EDVARD Prize to Fay Wildhagen

Fay Wildhagen is the winner of the 2016 EDVARD Prize in the Challenger category for "Into the woods".

 Fay Wildhagen released the album “Snow” in 2015. The album has impressed the jury of the EDVARD Prize, which is awarded to composers who have distinguished themselves in a very special way. The jury believes that the work “Into the Woods” in particular is in a class of its own. As the winner of the EDVARD Prize, Wildhagen will receive a stone trophy designed by Bruno Oldani, a diploma and kr 50 000.

She was awarded the award live on air by Ruben Gran on NRK P3 on December 21st. You can hear the segment here..

JURY'S REASONING:
"In June 2015, the young Bærum artist and songwriter Fay Hau Wildhagen released her debut album "Snow", and there is something incredibly solid about the album. Her voice is full of emotion, her guitar playing is impressive and imaginative, and the composer in her shows clear ambitions. Despite her young age, she has a personal and solid expression.

"Into the woods" is delicate, vulnerable and poetic in its expression. In the text, Fay Wildhagen describes the chase and the effort ("Don't worry about the wind chasing the sea"), and urges to take it easy ("Breath out breath in… listen to the trees caught by the wind"), and at the same time extends a helping hand ("take my hand.. and I'll take you home"). She conveys the text with an intense presence that makes you believe every word she utters.

The melody is simple and melancholic, and increases in intensity with instruments and choir, never boring in its simplicity. The last verse begins with the words "So, scream" and passes into total silence. Then only the voice continues - a simple means, and at the same time incredibly effective. It feels personal, strong and courageous.

Fay Wildhagen writes on her website: “My wish when I made this record was that it should be honest, human and deeply close, but also heavy and distant. It has been important to me that it is organic and breathing and that all the elements, every beat and every note, support the stories that are told and the pictures that I am trying to paint. The EDVARD jury concludes: “Mission accomplished.”

The EDVARD Prize:
The EDVARD Prize, named after Edvard Grieg, is a prize that TONO has awarded annually since 1998, and which is awarded to authors and composers who have created musical works and lyrics of high artistic quality. With the prize, TONO wants to increase attention to Norwegian composers and lyricists, and to increase Norwegians' understanding of and knowledge of newly written Norwegian music. The winner's music or lyrics must have been premiered or published in the previous year. Emphasis is also placed on the author's other production.

The 2016 EDVARD jury consisted of composers Nils Henrik Asheim (jury chairman), Arvid Wam Solvang, Claudia Scott, Rita Engedalen, Therese Birkeland Ulvo, and music publisher Jan Stefan Bengtsson..

For more information:
Janne Sievers, communications advisor at TONO, mobile 95760286, email: janne.sievers@tono.no