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After touching down for the first time in Iceland last year with Sónar Reykjavik, 2014 saw the festival extend it's Nordic reach with Sónar Stockholm, helping to further expand Northern Europe's interest in Sónar. This year Sónar Barcelona includes several outstanding Nordic artists in it's line-up from Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, thus reconfirming an artistic connection which began many years ago (with the likes of Pan Sonic, Fever Ray, Björk, Lars Horntveth, Axel Boman, Jimi Tenor, Jónsi, Little Dragon, Bjřrn Torske and Annie, among many others) and was consolidated by Sónar 2013, with performances from Ólafur Arnalds, Sísý Ey, Samaris and Gluteus Maximus. Sweden is a country with a long musical tradition and the birthplace of three charismatic and internationally renowned artists appearing at Sónar Barcelona. Lykke Li will present her new album "I Never Learn" (scheduled for release in early May) at Sónar by Night, which she considers to be the final chapter in a trilogy of records including "Youth Novels" (2008) and "Wounded Rhymes" (2011). Her multifaceted and adaptive personality allows her to combine ethereal textures, pop choruses, synthetic beats and bursts of soul from differing perspectives, demonstrating a sound ranging from the sweet and expansive, to the more enigmatic and obscure.
With a longer but equally successful career, Robyn has taken her relationship with Norwegian duo Röyksopp to a new level by way of a combined tour (Robyn & Röyksopp - Do It Again Tour) whose first appearance will be at Sónar by Night. In addition to their previous collaborations, many factors unite them: long spanning careers, an undisguised love for electropop, synthetic dance and luscious house, and above all, a proven ability to connect with any audience.
Although born and raised in Sweden, Neneh Cherry personal and artistic journey through life sees no boundaries. Stepdaughter of legendary jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, she was early vocalist for 80's post-punk band Rip Rig & Panic and a hugely successful cult figure in the 90's with her album "Raw Like Sushi" and the popular song "7 Seconds" (with Youssou N'Dour). After a lengthy hiatus Neneh Cherry recently released her new album "Blank Project" produced by Four Tet (also present at Sónar 2014). It is a raw collection of avant-garde, electro-soul and post-rock songs featuring British duo Rocketnumbernine who are both studio and on stage cohorts to Cherry.
Todd Terje together with friend and collaborator Hans-Peter Lindstrřm are the best-known advocates of today's space disco sound, who dazzled us last year with their joint performance at Sónar by Day. This year Terje will appear live at Sónar by Night performing songs from his first album, aptly titled "It's Album Time", a natural progression from the already classic hits like: "Inspector Norse", "Ragysh", "Strandbar", "Snooze for Love"... Meanwhile, Dane Trentemřller has taken a significant step forward in his evolution: from initial dJ and electronic producer of expansive and ambitious music, to the musician he is today. His recent release "Lost" (featuring contributions from Low, Jana Hunter and Jonny Pierce of The Drums), forms the basis of a concert in which the Dane will be accompanied by a group of musicians, presenting an accomplished live performance moving between the organic and electronic. Other northern latitude projects that will be present at Sónar 2014 are: FM Belfast, the contagious pop dance quartet from Reykjavik; Australian Ben Frost, the sound experimenter with a merited global reputation who has resided in Iceland for many years; he powerful dance-funk trio Whomadewho, from Denmark; and Swedish duo Roll The Dice, he celebrated creators of evocative and cinematic soundscapes.
Tickets Sónar 2014 Tickets Sónar Reykjavik 2015
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