The Nordic Sound with Jameson Foster

Send us Fan Mail

And I thought it was hard coming up with a top 5 list in 2022! Little did I know that in 2023, Nordic musicians - Norwegians in particular - would go so hard that I'd be forced to expand it to a list of 10 this year just to feel like I can paint a meaningful picture of this year's Nordic music scene. 2023 was an incredible year to be the Nordic music guy, and I look forward to the years ahead, especially considering how many of the bands towards the top of this list are just getting started. 

So, without further ado, let's bid farewell to 2023 and show it our appreciation by revisiting 10 albums that showed Nordic music, and the Nordic sound, as a force to be reckoned with this year.

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

To offer at least something festive to the channel, the holiday season gives me the perfect excuse to talk about the legendary Norwegian vision poem Draumkvedet, which has inspired so much music for such an old poem. This is also a little experiment for testing out content that ties folklore and music together because the relationship between the two in Nordic music is just so intertwined that it can’t be ignored. 

Lastly, as a little easter egg, for those of you who have been around since the days of this being a classical music podcast, some very familiar names of Norwegian music history are going to come back around to emphasize the part they played in Nordic folklore and music history, featuring a wonderful piano sonata. So, let’s dive into Draumkvedet, or the Dream Poem, for a very pagan Christmas story

To look closer at the history of the poem: https://www.visittelemark.com/vest-telemark-museum/our-heritage/the-dream-poem

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

The November 2023 installment of "this monthish in Nordic music" is here with great music from Gåte, Mari Boine, Sigrid Moldestad, Sowulo, and Kalandra! Also, some more band announcements for Midgardsblot 2024!

Patreon.com/Nordicsoundchannel

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

Patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel

With this interview, I'm excited to introduce Noiduin as the first Finnish band to come onto the podcast! In this chat, Noiduin discusses their background as musicians, how Noiduin came to be (more romantic than one would expect!), and how Finnish folklore, rune singers, and witchcraft feed into the band's music.

Other finnish musicians/bands recommended by Jemina and Henri:
Nest
Tenhi
Ruumisto
Gói
Kallomäki
Karneh

Support Noiduin at:
noiduin.bandcamp.com

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

Reviews of new nordic music that came out in the last month (or a little bit more!) Let me know if this is a format to keep! Featuring: Myrkur, Mari Boine, Gjermund Larsen Trio, Tonskalv, and more!

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

patreon.com/nordicsoundchannel

Jameson had the opportunity at Midgardsblot to sit down with the wonderful witches of Mio to talk about how the band came to be how the magic happens with their music. Please go support this gem of Oslo's underground scene at mioofficial.bandcamp.com

This podcast is brought to you by the channel's dedicated and passionate patrons:
-Gen
-Colton
-Drake
-Carrie and Family
-Simon
-Cindy

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

Let's talk about vikings, heritage, modernity, and spirituality.

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

[This episode is a test for putting other types of content from youtube onto the podcast beyond interviews.]

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

Benny Braaten and Gustav Holberg of Folket Bortafor Nordavinden join me in this very special interview to talk about the origins of the Midgardsblot opening ritual and what to expect from it if it's your first time going. More importantly, though, Benny and Gustav open up about what they believe makes drumming so special compared to other ways we make music, how important rhythm is to the human experience, and why it speaks so powerfully to people who get to experience such rituals and drum circles in person. If you're interested in the spiritual, social, and personal sides of what making music is all about, then this one's for you - especially if you're an aspiring musician!

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

Send us Fan Mail

Patreon.com/baldskald

Jesper Gräs, guitarist of IOTUNN joined the channel to talk about the importance of being open to different styles of music, not boxing yourself in as a musician, and of course, the story of Iotunn and how the band came to be.

Support the show

The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/jamesonfoster

Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony

You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound