Norwegians listen to more country music than the rest of the Nordic countries. “The country music scene in Norway has never been healthier than it is today,” say Americana expert Tom Skjeklesæther and artist Malin Pettersen.
/ 04/12/2018 / Kristian DugstadText: Kristian Dugstad.
Photo above: Solveig Selj.
Country is one of the preferred music genres of one in five Norwegians. This is more than in our neighboring countries. This is shown by The Polaris Nordic Digital Music survey 2018. An annual survey on music habits in the Nordic region, conducted by YouGov on behalf of TONO and the other Nordic music management companies. While 21 percent of Norwegians state that country is among their favorite genres, the same figure for Sweden is 16 percent, and 13 percent in Denmark and Finland.
– Norwegians simply have better taste in music, laughs Tom Skjeklesæther jokingly. The Americana expert and music journalist emphasizes that he is joking, but maintains that country music is underestimated by many Norwegians. He believes there are several good explanations for why country music is particularly strong in Norway, and points to two possible historical reasons in particular.
– Norway has historically been more closely linked to the United States than our neighboring countries. Country music therefore gained a foothold in Norway, very early on. This is perhaps mainly due to two factors: emigration and shipping.
800,000 Norwegians left their homeland and emigrated between 1830 and 1920. Most of them ended up in America. Skjeklesæther believes this helped create the strong ties between Norway and the United States.
– Something like half of Norway's population traveled to the States. It probably affects our relationship with America, and American culture. But the Norwegian merchant fleet was at least as important in the post-war period, believes Skjeklesæther.
He says that it was very common for young men to go to sea in the second half of the 1900th century. They visited the "new world" and brought home impressions, goods, language and culture. They also brought records with them.
– I remember visiting some friends of my parents in the early 60s. The sons had both been to sea, and I will not forget the records with colorful pictures of Cowboys. Country music spread quickly here in Norway, and not surprisingly, Norwegians began to play the music themselves.
A great preacher for Norwegian country music is songwriter and artist Malin Pettersen. She is known from the band Lucky Lips and as a solo artist. Every Sunday she spreads the happy Americana message to Norwegian radio listeners, as a program host for Kåbbåi on NRK P13. She is convinced that there is more happening in Norwegian country now than ever before.
– Norwegian country and Americana is now in a period that is unlike anything it has ever experienced before. While those who were part of the previous wave in the 80s/90s are still active, new bands are emerging all the time. In terms of quality, it is so good that foreign countries are taking notice of them. Several Norwegian bands are being invited to music conferences in Nashville, for example. Now Norway is being seen!
Pettersen is herself nominated for The Ameripolitan Awards in the category Honky Tonk Female 2019. An awards ceremony in country music that takes place in Memphis, Tennessee in February. In other words, she has experienced the international attention. But it is not only abroad that Norwegians are noticed. There is great interest here at home too.
– In 2019, Oslo will finally get its own Country and Americana festival. Oslo Americana Weekend Interstate 19 has international stars on the bill, but it's great that there is a preponderance of Norwegian bands and artists.
In addition to Pettersen himself, TONO members Darling West, Ida Jenshus, and Torgeir Waldemar will play at the festival at the end of January.
It's no secret that country music has been associated with low culture by many. Despite its broad appeal, the music fell victim to music snobbery during its first wave of greatness, says Skjeklesæther. However, he believes that a change is taking place here.
– I mean I can see that country has been the subject of a musical reassessment. It is no longer problematic to be a Grünerløkka hipster in a country shirt and listen to Hank Williams. It wasn't like that in the 70s and 80s.
Malin Pettersen believes that both Norwegian musicians and audiences are beginning to understand how multifaceted the genre is. Country and Americana are words that represent a broad musical spectrum. She is keen to show that there is much more to it than what she describes as caricatured country.
– Even though the taste is like the butt, no one can say that something is more authentic country than another. The genre is as varied as jazz and pop music. I also try to show this through the radio program. But we artists must dare to call what we do Americana and country, without being afraid of a HarrystampThen we open up the genre and create greater breadth and understanding.
Despite the fact that Norwegian country music is experiencing strong growth today, Pettersen believes that there is still a way to go. The new bands need help to rise.
– Big international Americana stars like Jason Isbell can fill big venues in Norway. Norwegian Americana bands still play, most often, on small stages. The audience is there and the bands are there, they just need an arena where they can meet. They only do that if Norwegian concert organizers book Norwegian bands, and I think they are starting to get better at that.
For them to continue taking this risk, she believes it's important that the rest of the industry sees what's happening. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction to achieve results.
– That way, we in Norway can exploit the full potential of this fantastic situation we are in now!
The spectrum of Norwegian country music is as broad as ever, and at the same time the community is closer than ever, she says. People collaborate, write and play, across bands and artist careers. Norwegian country is a genre in development. Because as Tom Skjeklesæther says:
– Now more and more younger people are seeing the light.
Over 4000 interviews have been conducted in The Polaris Nordic Digital Music survey 2018. All participants are asked what their preferred music genres are. Although many trends are common, there are several national differences.
Some music genres have a larger following in Norway than in our three Nordic neighbors. In addition to country, this includes blues, folk, jazz, alternative & indie, and RnB and Urban.
Many more Finns and Swedes have hard rock and metal among their preferred genres. Finns are also far ahead in both rock and 90s music, while Swedes have a slight lead in classic rock. A full 55 percent of Danes say that pop music is a favorite. This is the highest in the Nordic region, compared to 53 percent in Finland and 47 percent in Sweden. The combined figure is 50 percent in Norway.
