Selma French (Bolstad) is well known in the Norwegian folk scene although this is her first appearance in these pages.
Her music is widely recognised in Norway and has recently featured as the theme song in the hit TV series Furia.
She’s a member of several bands including Frøkedal & Familien, which I once knew quite well but have had little contact with recently but that connection alone marks her out as worth listening to.
Indeed Frøkedal is one of her inspirations along with an eclectic crowd that also includes Nick Drake, Susanne Sundfør and Sandy Denny.
With one (2022) album behind her another is on the way, ‘No Sign of Rotten Leaves’, in late April 2025 and this, ‘I think I knew’, is the first single from it.
The press release tells me her music is infused with enigmatic energy and you can say that again.
I don’t really know how to classify her. ‘I think I knew’ starts out as roughly devised jangly, around the campfire, guitar chords that sound like they’ve been recorded in a bathroom and supporting a ballad replete with soul.
It isn’t long before a panoply of instrumentation joins the fray including screaming guitars and it turns into a veritable rocker, with strong shades of psych thrown in for good music, while retaining the underlying acoustic guitar theme from beginning to end.
There’s an expansive guitar solo as well towards the end, with much shredding. I’m not sure it was necessary but it creates a good moment for those that are into that sort of thing.
Vocally, while I don’t hear any of her inspirations I do hear the likes of Alela Diana and ex-Trembling Bells front woman Lavinia Blackwall and that is high praise indeed. She can raise and drop the volume and the pitch with ease.
Lyrically, I can’t comment. There is so much going on that I found it difficult to pick out many of the words but that’s just my ageing ears I suppose.
All-in, I’m impressed and look forward to hearing more on the album.
She’s touring the UK right now, with Euros Childs, and I just missed her. She plays these three remaining dates:
13.12 Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach
14.12 Bristol – The Exchange
15.12 London – The Lexington
Find her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selma.bolstad (private account)
X/Twitter: https://x.com/selmafrench_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selmafrench/
Image: Eirik Havnes.
