Valkyrien Allstars - To måner

It’s almost been two years since Valkyrien Allstars got amazing reviews of their first album. Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen, Erik Sollid og Ola Hilmen have, together with band members Martin Langlie and Magnus Larsen, moved forward on their distinctive sound and brought themselves into new parts of folk music and to a new experimental course.

“To Måner” is the name of the new album, and are inspired by Norwegian authors like Olav H.Hauge, Halldis Moren Vesaas, Henrik Ibsen and André Bjerke.

The music on this record is probably more lyrical then what it was on the first album, but it also fills a lot of the energy and playfulness that Valkyrien Allstars has as their trademark. Instrumentally is still dominated by the Harding fiddle, drums, bass and vocal. Tuva’s voice is naturally central, but Erik and Ola are more and more often brought in to the vocal harmony.

Valkyrien Allstars want to strengthen their uniqueness as established folk music artist with this record, but improvisation and mix of other musikal directions are all the way distinct. 

The artist has for a long time showed that the music doesn’t have to be clean and pretty – it can kick so you really feel it deep inside. Hopefully “To Måner” would please both the quiet-mannered listeners and the dancers. 

The record contains 12 tracks and the cover has every lyric. This summer two singles have been played on radio-stations all over the country – “Sommernatts drøm” and “Drømte vi om mer”.

This fall and winter it would be held a tour in both Norway and Japan, and many big and small official and private concerts.

Valkyrien Allstars Biography:

The Valkyrien Allstars is a Norwegian folk-music group consisting of three youths in their mid twenties - Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen, Ola Hilmen and Erik Sollid. They play the national instrument the Hardanger Fiddle and are also singing - with the only girl in the group featuring as their leading vocal. The Valkyrien Allstars has existed since 2002, but they have been practicing as musicians since they were youngsters. Magnus Larsen (bass) and Martin Langlie (drums) - completes the Valkyrien Allstars Band.

Their music is based on traditional Norwegian tunes, but they have given the sound a new dimension and created pieces of music that gives them a more modern and international sound. They enjoy experimenting with music from other categories and cultures. In this way they succeed in bringing folk music further ahead and can be reckoned as avant-garde in their field. The vocal gives it all a further dimension and their way of singing is also much based on original song-tradition in Norway

The Valkyrien Allstars has been awarded the first GRAPPA price for newcomers and their first CD-recording was nominated to the Norwegian record award “Spellemannprisen” for 2007. They were also voted into the final of the Norwegian Broadcasting/NRKs music-competition “Kjempesjansen”.  In September 2008 “Folkelarm” awarded them “the Folk Music Artist of the year” in Norway

During the last years they have given concerts all our Norway and visited Ireland, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, Russia and Ukraine. In December 2009 they are invited for a Japan-tour.

It is often said that music is a live activity that should be seen performed and not only listened to. The truth of this assertion is very much proven when attending a concert by the Valkyrien Allstars. Music has no boarder or age – only the simplicity of an open mind.