Elin Furubotn
Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway
Music
Press
With this album Elin Furubotn confirms her level as one of the most exiting artists within Norwegian contemporary jazz.
The genre Jazz music seems a bit restricting or too limiting for this album, because Elin Furubotn uses elements from several genres.
She is melodious and makes you relax and enjoy.
There is something consistent and pleasant about the expression and a great harmony between her voice and the arrangements. The musicians Karl Seglem, Morten Mølster, Gjermund Silseth, Helge Andreas Norbakken, David Wallumrød, Truls Birkeland, Gunhild Seim and Mats Urdahl-Aasen are communicating ideally with the singer, guitarist and cellist Elin Furubotn. - Norwegian newspaper “Gudbrandsdølen”
Beautiful and pleasant tones belonging in a blend of folk, pop and Crossover Jazz from Elin Furubotn. Her soft vocals will melt the listener who becomes captivated of the atmosphere from her latest album.
This is quality jazz recognisable for experts of the trade. - Norwegian Newspaper "Moss Avis"
Elin Furubotn is evolving as a folk musician. The music and lyrics seem to flow effortlessly, without compromising the quality. The songs are confident, yet at the same time she has maintained the naked and frail quality that made her songs worth listening to in the first place.
Solid musicians
In addition to Seglem, she is backed by a solid team of musicians: Morten Mølster (guitar), Gjermund Silseth (bass), Helge Andreas Norbakken (percussion), David Wallumrød (piano), Truls Birkeland (accordion), Gunhild Seim (trumpet) and Mats Urdahl-Aasen (euphonium). Elin herself plays guitar and cello in addition to singing. All the songs are her own.
English bonus
The lyrics are printed in both Norwegian and English in the booklet, emphasizing that this is more than a local release. Two bonus tracks are also sung in English. “Helt nye vei” has become “New path”, and “Eg ser du leite” has been translated into “I see you looking”. The music is the same, and the result shows that the songs work just as well in English. “Eg ser du leite”/”I see you looking” sounds very sweet in Elin’s own dialect and mother tongue, but the song is still good when the lyrics are transformed into “winds of redemption will blow/caressing me as I go”. Judging by the thank you note in the booklet, a lot of effort has gone into making sure the songs sound good in a second language.
German company
Furthermore, the record company is German this time, and on her website the lyrics are also translated into German. Elin Furubotn is now international artist. Truls Birkeland has produced the album, along with Elin herself. The production becomes her, especially with a little more meat on the bones. The record is miles away from rock, but the songs possess a quiet heaviness that suits her. Her voice has always been good, but never as good as this.
The big and the small
Lyrically, the songs encompass both the big things and the little things in life – from finding a whole new path in the title track, to everyday bickering in “Du vet godt ka eg e sure for”. With this album, Elin Furubotn has taken a huge leap, and it is a leap in the right direction.
Highlights: “Akkurat det som e nå”, “Eg ser du leite”, “Slepp tvilen fri. - Norwegian Newspaper "Aftenbladet"
Songs which are both playful and jazzy. Her new songs possess a quiet heaviness, and the intimate atmosphere encompasses both the little things and the big things in life. Her thoughts are presented in a simple, sauntering manner, hitting you right where they are supposed to. - Norwegian Newspaper "Aftenposten".
About 40 years after Elin Furubotn had her debut playing the harp at the local meeting house at Tonstad, her fifth album “Brand New Path” hit the shelves. A semi-acoustic collection of her songs, at the borderline between styles of folk, pop and jazz music, where her distinct and characteristic voice sneaks in on top of the music coming from musician authorities like Karl Seglem (Saxophone), Gjermund Silset (bass guitar) and David Wallumrød (piano).
The playful and quite simple comp, arranged by Truls Birkeland, emphasizes the lyrics about relations to our own thoughts and feelings, and how they influence us and the people we socialise with.
As gentle put as the music itself, and as effective for the listener that will give the songs the time and concentration they deserve. - Norwegian Newspaper "Vårt Land"
Kann man mit norwegisch gesungenen Texten auch international erfolgreich sein? Man, besser gesagt: Frau kann! Elin Furubotn beweist, wie es geht.
Zuerst ist da dieses Saxophon, leise, brüchig, etwas verloren im Hintergrund, doch unendlich eindringlich und zärtlich. Dann kommt der Klang einer akustischen Gitarre hinzu und die Stimme. Diese Stimme gehört Elin Furubotn, sie ist klar und sie prägt sich sofort ein. Mehr braucht es auch nicht, und man ist – lalala – in einer anderen Welt, in der vieles gar nicht so lalala ist. Jazziger Folk-Pop, der auch mal rockige Anklänge hat, dringt ans Ohr und unter die Haut. „Heilt Nye Vei“ hat die Norwegerin ihr Album genannt, ein „ganz neuer Weg“, und den beschreitet Elin Furubotn auch mit diesem, ihrem ersten internationalen Album nach vier nationalen. „Heilt Nye Vei“ ist träumerische Verspieltheit in einer manchmal zu realen Welt. Furubotns Stimme betört, schmeichelt, pendelt zwischen mädchenhaft und fraulich. Sie hinterlässt Eindruck und Spuren in der Seele wie Fußabdrücke im Sand. Diese CD ist leicht wie eine Feder und doch ein ziemliches Schwergewicht. Die Musik darauf öffnet das Herz und lässt die Alltagssorgen vergessen, zumindest für eine Weile. Ein beeindruckendes Statement einer ganz besonderen Künstlerin. - Jazz on Blog!
Norwegian National Radio gave Elin’s latest album “Heilt Nye Vei”
(Brand new path) a strong 8 out of 10 points! - NRK
Porten.no
Elin Furubotn and Karl Seglem looked like they were enjoying themselves behind the microphones. We got a beautiful mix of songs accompanied with goat’s horn, saxophone and guitar in Øvre Årdal last night. The audience had a fantastic evening and the time passed all to quickly. Seglem is a dynamic artist and there was never a dull moment as we sat there captivated, with surprise after surprise.
- porten.no
A dice throw 5
“The duo suits her. The repertoire was from her latest CD "Ein tanke unna" (A thought away) this is an excellent album, but she is even better on stage and tells us little storys inbetween each song giving each that extra special lift. Furubotn sings with genuine conviction and warmth.”
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- Newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad 18.05.2010
Discography
1999 - Tikk Takk (MTG)
2006 - Villhund (Tylden)
2008 - Det som e nå (KKV)
2009 - Ein tanke unna (KKV)
2012- Heilt nye vei (Ozella)
Photos
Bio
Skiing in the winter and picking baskets of blueberries in the autumn was all part of Elins childhood. Music was an important part of her growing up with her two sisters, always singing in the small mountain village of Tonstad. Her mother taught her to play guitar at the age of 10. Surrounded on all sides by the high mountains of Sirdal, it was here in the valley by the river she started her first band, playing bass and singing with 3 other girls.
Today Elin is an accomplished singer accompanying herself on an acoustic nylon-stringed guitar. With her sharp musical sense and her sweet harmonies her refreshing style is likened to a carefree spring breeze.
Dividing her time between her two homes in Stavanger and Oslo it is often here by the fireside she can composes and writes her music. Her lyrics are often about little peculiar everyday things, the small events and situations that make everyday life important. Subtle tales of life observed filled with little gems of wisdom. This is life as we can see it if we just take the time to stop and reflect. She gives us lovely melodies that take us away from the noisy streets of the city’s theater to a place where you can feel and breathe, as she would have say. Her music can be quiet and thought provoking and at times with a strong rhythmic pulse.
With years of experience as a performer touring up and down Norway and a bag full of songs to her credit her latest album, "Heilt nye vei" ("Brand new path") will be her fifth solo album. The last two albums were released on the renowned Norwegian record label Kirkelig Kulturverksted (KKv).
"Heilt nye vei" will be released on German record company Ozella (http://www.ozellamusic.com), this will be her first release outside Scandinavia aimed at the German and European market. The new album produced by veteran Truls Birkeland has Elin working with a superb band of established Norwegian musicians. The German release features two English tracks and all lyrics have been translated into to both German and English for the CD booklet.
DUO CONCERTS WITH KARL SEGLEM
An exciting concert collaboration with Norwegian jazz virtuoso Karl Seglem has also resulted in a new sound and expression.
Karl Seglem is a Norwegian tenor saxophonist who also plays on a natural goat horn, a true composer, producer and poet. Called one of Norway´s foremost musicians, Seglem has worked extensively with musicians from all over the world and his unique sound has won many acclaimed prizes and awards. The combination of Elin and Seglem is inspiring and spacious. With Seglems use of Norwegian traditional music as a starting point and Elin´s melodic songs together they have created new beautiful music.
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