favourite recipe and favouite old-school Norwegian movie. Read On!

Where are you from and what are your favourite places to experience there?

We live in mid Norway. But these days when you can’t enjoy the music scene or do much social activities, we miss the north of Norway where we come from..especially the nature there. 

I would say that we are “nature people” if that is a saying? 

How would you best describe your sound?

The anorak sound is a consequence of our approach to music and art expression in general. Analog qualities are at the top of the list. We emphasize that elements are allowed to develop and take shape over time. We want to avoid static structures by all means. Wise, abstract and strange elements are considered useful spices in the pot. 

Our fresh single “Game Changer” opens with staccato chords on a living room organ, sent through an unstable Tandberg tape recorder, acting as the metronome throughout the verse. Around the organ dances a 60’s funky drum set with hip-hop whims, a trigger-happy synth bass and a laidback and procrastinating vocalist. In the chorus the organ is replaced with arpeggiated Japanese synths and we put on our driving gloves and roll out onto the freeway.

What have you got planned for the year?

We will be releasing one more single and a full album in 2021. 

We are really looking forward to sharing the whole package with everyone. There’s also the release of a new baby coming up, fingers crossed ..that short nights and irregular hours will trigger more fun and surreal projects from our studio. 

When can we expect to see you start to play live music?

Tricky question. If the feedback enchants us, then it could be that we take the trip out of the studio, with a stack of synths, echo machines, crackling speaker elements and rusty drum kits and arrange a streaming concert, who knows?

What can we do to help support your music and where do we need to go to do that?

Listen and show us how you feel. Make your own videos, illustrations, dances, dishes, inspired somehow. Or just get in touch.

Finally, what was the last thing you read, watched, and listened to?

This recipe (Excellent, by the way) 

Zero Kelvin is an extremely underrated Norwegian movie from the 90s. Raw and honest. The story takes place on Svalbard, the Arctic part of Norway, and the action goes into how isolation over a long period of time can lead to unfortunate psychosocial outcomes. “Love of the Beast” would probably have been a better title. A must for pure Anorakk fans.

Kaadas newest singles (classical), Jon Hopkins (Singularity – such a classic),  Sharon Van Etten, Todd Terje and Fiona Apples last record

Don’t forget to follow and listen to our New Nordic Music playlist on Spotify (link below)

Interview by Alex Minnis