SkarWorX is dead, all hail Øystein Skar!
Actually I don’t think it’s anything like as dramatic as that, certainly not in the Assad-HTS league, but it does appear that the SkarWorX project has been put aside at least for a while in favour of fresh work by the SkarMaster himself, Øystein Skar, and it’s on a new label too, Moderna Records, which trades as “a home for artists creating singular instrumental music.”
They’ll certainly give you a jab in the arm.
SkarWorX was essentially an experimental piano/electronic project, the last example of which was ‘Seed-X, Vol 3’ over 18 months ago.
With ‘Embla’ he focuses, solo, on his favourite instrument, the piano, and it is the first song he’s recorded and released himself – and the first time he’s released a song with only piano.
He goes on to describe this and the music to follow as “the most personal things I’ve ever made” – and says that the album that’s coming next year is about identity.
Askr and Embla, in Norse mythology, were the first man and first woman, respectively, parents of the human race. They were created from tree trunks found on the seashore by three gods—Odin and his two brothers, Vili and Ve.
I’m fairly confident that this is the same Embla to which Øystein refers although without any lyrics (he rarely uses them) I’ve nothing concrete to go on.
Classical piano was his first calling before jazz and experimental music and I interpret ‘Embla’ as falling within the first two categories as he appears to play a jazz-like motif with the left hand and a more classical melody with the right before branching out into a light, airy and fluttery final third that might suggest anything from a waterfall to nymphs frolicking. Settle down now.
It is a fascinating piece of music; I can honestly say I haven’t previously heard anything quite like it.
Øystein always has a surprise up his sleeve.
The album ‘Hem’ (Home) will be released next year. This track won’t be on it, it is released now as an early ‘bonus.’
Find him on:
Website: https://www.oysteinskar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000551982361
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oysteinskar/
