Highasakite

“Beautiful music from Highasakite at Øya Festival. Holy shit this was a crazy band! I loved it!” - Bon Iver

“Finally it was Norway's Highasakite who dressed the stage in lights and feathers and whose music was equally adorned with extras, like autoharp and coronet. But unlike, say the grand drama of Of Monsters and Men, the songs stayed more in the pop realm, like on "Son of a Bitch" from their new EP. That's a far more appealing sound to these ears.” - Brooklyn Vegan

“The selection showcases a band that, though technically tight, likes to spread out and stretch its strong melodies tent-like over top of sharp percussion and hazy guitars and synthesizers. Though the songs vary in their degrees of electro-pop, jazz, prog-rock and folk influences, they all have an epic, echoing resonance to them.” - CMJ

“An entrancing, exotic fusion of jazz, pop, folk and electronics, Highasakite are an empowering proposition.” - Clash Magazine

“Highasakite bridges the gap between sensible pop, progressive rock, and Norwegian folk music.” - Interview Magazine

“The Heron is very beautiful – at first, you only hear Helene’s voice and a little choir in the background; adding more and more instruments the song builds itself up marvelously. The songs are riddled with uncommon sounds, so, you may think this music comes from another universe.” - Nothing But Hope And Passion

“Highasakite, comprised of members Ingrid Helene Håvik, Trond Bersu and Øystein Skar have created a four-song dream-pop escape that recalls the music of Lykke Li, Neon Indian and Of Monsters and Men. With their infectious hooks, ethereal synths and confident vocals, the trio has positioned themselves as a band to watch.” - Paste Magazine

“Frontwoman Ingrid Helene Havik's clarion call soars above a din of tambourines, handclaps, and her loosely strummed zither sounds as carefree as sticking your head out an open window on the way to the beach.” - Pitchfork

“A quintessential heartbreak gem that’ll knock the air from your lungs, note by note.” - RCRD LBL

“Reality can be boring. Maybe that’s the logic behind indie pop quintet HIGHASAKITE‘s name. After all, they elevate common ground to the altitude of their sounds.” - Status Magazine

“They've already snagged a nomination for 'Best Newcomer' at the Norwegian Grammys, but this female-fronted band is about to break out in America in a big way. They garnered high praise at SXSW last month, and now they're hitting the summer concert circuit and hypnotizing fans across the country with their dreamy chillwave tunes.” - Teen Vogue

“Like that of fellow Scandinavian musicians Lykke Li and Niki & The Dove, the band’s sound is an ecstatic mix of pop melodies, exuberant instrumentation (led by Håvik’s harp and zither and Skar’s synths), and the angelic beauty of Håvik’s soaring vocals.” - Under the Radar Mag
- Various (Clash, Pitchfork etc)

EP / Single (UK reviews):

"One of the best Norwegian bands discovered at Øyafestivalen" – Pitchfork

Highasakite deliver a fresh and organic approach to their work and this first taster of their Highasakite EP (released August 20) is certainly an intriguing introduction. - The Line of Best Fit

Where does one harvest such rocketing synths, syrupy crashes, strings and woodwinds that sway and fall like dandelions in the wind? Surely the answers lie somewhere in the liner notes of Highasakite's “Indian Summer,” a quintessential heartbreak gem that’ll knock the air from your lungs, note by note. - RCRD LBL

The band are an intriguing proposition, matching blissful indie pop with electronic inflections to a rare sense of fantasy. - Clash Music

Their video is a thing of hazy loveliness. - NME.com

With their infectious hooks, ethereal synths and confident vocals, the trio has positioned themselves as a band to watch. - Paste Magazine



Album (Norwegian reviews):

With "All That Floats Will Rain" we might as well cancel the rest of the musical year. Highasakite's debut album is filled with 10 songs more beautiful and distinctive than the other, like falling stars from a blessed pop sky. No song on this album is redundant, it's all brilliantly brought to life. This, ladies and gentlemen, is pop music. Dagbladet (6/6)

A dream world filled with seductive sounds from another universe. Moss avis (6/6)

This summer's soundtrack. Highasakite's debut is a really strong album. Natt & Dag (5/6)

Cool elegance. Adresseavisa (5/6)

Sometimes she (singer Ingrid Helene Håvik) sounds like Nancy Sinatra on steroids, especially when the band flirts with the 60s and Phil Spector's thunderous pop sounds. Aftenposten (5/6)

Enchantingly unpredictable, jubilant indie pop hypnosis. VG (5/6)

Norwegian debut album of the year? Well, you've got to make an extremely good record to top this one. Stavanger Aftenblad (5/6)

…one of the most recognizable voices in the country. Gaffa (5/6)

Newcomer of the year? Gudbrandsdalen Dagningen (5/6)

Intelligent and honest lyrics mixed with music influenced by indie, art pop, electronica, hip hop and African music. Highasakite dare where others hesitate. Bergensavisen (5/6)

Brilliant indie pop. Hamar arbeiderblad (5/6)

A wonderful debut album from the indie pop trio. Songs that make you stop and listen in admiration. Musikknyheter (8/10)
- Various

Bon Iver-approved, expansive indie rock lead by a frontwoman who plays zither. Weirdly obsessed with Native American imagery. They wore warpaint and headbands for their festival set, their instruments festooned with feathers and dreamcatchers. Their best song is unsurprisingly called "Indian Summer". - Pitchfork

It took me a minute to get past their faux-Indian garbs and war paint, but once I did they turned out to be one of the best Norwegian acts I saw all week.
(The 10 best moments of Oya Festival 2012)
- Paste Magazine

Highasakite is currently one of the most hyped bands in Norway. The indiepop trio are playing By:Larm in Oslo this week, and they are already booked to play the Øya festival in August. The song 'Indian Summer' is from their debut album All That Floats Will Rain (the international release date is not yet set). Intense and strong vocals, topped with African inspired drum beats. I immediately get Lykke Li vibes from the track, but Highasakite have brought their own unique twist to the electro pop sound. - The 405

With "All That Floats Will Rain" we might as well cancel the rest of the musical year. Highasakite's debut album is filled with 10 songs more beautiful and distinctive than the other, like falling stars from a blessed pop sky.

Behind the controls of this musical rocketship we find one of Norway's most exciting vocalists - Ingrid Helene Håvik - who along with drummer Trond Bersu and keyboardist Øystein Skar has created a delicious pop utopia.

The trio has already made themselves noticed on their own in bands like Your Headlights Are On, Pelbo and Sacred Harp, but all musical gods should be thanked, one by one, for bringing these three together as Highasakite.

No song on this album is redundant, it's all brilliantly brought to life. This, ladies and gentlemen, is pop music.
- Dagbladet - Norway