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Nordic Music Central Viking Hero

Virvel (Denmark/Sweden) – Strandens Morgengry (single)

You know by now that there’s never a dull moment with Nordic Music Central. Tonight we have an artist who is Danish-Swedish and who sings in both languages. But not on the same song mercifully. That would have TV ‘Scandi Noir’ stamped through it.

Her debut song was in Swedish and this time she’s opted for Danish, with ‘Strandens Morgengry’ which sounds like it should be a place in Lord of the Rings or Camelot but which more prosaically means ‘The Beach’s Dawn’.

Virvel, which translates as ‘Whirl’ or ‘Swirl’, is Andrea Kjær Blomquist, a 23-year old who has written here a love letter to her hometown that reflects the homesickness that can arise when you’re far from your roots.

She ponders about how sometimes you need to travel far from home truly to find your way back—and to discover what really matters in life.

There’s a distinct market for that; we’ve just about all been there at one time or another and songs like this can appeal to those that are still stuck in that predicament as much as those that can look back on it without anger. Smart thinking, as Donald might say.

I’m always attracted to female singing voices that are both delicate and powerful at the same time, indicating that this sweet, very feminine sister can take care of herself, thank you very much. One of the best examples I found of that last year was in the Swede Maliika, who featured in the ‘Songs of the Year’ post in December and whom Virvel channels very nicely.

She mixes her styles nicely as well. What is fundamentally a folk-pop number is enhanced by an intriguing early piano and string bridge, changes of pace and energy, some jazzy piano and in the outro something that sounds quite proggy before she goes full circle back to the opening gambit.

It’s a very well constructed song with something for everyone.

Vocally she reminds me of two people. Firstly, S10, the Dutch singer whose 2022 Eurovision entry ‘De Diepte’ really should have won it. The emotions spoke for themselves whatever the language, as they do here.

And secondly, Nena at the end of ’99 Red Balloons’.

Yep, she’s that good.

But she’ll have to work harder on her impersonation of The Little Mermaid.

The band:

Albert Ivarsen (drums), Sebastian Christiansen (Contrabass guitar), Mads Dahl (piano), Silja Frej Møller (cello).

Find her on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559611385284

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