Black Denim Wars

Was pretty impressed with Anti's black metal takeover at PechaKucha Oslo a few months back whilst showcasing their black denim label, Anti Sweden. This public act and some well thought out international collaborations, that include gore artist Justin Bartlett and more recently Jeremyville, really spell out this Norwegian label as one to watch amongst the sea of Swedish fashion sharks that dominate the Oslo high streets. Its been refreshing to see a Norwegian label turn the tide on an image of being a rich consumer paradise to a country with dark soul and witty come backs of their own, in reply to the permanent jibes from the yellow and blue neighbours. You can read my article and interview with Anti in Vice Style here.

video from Hintmag on Vimeo. 2010

Scando Robot Funk

Wading through the splutter of very ordinary Indie acts at Norway's by:larm festival last week, I came across my first direct experience of Skwee music courtesy of a night dedicated to it at underground Oslo club The Villa. Skwee has been bubbling under the radar for a while since one of the genre's first international introductions via Sonar 2008. It generally sounds like future funk made by machines from the era when they looked like cyborg robots and has roots mostly from Scandinavia, particularly Sweden and Finland. I had a chance to meet one of the scenes driving figures, Mesak, during by:larm and got so excited by the sounds I heard at The Villa and on his new album The School of Mesak - I've written a review about both that night and the album. There is something for beats heads, disco, house and even grime DJs in this album - be sure to get on this Scando-wagon and pick it up!

Skwee/Mesak street tag