Valkyrien Allstars

Valkyrien Allstars

Valkyrien Allstars is a Norwegian folk and folk rock group from Oslo, active since 2002. The lineup centres on Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen and Magnus Larsen, and the group’s music is rooted in Norwegian traditional music while drawing on rock, jazz, blues and soul.

Music and style

The group builds its sound around hardingfele and singing, with Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen as the lead vocalist. Its members start out playing music as children and develop an approach based on ensemble playing, collective improvisation and a mix of styles. The songs combine elements from stev and kveding traditions with a more urban and rock-oriented expression, and the lyrics are partly drawn from well-known authors.

Career

Valkyrien Allstars forms in 2002, after the members discover the possibilities of playing together and find a shared platform for their own musical identity. Their background comes from Asker, Valdres and Bærum, and Hallvard Kvåle is an important influence in encouraging them to develop that common direction. The group’s wider breakthrough comes after a performance at the award ceremony for Oslo Bys Kulturpris for Lillebjørn Nilsen, and a place in the final of NRK’s Kjempesjansen in 2006 helps bring their music to a broader audience.

Recording and live work

In 2006 the group receives Grappa’s Debutant Prize, which leads to the release of its first album in 2007. That is followed by a three-week Norwegian tour organised by Rikskonsertene. In concert, the group also appears in band format, with Magnus Larsen on bass and Martin Langlie on drums.

Reputation

Valkyrien Allstars is known for combining strong vocal delivery with fiddle riffs and group improvisation. The group presents itself as strongly rooted in folk music while treating genre boundaries loosely, and its approach brings Norwegian folk elements into a form that reaches across different ages and musical audiences.