Why are there so few combinations of Norwegian folk music and electronic music? Is it because it's difficult to play, or are the cultures simply different?

But in recent years, things have been happening; folk music has taken on new, unexpected forms: maybe traditional dance isn't that far from a night at the club? But how can one do this without "kicking the burger" and ending up as a parody of both genres?

Lien and Center try to answer this question with their album Snu hver stein from 2023; the idea is to dig deep into the material and turn every stone in the search for something common to both genres. The hypnotic pulse and the mysterious atmosphere are shared, the mesmerizing tempo is similar, and no one changes key. Kenneth has played and Jørgen has gathered samples from both undertones and overtones, creating sounds and rhythms, making their machines play springar (a traditional Norwegian dance). It's easy to dilute traditions when using electronic tools because technology tends to take control; that's something Lien and Center refuse to do—they want to enhance the traditions and perhaps pave the way for something new. So the synthesizers must play in tune, and the drum machines must follow.

All the melodies and rhythms are traditional, as are the 808 drum machines and 303 synthesizers from house and techno—perhaps this is also a more modern form of folk music?

Kenneth Lien is a multi-instrumentalist with roots in black metal and improvised rock. He plays a variety of folk instruments such as the fiddle, Hardanger fiddle, willow flute, and, not least, the jew's harp. He is best known from the trio Ævestaden but has also made a mark on the traditional music competition scene with multiple jew's harp victories. Jørgen Skjulstad is a musician and DJ, also known as Center of the Universe or DJ Sissyfus. Jørgen has released about 20 albums under his own name and contributed to perhaps a few hundred others as a remixer and producer.

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