Øya Festival: Norwegian Acts Top Fives

Delegates to this week's ace Oslo festival pick out their five must-see Norwegian acts

With the excellent Øya Festival starting today, we asked some of the journalists, label folk and festival bookers heading to Oslo, including tQ’s own John Doran, to pick out their top five Norwegian acts appearing at the festival alongside Kraftwerk, The Knife, Wu-Tang Clan and others. Have a look at their tips below and stay tuned to the site for further coverage of Øya:

John Doran – The Quietus

ONE: Shining

TWO: Deathcrush

THREE: Jenny Hval

FOUR: Okkultokrati

FIVE: Kvelertak

Charles Damga – Warp Records US & Boiler Room

ONE: Todd Terje – Beyond the name, he’s making some of the most innovative, backward-yet-forward looking music I’ve heard. Love Terje and his team

TWO: Cashmere Cat – A lot of people are taking interest in America. I’ve been listening closely; what he’s managed to do so far makes him a favourite, but I’m anxiously anticipating what choices he makes to stand out in the future

THREE: Nils Bech – Suspenseful, melodic songs like only a Norwegian can produce

FOUR: Finnebassen – Seems like another great example of Oslo’s dance scene, looking forward to hearing this in the homeland

FIVE: André Bratten – Very bright rising star, below the radar but quite exciting to watch grow. Standing on the shoulders of some of the guys above – I can only imagine the heights or direction he’ll go

Victoria Ree – Gold Dust/Polydor

ONE: Mikhael Paskalev

TWO: Truls

THREE: Comet Kid

FOUR: Mmm

FIVE: Thea & The Wild

Anna Wood – MOJO

ONE: Blood Tsunami (and Kvelertak, and Haraball, and Okkultokrati). Because, just as I want to eat some proper ice cream when I’m in Italy, I want to hear some proper CLEANSING RAGE NOISE when I’m in Norway. And because I like to imagine they are named after a really heavy period

TWO: Razika – Joyful, guileless singing-in-Norwegian ska-guitar-pop. I saw them at The Lexington two years ago and they were ace. I am betting that they have got even acer since then

THREE: Snasen – This man’s spooky, synthy, squelchy music makes me imagine rave monsters emerging gingerly from moonlit woods outside Oslo. Live it will either be a bit underwhelming or a beautiful brain massage

FOUR: Thea & The Wild – They remind me of The Go-Gos and The Cure. And a summery sing-along chorus that goes, “Babe, I got the hots for you”, is not something to be missed at a festival

FIVE: Jenny Hval – Her songs really interest me, but they require a leap of faith that I haven’t quite taken yet. So maybe I’ll take it this weekend

Brian Johnston – Atlantic/APG

ONE: Cashmere Cat – I know Magnus previously, amazing producer/DJ. Makes some really quirky material. Excited to finally meet him and see him do this thing

TWO: Kid Astray – First time coming across them. Sound like seasoned songwriters, fantastic chord progressions in the lone song I’ve heard, etc. Excited to see them

THREE: Ine Hoem – First time also hearing Ine, solid song… fantastic phrasing. Excited to hear what else she has up her sleeve

FOUR: The Good, The Bad And The Zugly – I grew up playing in hardcore/punk bands, these guys sound like they put on a fun show

FIVE: Haraball – Sound like some of my favourite bands of all time: Negative Approach, SSD, Poison Idea, Minor Threat, etc…. Good stuff

Jonathan Wickstead – Now Wave

ONE: Todd Terje – ‘Inspector Norse’ and new track ‘Strandbar’ are two of my favourite disco songs at the moment

TWO: Cashmere Cat – His music is so much fun and encompasses many different genres, something that really appeals to me

THREE: Heyerdahl – I like what I’ve heard from them, looking forward to seeing what it’s like live

FOUR: Hvitmalt Gjerde – These sound like they will be a fun live band, will check them out for sure!

FIVE: Comet Kid – Nice voice and arrangements on the songs I have heard

Adam Zacks – Sasquatch! Festival

ONE: Rebekka Karijord

TWO: Nosizwe

THREE: Heyerdahl

FOUR: Mathias Stubø

FIVE: Mmm

Ethan Berlin – Red Ryder Entertainment

ONE: Todd Terje

TWO: Jenny Hval

THREE: Andre Bratten

FOUR: LoveLoveLove

FIVE: Carmen Villain 

Artur Rojek – Off Festival

ONE: Dråpe

TWO: Jenny Hval

THREE: Therese Aune

FOUR: Bow To Each Other

FIVE: Philco Fiction

Jon Dunn – Parallellines

ONE: Mikhael Paskalev

TWO: Philco Fiction

THREE: Bow To Each Other

FOUR: Deathcrush

FIVE: Sandra Kolstad

Simon Jones  – AEG

ONE: Angelica’s Elegy

TWO: Thea & The Wild

THREE: Mmm

FOUR: Rebekka Karijord

FIVE: Mikael Paskalev

Justus Mang – Melt! Festival

ONE: Cashmere Cat

TWO: Truls

THREE: Mikael Paskalev

FOUR: Andre Bratten

FIVE: Dråpe 

Nina Scholz – Interview Magazine

ONE: Atlanter

TWO: Deathcrush

THREE: Jenny Hval

FOUR: Carmen Villain

FIVE: Nils Bech

Ryan Murphy – Astralwerks Records

ONE: Lemaitre – An amazing blend of great songwriting with electronic dance elements and indie rock undertones

TWO: Kid Astray – Dynamic pop rock hooks with great use of vocal harmonies which create a familiar uniqueness

THREE: Todd Terje – Electronic music that can make even a non-dancer bob their head and move their feet

FOUR: Kvelertak – Powerful rock that hits just as hard live as on the album

FIVE: Thea & The Wild – A distinct voice that drives catchy rock n roll music

Graham Williams – FunFunFest and Mohawk

I couldn’t just pick 5! I know Kverlatak and Cashmere Cat and knew a few others by name, but am excited to see live:

Kverlatak

Blood Command

Andre Bratten

Cashmere Cat

Haraball

Bow To Each Other

Death By Unga Bunga

LoveLoveLove

Philco Fiction

Tomorrow We Move To Hawaii

Proviant Audio

Mona & Maria

The Good, The Bad And The Zugly

Skadne Krek

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