Röyksopp
Röyksopp (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈrœ̂ʏksɔp]) are a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø formed in 1998. The duo consists of childhood friends Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland who formed Röyksopp during the Bergen Wave. After experimenting with different genres of electronic music, the band solidified their place in the electronica scene with their 2001 debut album, Melody A.M., released on the Wall of Sound record label.
Röyksopp
Emmanuel Splice, RYXP
1998–present
- Tellé
- Wall of Sound
- Virgin
- Astralwerks
- Dog Triumph
- Cooking Vinyl
- Cherrytree
- Svein Berge
- Torbjørn Brundtland
Röyksopp has consistently experimented with various genres pertaining to electronic music. Stylistically, the band makes use of various genres, including ambient, house music and synth-pop. The band is also known for its elaborate concert performances, which often feature eccentric outfits.
Since their 1998 debut, the duo has gained critical acclaim and popular success around the world. To date, Röyksopp has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, won seven Spellemannprisen awards, performed worldwide tours, and produced albums that have topped the charts in several countries, including four consecutive number-one albums in their native country.
Band name[edit]
Røyksopp literally means "smoke mushroom" in English. It is the Norwegian word for the class of mushrooms known as puffball. The band's name replaces the second letter (ø) with ö, which is non-existent in the Norwegian alphabet but corresponds to the same sound in the Swedish alphabet.
History[edit]
1990–1997: Origins[edit]
Berge and Brundtland were introduced to each other through a mutual friend in Tromsø, Norway, when Berge was 12 years old and Brundtland was 13. They enjoyed the same films and music, and shared an interest in electronics. The two began playing music together due to a shared interest in electronica, experimented with various forms of electronic music.[1] They bought a drum machine together part of the Tromsø techno scene of the early 1990s.[2][1] Their childhood in Tromsø and the natural scenery of Northern Norway have often been mentioned as some of their most important inspirations.[1][3][4][5] The pair separated before obtaining any popular success with their music, but reunited with each other in 1998 in Bergen, Norway.[6]
Bergen, a city of 212,944 people in 1990,[7] had overtaken Tromsø's position as the most vital scene for underground electronic music in Norway, and Röyksopp worked with other Norwegian musicians like Frost, Those Norwegians, Drum Island, and Kings of Convenience's guitarist and singer Erlend Øye in what was called the Bergen Wave.[6] During this time, the duo befriended Geir Jenssen.[2] Under the tutelage of Jenssen, the duo started a band called Aedena Cycle with Gaute Barlindhaug and Kolbjørn Lyslo.[8] In 1994 Aedena Cycle recorded a vinyl EP called Traveler's Dreams.[8][9] The EP was released under the R&S Records sublabel Apollo.[9] Following the release of the EP, Jenssen almost convinced the band to sign a full record deal with Apollo Records.[2]
1998–2000: Early years[edit]
After recording as part of Aedena Cycle, Berge and Brundtland left the group to form their own band, Röyksopp.[1][6] The word röyksopp is a stylized version of the Norwegian word for the puffball mushroom, "røyksopp".[5] The band has stated that the word could also evoke the mushroom cloud resulting from an atomic blast.[1][5]
Röyksopp's debut single was released by local Bergen Wave-era independent label Tellé.[2][10] Röyksopp's first single "So Easy", which was later re-released on their first album, was the second record released by Tellé.[10] After being used in a UK T-Mobile advertisement, "So Easy" became popular in the UK market[11] and was later re-released, combined with their later single "Remind Me".[12]
2001–2004: Melody A.M. and early success[edit]
After leaving Tellé, the band signed with British label Wall of Sound and released Melody A.M., which became certified platinum in the band's native Norway[13] and sold over a million copies worldwide.[14] The album peaked at number one in Norway,[15] and produced the UK Top 40 singles "Eple", "Poor Leno", and "Remind Me".[16] A final single, "Sparks", was also released.[16] Eple (IPA: [ˈɛ̀plə]) – meaning "apple" in Norwegian[17] – was licensed by Apple Inc. for use as the welcome music to the company's Mac OS X Panther operating system, playing the first time a user booted a new Apple-brand computer.[18]
The band's popularity was boosted by several graphically experimental music videos, many of which were put into heavy rotation by MTV.[18] The music video for "Remind Me", featuring an infographic-style video by French company H5, won the 2002 MTV Europe Music Award for best music video.[11][19] In this same event the duo was nominated in three more categories: "Best Nordic Act", "Best New Artist" and "Best Dance Act".[19] The duo performed the song "Poor Leno" at the event.[20] One year later they received a nomination for "Best Group" at the Brit Awards.[21]
During this period Röyksopp slowly gained popularity in the United States. "Remind Me", one of the two Röyksopp and Erlend Øye collaborations found on Melody A.M., was featured in a Geico car insurance commercial, the fourth of the "It's so easy a caveman could do it" ads.[11][22]
During this time, Röyksopp were approached to compose the soundtrack for The Matrix Reloaded, although they declined the offer.[23]
2005–2008: The Understanding[edit]
Röyksopp's second studio album, The Understanding, was released on 12 July 2005,[24] preceded by the single "Only This Moment" on 27 June 2005.[24] The single managed to peak at number 33 in the United Kingdom.[25] The video for "Only This Moment" is closely based on the events of the Paris 1968 riots, and elements of propaganda are found throughout the video clip.[6] The album's second single, "49 Percent", with the vocals of Chelonis R. Jones was released on 26 September 2005. A third single, "What Else Is There?", including vocals from Swedish singer Karin Dreijer of The Knife,[26] became the album's biggest single, peaking at number 32 in the United Kingdom,[27] and at number four in Norway.[28] "Beautiful Day Without You" was the album's fourth single, and a non-album track, "Curves", was also released.
Building upon the success of Melody A.M., The Understanding was very successful in Europe. The album peaked at number one in Norway,[15] and at number 13 in the UK.[16] During this time, Röyksopp's popularity continued to increase in the United States. The album charted on many Billboard charts, and peaked at number two on the Top Electronic Albums chart, number 22 on the Top Heatseekers chart, and number 32 on the Top Independent Albums.[29]
Style[edit]
Musical style[edit]
Röyksopp's music is often referred to as "warm",[2][1] a reference to the band's downbeat electronica that combines elements of house music and Afro-American sounds.[1]
A notable component of Röyksopp's song repertoire relies on the use of multiple lead vocalists. For instance, Melody A.M. features the vocal talents of Anneli Drecker and Erlend Øye,[84] The Understanding features Kate Havnevik, Chelonis R. Jones, and Karin Dreijer,[26] and Junior features Robyn, Anneli Drecker, Karin Dreijer, and Lykke Li.[85]
Röyksopp enjoy using classic synthesizers, including the monophonic Korg MS-20, the polyphonic Roland Juno-106, and multiple members of the Akai Sampler Series.[5] The band has stated that they prefer using analogue synthesizers over digital ones.[1][5] Svein Berge said, "It's fairly limited the fun you can have with the use of a mouse. We like to mix."[5]
In addition to writing their own music, the duo enjoy remixing songs.[5] Berge said, "It's obviously fun remixing people like Coldplay, artists of such a big calibre. Whenever people approach us for a remix it's very nice; being approached by Roots Manuva, The Streets, and even Peter Gabriel is quite fun."[5] The band was also asked by Britney Spears for a remix, but had to turn down the offer due to scheduling conflicts.[20]
Influences[edit]
As they grew up in northern Norway, Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland listened to local artists like Bel Canto and former Bel Canto member Biosphere[1] (whom, coincidentally, Berge and Brundtland would remix in 1997 while they were part of Alanïa). The band has also expressed their interest in the music of Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, Art of Noise, Vangelis, Erik Satie, and Francis Lai.[1] Svein Berge has also stated that he is very fond of the production and programming skills of Datassette, who produced a remix of the Röyksopp single "Happy Up Here".[45]
Röyksopp often include references and homages to their musical influences. For instance, "Röyksopp Forever" pays homage to famous electronica musicians from the 1970s, including, "the likes of Vangelis and these people, and Krautrock, like Tangerine Dream and even Pink Floyd and King Crimson."[45]
Live performances[edit]
Röyksopp is known for its elaborate concert performances. Marc Hogan of Pitchfork Media said that "Those who have heard Röyksopp's two albums ... won't be surprised to learn the Norwegian duo's live set is much better and more raucuous than hunching next to the speakers at yer [sic] local Crate & Barrel".[86] When performing live, the duo often appear in eccentric outfits. Ari Stein, of Electronic Beats, said, that during one particular live set, "Röyksopp returned with two separate encores, one which included Berge playing "Eple" with a space suit capsule on his head".[87]