Susanna’s next album, Go Dig My Grave, will see her reworking a number of other people’s songs taking in old folk ballads as well as modern classics. Above, you can exclusively stream the album’s title track which features Giovanna Pessi, Ida Hidle and Tuva Syvertsen who appear across the album.
‘Go Dig My Grave’ is a traditional folk song by Jean Ritchie. "During my trips to the States over the past years I have picked various Folkways records (which is an incredible label) and I have been able to discover some old songs," Susanna says of her discovery of the track. She adds that amongst her favourite albums are those by Jean Ritchie.
"When I heard the song I knew immediately that I wanted to sing it, I was struck by the presence in her singing and the tragic story to the song. It took a while to make my own version of it though, to find the right way to present it."
Speaking about the album, Susanna says: "I am attracted to the sad songs, and how people have used music throughout the years; it feels like they use songs and singing as a way of processing and dealing with of the difficult times in their lives."
During the recording of the album, Susanna formed a new quartet in order to develop the tracks with different instruments and musicians. Ida Løvli Hidle is an accordion player while folk singer Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen was also enlisted to add vocals. Susanna and harpist Giovanna Pessi round out the quartet.
Go Dig My Grave is released February 9 via Susanna’s own SusannaSonata label. Susanna is playing the Oslo World festival this Sunday (November 5). For more information, head here.
