Nordic music often gets pigeonholed for being either a) quirky, weird pop and rock (Björk, Sigur Rós, Shout Out Louds) or b) Satan-worshipping death metal (everything else, apparently).
But those long, dark days in the winter also create the perfect backdrop for some truly excellent folk music, although it's rare that a Nordic artist in this genre will gain a serious North American following.
Perhaps in hopes of changing that, Canadian Music Week has invited some of the biggest folk artists from Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden to play a few concerts between March 19 and 24 in Toronto.
Whether you're already a fan or just looking for something new, here are some of the best Nordic folk artists you should see.
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland.
Antero Lindgren’s debut album, Mother, received rave reviews in Finland when it was released last year, with the singer-songwriter being given "next best thing" status. After listening to his moody and somewhat depressed brand of folk, it's no wonder why. Raised in the '90s during Finland's depression, you can hear the darkness and destitution in his voice.
For fans of: Chris Isaak, Ryan Adams.
CMW performance: Wednesday, March 20, 9:30 p.m. at the El Mocambo (Upstairs); Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. at Wrongbar.
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark.
Efterklang sounds like the Danish National, right down to the striking baritone of singer Casper Clausen (what a great stage name!). The band has recorded four albums, with their most recent, Piramida, being released on 4AD, the influential label behind bands such as the National, Bon Iver and Purity Ring. It's the perfect fit for their ghostly sound, and it just seems a matter of time before they grow a larger North American audience.
For fans of: the National, Bon Iver.
CMW performance: Thursday, March 21, 10 p.m. at the Virgin Mobile Mod Club.
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark.
Esben Svane is a singer-songwriter who knows how to write a catchy hook while still keeping things quiet and simple. It's just him, his guitar and some chorally "oohs" and "ahhs" in the background. Svane has a unique voice in that it's easy to imagine it better suited to fronting a punk-pop band, but it grows on you, especially when he hits his falsetto.
For fans of: Badly Drawn Boy, Billie Joe Armstrong's inevitable acoustic record.
CMW performance: Wednesday, March 20, 8 p.m. at the Cameron House back room; Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. at Lounge Bar (inside the Marriott Hotel).
Hometown: Aarhus, Denmark.
Esther Maria took elements of folk and country and merged them into a cinematic, debut album, The Abyss. On "Love Hasn't Found Me Yet," her voice acts like another instrument, enveloping the ethereal symphony of guitars and reverb effects with a distinct sense of melancholy. It's music to get lost in.
For fans of: PJ Harvey, Laura Marling.
CMW performance: Saturday, March 23, 8:30 p.m. in the Tranzac back room; Thursday, March 21, 11:15 p.m. at the Lounge Bar (inside the Marriott Hotel).
Hometown: Iceland.
I have no idea what "Heimforin" means in English, but my hope is that it means "Hallelujah," because the song instantly reminds me of Jeff Buckley's iconic take on Leonard Cohen's song. Ásgeir Trausti's falsetto soars and undulates in a song best described as acoustic gospel. For those who like to listen to lyrics closely, an English version of his record, which received six nominations at the 2012 Icelandic Music Awards, including best album, is in the works.
For fans of: James Blake, Jeff Buckley.
CMW performance: Friday, March 22, 9 p.m. at the Drake Underground; Saturday, March 23, 9:45 p.m. at The Hoxton.
TomLevin
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden.
It's hard to pin down Tom Levin's sound, as he seems to vary between folk, pop and even a bit of gospel. That said, whatever kind of music he's singing, he's doing it with a great baritone. He sounds like the National's Matt Berninger if he drank less and sang more upbeat love songs.
For fans of: Neil Diamond, Nick Cave.
CMW performance: Wednesday, March 20, 12 a.m. at the Free Times Cafe.
SoilWork
Hometown: Helsingborg, Sweden.
Oh wait, this is totally death metal. Enjoy.
For fans of: Scar Symmetry.
For more information, visit CMW's Focus on Nordic Regions page.
Related:
Canadian music label legend Bernie Finkelstein on 50 years of folk