Norwegian world folk music act, Wardruna are set to release Kvitravn – First Flight Of The White Raven, on April 22 via via Music For Nations/Sony Music/ Columbia Germany/By Norse
In 2022, a year after the release of their critically acclaimed studio album Kvitravn and as a prelude to the forthcoming live dates (Australian shows tbc), Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven, includes the original studio album of 2021, plus a live audio release captured from their lauded, boundary-pushing virtual live experience originally broadcast online on March 26, 2021.
Released on January 22, 2021, Wardruna’s fifth studio album Kvitravn (which translates as “white raven”) scored numerous international chart entries, such as #1 in Austria, #1 in Canada (World Music), #2 in Germany, #2 in Switzerland, #3 in USA (Americana/Folk), #8 in Poland, #11 in Norway and #12 in Sweden, among many more.
In Australia the album debuted at #2 on Australian iTunes Main Chart & #1 on Australian World Music Chart!
Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven captures Wardruna’s special set list consisting of new songs from Kvitravn and fan favourites from across their discography. The 2CD and digital release features the Kvitravn album plus a second disc containing the full live experience, newly mastered, together with a new reworked layout featuring the iconic raven feathers, prevalent in Wardruna imagery, now in white.
Wardruna mastermind and vocalist, Einar Selvik says of the release: “First Flight Of The White Raven is an audio-visual, live-in-studio recording that was originally broadcasted online, being the release show of the Kvitravn album. It was recorded in a time when it was not allowed to be performed in front of an audience, which made it very important for me that the recording itself truly captured the energy of a live performance. What you hear, is what we played in that moment in that room. No re-recordings or autotune was done afterwards.
Just like for a regular concert, the set list was carefully put together with a selection of songs from all our albums, including a handful songs from the new album, which we performed for the very first time. On the day of recording, we all stood together in the same room for the first time in over a year. Everyone came focused and well prepared and the energy felt like no time had passed. I hope you will agree!”
The first single from First Flight Of The White Raven audio capture of the virtual live performance is Solringen, Einar adds;”Solringen is a song originally released on the album Runaljod – Yggdrasil (2013). Even though it quickly became a popular track amongst our listeners, it wasn’t until late 2019 we first got around to performing it live. When taking the song from studio to the stage, I really felt it needed a slightly different approach, more specifically adapted for the concert format.
In earlier traditions the women of the household on a farm had the task of going out into the fields around midsummer and wake up the elves dwelling there with rhymes and songs to encourage them to ensure growth and good crops. These songs and traditions have now mostly passed into oblivion. The initial idea behind Solringen is that new songs might wake them once again.”
Stream Solringen here: https://wardruna.lnk.to/solringen – Pre orders are available now from nervegas.com.au/wardruna
