Sandra Kolstad at Nordic by Nature and Swede + Sour’s “Scandinavian Showcase at Canadian Music Week” (Photo: Frank Yang of Chromewaves)
Written by: Peter Quincy Ng (Swede + Sour)
On the day of March 21st, 2013, Berlin-based Nordic by Nature and Toronto-based Swede + Sour both Scandinavian music blogs, hosted their first ever Canadian event during Canadian Music Week. Hosted at Moog Audio, a Toronto music shop specializing in the sale of keyboards and other electronic equipment, the event featured artists Sóley, Sandra Kolstad and This is Head from Iceland, Norway and Sweden respectively.
Playing approximately thirty minutes each, the artists packed the venue while the audience composed of casual onlookers and dedicated fans looked on. The first act This is Head from Malmö, Sweden played their deeply instrumental sounds while distant vocals and their slick Krautrock ambience filled the room with a crushing guitar sound. The second act, Norway’s Sandra Kolstad on the other hand was a largely electronic experience. Feeding her robotic vocals through the microphone, Kolstad pranced to punchy pop beats while her sweaty bandmates pounded on drums and mashed synthesizer keys. Finally, Iceland’s Sóley closed the show with her whimsical, dream-like melodies and her delicate, softly-spoken vocals and gentle piano sound.
The event was well-received and has been featured in several local blogs including Chromewaves, Dandyhorse, Photogmusic, Toronto Social Review and also has received official media sponsorship under She Does the City which provided our blogs with some footage and an interview of Sandra Kolstad (see links below).
Chromewaves: http://www.chromewaves.net/2013/03/sley-kool-thing-and-more-at-canadian-musicfest/
Dandyhorse: http://dandyhorsemagazine.com/blog/2013/03/22/dandyreview-sandra-kolstad-at-moog-audio/
Photogmusic: http://photogmusic.com/?p=25936
She Does the City: http://www.shedoesthecity.com/video-relive-the-magic-from-our-scandinavian-showcase-during-cmw
Toronto Social Review: http://www.torontosocialreview.com/2013/03/nordic-by-nature-at-canadian-music-week.html