Anne Marie Almedal, the extraordinary Norwegian vocalist / singer-songwriter and songwriter returns with a stunning, hypnotic and life-affirming new single, «We Dance Alone.»
Not just written and recorded in the days of isolation during the pandemic, «We Dance Alone» is a testament to Anne Marie’s own harrowing process of breast cancer discovery, treatment, and recovery. It’s a massive comeback single, in the true sense of the word.
Moving away from the confusing folk-pop of her previous albums, the crystalline prisms of disco lights now shine on Anne Marie’s brooding universe.
With echoes and references to the throbbing indie synth-pop of the 80s, the house of the 90s and the current failures of Jon Hopkins, recalling mermaids like Meredith Monk, Marianne Faithful, Kate Bush, «We Dance Alone» is unmistakably feminine, full of longing and most importantly an existential love song to survive, delivered by an artist in her prime unadulterated.
Produced by film composer and partner Nicholas Sillitoe, the master of chill-step EvenS, and kindly mixed by Tim Bran (London Grammar / Primal Scream / Dreadzone), «We Dance Alone» is the first calling card of their new album. , which will be released before 2022.
We have had the pleasure of talking to her, and this has been the result of her.
Hi there ! Where can we find you right now? How did you start your day?
Greetings from Kristiansand, southern coast of Norway, of all places! I’m starting the day, as I normally do with a strong black coffee, looking out on to my garden/forest view, breathing in the North Sea air!
When did the idea of starting a project start to take shape? Has it always been something you wanted to do?
My latest singe ”We Dance Alone”, is one of the centrepieces to my new album, which will be out early 2022. Some big brutal honesty here…the album, though written in the confines of the pandemic, was also heavily influenced by the mighty life-changing experience of discovering I had breast cancer, then treatement, then recovery. The music and songs were the sacred space to help get me through it all!
How would you define the sound of your latest work? What is the concept behind?
Over the years, I have released several albums as vocalist in indie/dream-pop band ”Velvet Belly”, four folk-tronic solo albums, and featured on several electronica projects. This time, it all came full circle. Brooding 80’s synth pop, 90’s shoegaze, chill-step, electric guitars, and drum machines. The sound of survival, life-enhancing pulses.
What artists are you interested in these days?
Female artists & vocalists over the years have always inspired me, be it Kate Bush, Elizabeth Fraser, Alison Goldfrapp, but this time round, me and my close production team found ourselves inspired by the guitar fuzz of early New Order, the crazy Studio54/Patrick Cowley synth pulses, and more recent electronica like Burial, chill-step vibes, as well as the Nordic Noire/post-classical scenes. I guess emotions are the red-thread. Music to bring you to tears, and that uplifts you at the same time!
How do you manage to combine such disparate genres? How do you manage to give them unity and harmony? What do they have in common for you?
My favourite writers, artists, film-makers, Dj’s, you name it, are never afraid of exploring new ways of expression, references, and production ideas. For me, it’s about serving the song, and just doing what feels right, and trusting your fellow musicians. I´m a well-seasoned artist, and determined to always keep evolving, but staying true to the belief that music can be both deeply sad, but also unbelievably life-enhancing!
How would you define your sound?
Since lyrics are an essential part of songwriting, I treat them like the script of a movie, with each musical element providing the emotional backdrop, like a score. Some songs come effortlessly together over a smudged-out drum machine pattern, a piano-loop, a heavenly reverbed guitar… and I´m blessed to work closely with my husband, Nicholas Sillitoe (a film-composer), EvenS (a fine young ”chillstep” producer), and Tim Bran (legendary producer/mixer for London Grammar/The Verve/Primal Scream) who adds his magic and timeless sound to the mix.
Can you tell us something about your current or future projects?
The latest single ”We Dance Alone” is coming out, as part of a Pink Ribbon breast-cancer awareness campaign here in Norway, and now that (post-pandemic) things are opening up, I look forward to release the new album, and get out and about performing live again. From the southern coast of Norway, to wherever the sea will take me!
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