Margrete

Margete is at the forefront of a new generation of Norwegian jazz musicians that challenge the conventions of pop music.

This month Oslo-based artist Margrete released her first self-produced EP. “FLAWS vol.1” follows 2020’s “All These Stages” and this time around it seems like the 25-year-old artist’s vision is clearer than ever.

The opening track “Voyeur” kicks off with a melodic pattern that leaves an almost uncanny impression with its indeterminate sound of guitar/synth. Wrapped in moody synths, Margrete’s voice triumphs on the chorus, in the company of a pale crying guitar.

When Margrete made her single debut in 2017 at 20, she received the honorary mention “Ukas Urørt” from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, who dubbed her single “Teen” as “thematically young, with a mature quality”. The following year she received the NOPA songwriter grant. If you find her voice familiar you might have heard her music featured in HBO’s “I May Destroy You” (2020).

One of the EP’s strongest tracks, “Time”, opens with a minimalistic lo-fi piano arrangement. When the chorus kicks in I get a fuzzy feeling from its Radiohead-esque quality. Margete is at the forefront of a new generation of Norwegian jazz musicians that challenge the conventions of pop music, by experimenting with sculpturing synthetic sounds and the human voice. Yet Margate’s music is bewitchingly catchy, just listen to the power-ballad finale of “Silverless Skies”.

Stream “FLAWS vol. 1” on Spotify and YouTube Music.

Margete on Facebook, Instagram.

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Photo: Axel Berggraf Egenæs

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