Awards season just got a lot more exciting for the unparalleled artists under The Orchard’s worldwide umbrella. Of the 99 nominations dealt for Norway’s Spellemannprisen 2017, aka the “Norwegian Grammy Awards,” nearly half come from The Orchard’s roster and our recently acquired Nordic distributor, Phonofile. Here’s some insight on a few artists on the ballot.
Hailing from Oslo, infectious pop/rock four-piece Hajk is in the running for this year’s Pop Group award. Their latest release, a self-titled debut, is a 38-minute sprint filled with ear worm melodies, delicate musicianship and memorable one-liners. Check out my favorite track, “Magazine,” below.
Let’s head to the Electronic category for our last highlight: Norwegian electro-pop trio SASSY 009. Made up of friends Sunniva Lindgaard, Teodora Georgijevic, and Johanna Scheie Orellana, SASSY 009’s Do You Mind EP is an explorative and creative debut record that expands the boundaries of the genre. Watch the VHS-textured video for “Are you leaving” below.
Motorpsycho does not only wield one of the best band names I’ve ever heard, but they also boast a nomination for this year’s Rock category for their triumphant effort The Tower. With huge riffs, oscillating Leslie speakers and a touch of prog, Motorpsycho is everything you could want and more out of a killer rock band. Listen to the fantastical title track from The Tower below.
Find the full list of nominees here, and all of The Orchard/Phonofiles’s nominees below.
Image Courtesy of Spellemannprisen
Blues
Ready to Rumble by Good Time Charlie
Hold On by Joakim Tinderholt & His Band
These Blues In Me by Ronnie Jacobsen
Children’s Music
Snydelig by Meg og kammeraten min
Banjo på badet by Rasmus og verdens beste band
Sangfoni by Sangfoni
Country
The Last Great Country Swindle by Bendik Brænne
Some Distant Shore by Bill Booth
Love and Rain by Paal Flaata
Electronic
Do You Mind EP by Sassy 009
Folk/Traditional
Strimur by Anne Hytta
Nattsongar by Erlend Apneseth
Så vide fara dei Lindarord by Sogesong
Sorpesoll by Marin/Egeland
Jazz
Blank Out by Ellen Andrea Wang
Vi är ledsna men du får inte längre vara barn by Hegge
Classical
Mozart/Schoenberg by Ensemble Allegria
Fait Pleurer Les Songes by Guro Kleven Hagen/Marianna Shirinyan
Metal
E by Enslaved
Landawarijar by Helheim
Deep Calleth Upon Deep by Satyricon
Pop Group
Hajk by Hajk
Pop Soloist
Vekk meg opp by Gabrielle
Rock
Alt som har hendt by Erlend Ropstad
The Tower by Motorpsycho
Try Not to Freak Out by Sløtface
No Offending Borders by Torgeir Waldemar
Contemporary
Al Khowarizmis Mekaniske Orkester/Ensemble Ernst: Christian Blom – Bring Me That Horizon
Natasha Barrett: Puzzle Wood
Oslo-Filharmonien/Kringkastingsorkesteret/Poing: Jan Erk Mikalsen – Saan
Urban
Noen ganger og andre by Cezinando
Medium by Linni
Singer/Songwriter
Flyge fra by Frida Ånnevik
Det vi har by Kari Bremnes
Ut og se noe annet by Marthe Wang
Sanger du skal få når jeg dør by Trygve Skaug
Open Class
Steamdome by Ola Kvernberg
Composer of The Year
Fredrik Fors & Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra: Bjørn Kruse: Chronotope – Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra by Bjørn Kruse
Meg og Kammeraten Min: Snydelig by Martin Hagfors
Author of the Year
Erlend Ropstad: Erlend Ropstad – Alt som har hendt
Kristoffer Cezinando Karlsen: Cezinando – Noen ganger og andre
Sverre Knudsen: Sverre Knudsen – Vi
Album of the Year
Noen ganger og andre by Cezinando
Song of the Year
“Håper du har plass” by Cezinando
Best New Act/GRAMO Scholarship Winner
Lüt
Rohey
Music Video of the Year
“Som om himmelen revna” by Daniel Kvammen feat. Lars Vaular (regi: Eivind Landsvik)
“Witness” by Mikhael Paskalev (regi: Mikhael Paskalev, Joseph Wills, Jasper Spanning)