Industry Pick:
Øya Festival 2015

Sean Adams - Drowned in Sound

Jenny Hval
It may be a little bit cliched to say but Jenny Hval turns your ear canals into carnal passages. The way she slowly slips parts of her imagination into your consciousness and dips a dirty finger into your day dreams is just part of the reason why she’s one of the most interesting artists in the world right now.

Drape
Listening to a playlist of a few hundred Norwegian bands that you’re unfamiliar with for an afternoon to to try to find something you like is a fascinating experience. There’s been a lot of heavy-as-hell metal, some odd electronica, bits of soul, a couple of big dance-floor bangers, and a few things I won’t begin to describe. When Drape came on I thought the playlist had ended and gone back to my record collection. Their mix of Mew, Flaming Lips and something wonderfully them hooked me right in. I’ll probably be the one in the front row mouthing all the words to Together We’re Pstereo.

Slutface
Every sensible festival schedule has a high-octane band lined up for when you need a caffeine-kick of skittering rimshots and snarky lyrics. Slutface seem to be coming from a similar spiky place as Speedy Ortiz, Blood Red Shoes and other great modern indie-punks.

Unnveig Aas
How Long Must A Woman Mourn is the sort of subtle song that doesn’t come around very often, and can easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of the digital age. My Sharon Van Etten-tuned radar is beeping overtime and I’ll be dragging my heavy heart ti check out Unnveig Aas’ set, for sure.

Anna Of The North
One of the best things about flicking through loads and loads of music from a far flung land is that you occasionally come across something that ruffles the hairs on your neck. Deep synths, vocal hooks and swarming breakdowns – I’m sold!

I’m also curious to check out: Farao, The Pinkertons, Intertwine, Jaga Jazzist, Susanne Sundfor, Lugn and lots more.

Sammy Jones - Crack Magazine

Jenny Hval
Aw yeah, it’s Jenny again. We had her newest one, Apocalypse, girl, on in the office loads when it came out and my favourite bit was when she sweetly sang “a million bedrooms with hands softly lulling our divine cocks and cunts” in That Battle is Over and everyone looked at each other as if to say “what is this? This is great.” We’ve also had her in for a feature and she picked her top five karaoke songs for us, so it’s probably safe to say we love her. Yeah.

Drippin
Here’s another act we’ve covered a bit already. Drippin is definitely one to watch, and I personally will be going wild to his set at half four in the afternoon. You can in read in way more detail why I like him so much over here.

Anna of the North
Is there a comparable earworm to Sway on this list? Doubtful. It’s probably silly to go and see a whole set off the back of one pop-perfect synth-swathed spacey little song, but I will be. So there.

Snasen
Like Mount Kimbie, but with less field recordings and more attitude and rattly things.

Chain Wallet
This band make me want to flounce around yearning for something without a name with my hair all stuck up and my face painted in way, way too much red lippy. Yes, you got it, they sound like The Cure. Loads. In a good way.

Will Street - Sony Music / Chess Club

Susanne Sundfore
I’ve been a fan of Susanne’s for a short while now although I have never been able to see her live when she’s been in the UK. Looking forward to putting that right at Oya. Her weet pop melodies and catchy choruses got me hooked.

Anna Of The North
I first heard Anna’s track Sway last year and was immediately hooked by her interesting production techniques. She’s at the top of my list of things to see.

Farao
Farao is someone who I have seen perform before and I have always found her mesmerising and captivating to watch. Looking forward to seeing new material at Oya.

Drippin
This guys drops some seriously sick minimalist trap beats. Looking forward to getting loose to this into the early hours.

Smerz
I was going through the line up trying to find some hidden gems and these guys really stuck out as an interesting group. I know literally nothing about them but their track ‘Move’ has me intrigued. They look like a couple of badasses too!

Ben Blackburn - Hometown Records

Susanne Sundfor
One of my all time favourite Norwegian artists, incredible vocalist and superb performer.

Drippin
Cashmere Cat approved, Drippin’s debut EP Silvercloak was one of my favourite releases of 2014.

Bendik
Bold, vibrant pop music that demands to be seen live.

Andre Bratten
Dark, spacious electronic production that is gilt edged with a level of infectiousness. Can’t wait to catch it live.

Smerz
Bizarre and brilliant in equal measure, the glitchy production and smooth vocal elements of Smerz make it all the more intriguing.

Maz - Communion / XFM

Team Me
Definitely looking forward to watching this band live. Very uplifting, fast paced with the sort of energy I imagine Arcade Fire bring to their live sets.

Susanne Sundfor
Possibly one of the best Norwegian electronic artists I’ve heard. Haunting vocals and pulsating beats.

Bendik
Brilliant euphoric music. She may sing in her native language but you can’t deny the brilliant production on her tracks.

Jenny Hval
A slight Laura Marling-esque beautiful vocal, smart instrumentation in the songs. Looking forward to this one.

Omvr
Reminds of Rudimental / Years and Years which is huge in the UK at the moment. Interesting to see how they play this live.

Laura Martin - Real Life PR

Torske
Love this d.i.s.c.o full of lush strings and big horns, feels like Studio 54. This would keep me on the dancefloor for a long time. At least 15 minutes!

Susanne Sundfør
Her vocals is beautiful but raspy, it’s a massive pop tune. Makes me think of the Top Gun soundtrack. In a good way.

Razika
They encapsulate everything that’s good about girl groups. All the cool kids in Norway wear Razika jumpers.

Bendik
No idea what she’s singing about but it’s dark, moody, theatrical and melodic and I like it. Hopefully she’s not singing about Primark or McDonalds.

Jenny Hval
A true original and a unique voice. I saw her play two years ago around midnight, in the dark, lit up only by candles. She had me hook, line and sinker.

Robbie Wojciechowski - The Line Of Best Fit

Jaga Jazzist
I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for anything signed to Ninjatune, but Jaga Jazzist have been making cracking records on the South-London label for years. What’s gorgeous about them, is how they pair soft touches of jazz, with the label’s trademark bright electronica. Not only do Jaga Jazzist sound dark – but they have the same wholesome energy of any full-fronted festival band.

Møster
You know I’m not even sure why I dig Møster – technically, it’s bloody awful, but there’s something about them that just captures the imagination. I’m not usually a fan of heavy guitars – but Møster sound like they’re climbing into the darkest pits of this very world, and rescuing from them some sense that live music can still be transformative. Who knows, we’ll have to see.

Chain Wallet
Chain Wallet sound a little like they should’ve spawned from Manchester’s Factory music scene in the mid-80’s. Albeit a version of Factory where they’re all about light-hearted indie pop ballads. Despite that there’s still something really spaced-out in their music, and it’s that that makes it enjoyable. Not bad from a 20-something three-piece from Bergen.

Drape
Drape do something very cool – and I’m not even sure I can put my finger on what it is – but either way the music of this Norwegian five-piece floats by in it’s own blissful harmony. Their debut album, entitled Canicular Days promises a mix of Tame Impala and My Bloody Valentine – I’d call it dirty shoegaze, but it’s still well worth a listen.

Kimichi
We all seem to have fallen in love with Todd Terje recently. But there’s no questioning why – it’s because he makes funky-as-hell grooves, that you can’t help but dance to. The same is true of Oslo-based DJ Kimichi, who’s cheeky moustache and Norwegian background makes you wonder whether he really is just Terje in disguise.

Other stuff I quite liked: Lit City Trax, Apothek, House Of Telle, Aiming For Enrike, Snasen, Krakow and Sister Rain.

Lindsey Kronmiller - Merge Records

Sondre Lerche
I’ve been a fan since “Faces Down” came to my college radio station. Excited to finally see him play!

Jenny Hval
Everything I read about Jenny Hval makes me more interested to see this set.

Broen
They sound like the perfect “sunny afternoon at a festival” band.

Razika
Super fun songs that remind me not to take everything too seriously.

Dråpe
Their bright/dreamy notes are so welcoming amidst the backdrop of shoegaze, it seems the perfect fit for Øya.

Sasha Geffen - Consequence of Sound

Slutface
How can you not love an all-girl pop punk band called Slutface?

Jenny Hval
Her last album proved that she’s got more than a few tricks up her sleeve, and I’ve heard she’s killer live.

Krakow
These guys remind me of a more metal Radio Dept., which is not something I thought I’d ever say about a band.

Susanne Sundfor
I’ve heard great things about her most recent album, 10 Love Songs, and she’s got such a commanding voice.

Sondre Lerche
He’s one of Norway’s most consistently visible exports who never seems to put out a bad album.

Vincent Lepinette - Blogoteque (France)

Silja Sol
Her På Hjertert debut LP swirls amazingly from one style to another and, as its tittle suggests, literally reaches the heart ; her voice is as intense and kaleidoscopic as her personality ; something like a mystic inner energy flows under every single words she sings, melted with an all-in-restraint emotion that gives me goosebumps.

Bendik
If I had to turn Oslo – or any capital of our western world – into music, I would have played Bendik’s. A blend of melancholy, loneliness and hope that makes me want to drive all night on urban freeways. Silje Halstensen/Bendik creates huge waves of ecstatic sounds where you can feel lost while meeting beauty.

Smerz
I’m really nosy to dive head first in their synth-pop. The only song I listened to so far (Move) sounds like vanishing perspectives framed into transcendentals vocals. Languid, seductive and as deeply ethereal as a first kiss.

Chain Wallet
They could be Jack Tatum’s (Wild Nothing) cousins and play a misty dream-pop tainted with sleepless nights and broken romances under a chiaroscuro’smidnight sun.

Honningbarna
‘Cause for them performing is quite the same as nailing into concrete walls with bare hands. Their energy has no limit. Of course the neighborhood might complain for disturbance of the peace at night. I won’t.

Keimpe - Subbacultcha!

Jenny Hval
Two months ago we had the honour to host a show with Jenny Hval in Amsterdam, and we were totally enchanted by her totally comprehensive live-show. Go see her, totally!

Antler
Sweet and crispy pop songs with playful Kate Bush-like vocals.

Snasen
Excellent electronics with a grimy quality that remind of Andy Stott.

Chain Wallet
Guitars drenched in chorus; ✓, uptempo drums; ✓, vocals with 80’s reverb; ✓, romantic post-punk at its best; ✓

Drape
Hazy popsongs that make me nostalgic.

Shruti Ganguly - Nylon Magazine

Susanne Sundfor
I kinda just want to dance by myself in a room full of mirrors, singing Fade Away out loud. There is this private reflection in her music that is simply beautiful.

Miss Tati
This is the type of music you would hear in a new Spike Lee joint, downtown and sun-filled.

Farao
Her music feels visceral and visual – images appear seamlessly in your mind from her songs.

Anna of the North
You’re transported into an enchanted forest with songs like Sway, and every tune is like a new revelation, musically and personally.

Team Me
You just end up in a good mood when you listen to their energy-filled tracks, and I’m looking forward to seeing them live!