On her new EP, Sylvaine traces back to her roots in Norwegian folk music. Eg Er Framand was recorded at the Kampen Church in Oslo, where she performed while studying music in high school.
When Sylvaine first heard the title track, it hit her like no other song had before. Since then, she's shared this song with rapturous audiences everywhere. Today, she's releasing a new recording of "Eg Er Framand" that finds her searching for a higher, lonely power.
Watch the shadowy and serene visualizer for "Eg Er Framand" below.
Eg Er Framand is out March 22 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/SylvaineEgErFramand
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/egerframand
Kathrine Shepard has grown into a guiding light for post-metal. As Sylvaine, her white-hot tremolo picking can ignite the coldest and blackest of hearts. She plays every instrument on Eg Er Framand, but the title track has no enchanting synths or eerie organ hums. Instead, the EP's emotional centerpiece is solely powered by her otherworldly voice.
Kjaere Herre (Dear being of light)
om eitt eg ber deg (With this I beg of you)
Fylg og lei meg (Take my hand)
fylg og le meg alltid du (Show me the way always you)
Sylvaine holds each note with soft restraint, as if cupped into the palm of her hand, like an offering. Close your eyes and envision her reaching through the trees, into the shadows, as her feet slowly lift off the ground.
"In the spring of 2023, when I had the idea to base this EP around Norwegian Folk music, I knew this song would be its center piece", Kathrine says. "This song has taken a place deep within my soul. My first meeting with 'Eg Er Framand' truly shook me to my core. Immediately, I knew that I wanted to share this incredibly beautiful piece. I have performed 'Eg Er Framand' on stages all around the world. Very often, I've been met with the exact same intense, emotional response from the audience. I have no idea who wrote this song, but it speaks to the exact same feelings I've spent the last 10 years trying to capture with Sylvaine".
The visualizer for "Eg Er Framand" was created by William Lacalmontie
Praise for Sylvaine
"Sylvaine's knack for sound placement is impeccable...[her] guitar melodies and voice shine with a brilliant light" - Angry Metal Guy
"Sylvaine is an incredibly mature and ridiculously talented new artist...her music is utterly beautiful, playing on old paradigms but exploiting them in ways that will carry you off to a land that you once thought make-believe" - Metal Injection
"Lush and evocative...bridging dark folk, shoegaze and atmospheric black metal, Sylvaine's widescreen approach to music has always been distinct" - New Noise
"Heavy yet delicate, huge yet intimate" - Ghost Cult
"Everything feels deliberate; every melody, every word, every note feels carefully and lovingly arranged just so" - Nine Circles
The lead single off Eg Er Framand comes from similarly mysterious origins.
The lyrics to "Dagsens Augo Sloknar Ut" were written in 1891 by Elias Blix, a professor-turned-politician, who also wrote hymns. Staying true to the original's delicate, reverent melody, Sylvaine sings in a breathy, elongated whisper that's both haunting and soothing.
Watch as Kathrine dances across a magnificent tapestry of poetic landscapes in the song's official video, which was directed and produced by William Lacalmontie.
Sylvaine is embarking on her first-ever solo tour this summer. She'll be performing songs from Eg Er Framand on stages across Europe with her new Season of Mist labelmate Eivør.
"I'm so very excited to be heading out on my first-ever solo tour supporting none other than the wonderfully talented Eivør!", Kathrine says. "I'm honored to be sharing the stage with her and her musicians, and can't wait to showcase my music in a different format. It will be an intimate, emotionally heavy ride. October can't come soon enough!"
Get tickets at eivor.com
In preparation for their tour together, Eivør and Sylvaine put together a playlist of their favorite songs. Get in the mood with some of the choice cuts off Nova and the soundtracks to The Last Kingdom and God of War Ragnarök.
Stream:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7k4ImSEttiL9O6gOQ1tmrn
Photo by Helena Aguilar Mayans
Kathrine Shepard, the visionary artist behind the evocative musical project SYLVAINE, weaves an intricate tapestry of emotions through the language of music. A transcendental bridge between worlds, a mesmerizing duality that encapsulates the beautiful and the harsh, light and darkness, serenity and chaos, and the delicate balance between the external world and the inner sanctum of the soul. It is a symphony that harmonizes the human experience with its spiritual origins – a resonance of something beyond the tangible.
Sylvaine’s compositions are a visceral journey through the vast spectrum of emotions that the complexities of the human experience have to offer. They encapsulate the inherent struggle of being an entity in this world, yet not entirely of it. Kathrine’s music serves as a conduit for her innermost feelings, a cathartic expression of the eternal longing that resides within the very core of her melodies.
Akin to a fairytale spun from the threads of Norwegian folklore, a narrative that resonates with the spirits of ancient woods and the whispers of long forgotten creatures. With every ethereal note and haunting melody, she conjures images of untamed forests, of misty clearings inhabited by mystical beings. In this artistry, there is an undeniable sense of transcendence, where listeners are transported beyond the confines of the ordinary into a dreamscape where reality and fantasy converge. A profound sense of wonder and allure creates a unique musical alchemy – with a touch of enchantment that lingers long after the music has ceased.
With four albums and one split-EP released to date, Sylvaine’s ethereal soundscapes have been taken to stages across Europe, North America and South America, leaving audiences mesmerized by the transcendent power of the band’s live performances. Two of these albums have been nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Awards Spellemannprisen in the category of metal. The ability to transport listeners to otherworldly realm through her music is a manifestation of the artistry & profound impact the band can bring.
As Sylvaine prepares to unveil her upcoming EP, Eg Er Framand, she embarks on a deeply introspective and serene journey through the rich tapestry of Norwegian heritage and tradition. Folk tales of old are brought to life in this new chapter of her musical odyssey, offering a glimpse into the depths of her creative spirit and an exploration of the roots that anchor her artistry. A reflection of myths is embraced through exquisite sonic realms.
Line-up
Sylvaine - Vocals, Church Organ, Guitars, Synthesizers & Percussion
Recording Studio
Kampen Kirke
Sound Engineer
Sylvaine
Mixing Engineer
Magnus Lindberg (Magnus Lindberg Productions/VRTKL Audio/Redmount Studio)
Mastering Engineer
Karl Daniel Lidén
Biography:Sébastien Gamez
Cover art & Photography:Helena Aguilar Mayans
Layout & Graphic Design: Dehn Sora
Pre-save:
https://orcd.co/egerframand
Pre-order:
https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/sylvaine-eg-er-framand
Links:
Official Website: https://www.sylvainemusic.com/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sylvaine/455094955
Bandcamp: https://sylvainemusic.bandcamp.com/music
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sylvainemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylvainemusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5C9ocrDvsfSz8qcxG70QEe
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/SylvaineMusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYoMxOgKpnqGrj-impj1wDQ
Last.FM: https://www.last.fm/music/Sylvaine
Booking Contact:
Alexander Obert - alexander@doomstarbookings.com
Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Coke Bottle Green