Winter solstice: the winter playlist 2.0
It’s been a harsh winter for Toronto this year, and it’s only going to get colder. Some days, it seems like it’ll be impossible to get through the rest of the semester — especially when UTSG refuses to close down for anything short of the apocalypse. But, it’s at times like this that it’s important to remember: if the Vikings could survive winters like these, so can we. Winter Solstice is your introduction to Nordic, Viking-esque acoustic music, for getting through those cold and grey days.
Listen to Winter Solstice on Spotify here!
“Nature Boy (Acoustic)” – AURORA
Originally recorded by Nat King Cole, and having been famously covered by David Bowie for Moulin Rouge!, “Nature Boy” is a beautifully melancholy piece. AURORA’s acoustic cover is haunting and tender, with a unique instrumentation that gives the song a Nordic-folk sound.
“Två Konungabarn” – Myrkur
A black metal musical project developed by Danish musician Amalie Bruun, Myrkur is the quintessence of modern Nordic folk music. Taking influences from Scandinavian nature, “Två Konungabarn” is a quiet, ambient song, for a gentle introduction to this genre of music.
“Herr Mannelig” – Garmarna
With a heavy drum beat, Garmarna’s Scandinavian ballad “Herr Mannelig” is a light taste of so-called Viking war music. If more hardcore Nordic music is something that piques your interest, take a look at bands like Brothers of Metal.
“Blood Moon” – Saint Sister
In a similar vein as “Nature Boy,” Saint Sister’s “Blood Moon” has an eerie vocal melody that is highly characteristic of Nordic folk music. With a stronger bass line, however, this song – and many others by Saint Sister – is good to listen to if you like to study to a beat.
“Juniper” – Myrkur
Myrkur’s most recent hit, “Juniper” definitely has the black metal feel to it that the project is known for. Starting and finishing off more slowly, this song is designed to be Viking-esque – just take a listen to the lyrics.
“Wistful” – Sylvaine
With more of an ambient acoustic sound, Sylvaine’s “Wistful” has a greater focus on the droning instrumental tones than on the leading vocals. This song exemplifies the use of multiple voices in Nordic music, which create a haunting hummed melody.
“House of the Rising Sun” – Lauren O’Connell
A cover of a traditional New Orleans folk song, Lauren O’Connell’s version of “House of the Rising Sun” is heavily beat-driven with echoing vocals. If you’re a fan of this song, have a listen to some songs off of the Peaky Blinders soundtrack.
“If I Had A Heart” – Fever Ray
You’ll recognize this song if you’re a fan of the History channel’s television show Vikings. Fever Ray’s “If I Had A Heart” has since become a go-to song for acoustic Viking playlists, and with it’s low, droning tones, it’s easy to understand why.
“Thanatos” – Soap&Skin
The experimental musical project of Austrian artist Anja Plaschg, Soap&Skin took Europe by surprise when it topped Austrian charts. With nothing but layered voices and a harsh piano, “Thanatos” is an incredibly powerful song that creates so much with so few instruments.
“Ghosts in My Heart” – Mariee Sioux
The most upbeat song on Winter Solstice, Mariee Sioux’s “Ghosts in My Heart” is a more typically Western-sounding acoustic song. However, it demonstrates conventions of Nordic folk music, such as the use of multiple voices, and unusual instrumentation.
“Wilde Rose” – Faun
A German pagan-folk band, Faun is exemplary of the Viking acoustic genre. With songs sung in German, Latin, and Scandinavian languages, much of Faun’s discography has distinctly ‘medieval’ and Celtic sounds to it. “Wilde Rose” is surprisingly catchy, with a memorable melody and beautiful composition.
“Helvegen” – Wardruna
Last, but certainly not least, comes the most ambient song on this playlist. Nordic, dark-folk group Wardruna creates music that sounds traditional, but incredibly epic all the same. If you like “Helvegen,” listen to their song “Fehu” – it may sound surprisingly familiar.