Wardruna is a Norwegian music constellation dedicated to weaving together the ancient sounds and traditions of the North into a modern soundscape using a broad selection of both traditional and historical Nordic instruments. The band utilises non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound such as trees, stones, bones, water and fire to enhance the nature of the theme being ‘portrayed’ in each case.
Over five previous albums, Wardruna have captivated audiences on a global scale with the sheer majesty of their music, breathing life into tradition by way of sonic inspiration like never before. For album number six, Birna, Wardruna - particularly main composer Einar Selvik - chose to focus on the bear, an animal which has great power and respect amongst many societies, including Norwegian.
HEAVY spent some time with Selvik to speak about Birna, which will be released on January 24, 2025, and Wardruna's debut Australian visit that same month.
"It's a musical project dedicated to creating music using a wide selection of the oldest instruments we have from predominantly the Nordic region," he explained of the band. "It's not recreating music from any specific time period, it's more about taking something old and creating something new with it. We just finished up in studio hibernation, finishing our sixth studio album entitled Birna - Birna meaning she bear. It is set for release in January next year, so basically when we are Down Under!"
In the full interview, we discussed Birna in greater detail, including the cultural and historical significance of the bear in various societies. Selvik explained that bears often play a significant role in myths and traditions, being seen as teachers, wardens, or shepherds of the woodlands. Einar also mentioned that bears are associated with celestial beings, such as the Greek star sign named after the bear.
We spoke about the different instruments used and their impact on the music, blending ancient ideologies and instruments with modern soundscapes, the live DVD/Blu-Ray release from the world heritage site Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis, Athens, touring Australia for the first time, what we can expect and more.