Help really
impartial journalism
Our mission is to ship unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds energy to account and exposes the reality.
Whether or not $5 or $50, each contribution counts.
Help us to ship journalism with out an agenda.
Think about a competition utopia: a spot with out lengthy queues, pushy crowds or grubby loos. That is genuinely the fact at Norway’s Øyafestivalen in Oslo, the place every little thing is extraordinarily healthful and clear. Right here, no person pushes previous you, nor dares hinder your view of the primary stage. And the bogs? They’re… really nice. The UK might by no means.
This 12 months, the competition’s lineup is especially spectacular – and Øya stays dedicated to a 50/50 gender cut up throughout a programme that ranges from various rock singer PJ Harvey to Leeds junglist Nia Archives. Øya’s bookers are additionally intent on showcasing native expertise, just like the very good electro-pop singer Moyka, from Hallingdal, and musician/activist Ella Marie, who sings in Sámi, the indigenous language from components of Norway, Sweden and Finland. It’s promising to see a competition actually invested in its native music scene.
As for the worldwide illustration, Thursday evening’s headliner Janelle Monáe dons a pink tulle vulva costume for a playful rendition of her tongue-in-cheek track “Pynk”, a feminine empowerment anthem from her third studio album Soiled Pc. As soon as Monáe swaps the vulva garb for a dapper Janet Jackson-inspired swimsuit, she takes a second to talk out towards fascism, Islamophobia and homophobia as she dedicates her set to the “folks of Sudan, Gaza, Haiti and Congo”. The rapturous applause suggests her Norwegian followers approve.
In reality, many musicians are eager to touch upon the grim state of world affairs proper now. Rapper Loyle Carner tells the group in regards to the racist riots taking place again at house throughout his heartening set. “Two days in the past, the place I stay in east London, there have been a number of deliberate riots from the far proper,” he says. “However the entire group these previous few days got here to face collectively to help our Muslim brothers and sisters, it’s a stupendous factor. Seeing you all right here at present jogs my memory that there are good-hearted folks coming collectively.”
South London singer Raye nonetheless manages to dazzle as she tells the viewers frankly about her harrowing expertise of sexual assault, which she sings about in her observe “Ice Cream Man” from her record-breaking jazz-inflected album My twenty first Century Blues. Later, she launches into extra upbeat numbers, showcasing her Broadway-style belts and jazzy scats on bittersweet love track “Value It” and viral hit “Escapism”. She’s endearing as she prances across the stage barefoot.
Sampha stands behind his foil-covered keyboard as his heat and understated voice swirls over jittery synth strains for his ethereal track “Suspended” (from his 2023 album Lahai). Later, he and his band congregate round a singular drum equipment and jam collectively for a rendition of 2017’s “With out”, a observe about fearing loneliness. It’s electrical.
At instances, I do ponder whether the competition is too healthful, and maybe alienating its youthful ticketholders. The crowds generally really feel withdrawn and really nonetheless. Issues are a bit looser over at Klubben, a small out of doors stage devoted to internet hosting nearly all of the DJ acts, which is tucked away within the far-corner of the competition. On Thursday, Norwegian Gen Z pop act – suppose PinkPantheress meets Shygirl and German DJ horsegiirL – wins the group over together with her glitchy, jersey-club fashion hit “Unhealthy B****” from her viral 2023 EP Eurostar, whereas carrying a mini-skirt printed with the EU flag. On Friday, Columbian percussionist Diva Cruz joins Swedish producer Olof Dreijer for a jumpy set that traverses between South American soundscapes and stripped-back footwork beats.
Put these DJ performances apart, although, and the competition’s providing of dance music is missing compared to different genres. The competition sells itself as one showcasing a various vary of worldwide sounds, however the Klubben stage is doing the heavy lifting in the case of larger BPMs. And it’s not like there’s a scarcity of urge for food for it: Klubben is rammed full every time I go to.
It feels as if the Gen Z ticketholders are craving for an opportunity to actually let go. This would possibly clarify why the Pepsi silent disco pop-up is consistently overflowing with younger twenty-somethings opting to take heed to 2010s membership hits via headphones quite than visiting the mainstages to observe iconic acts like Pulp, Jack White and PJ Harvey. Till Øya recognises the attraction and significance of dance music in its line-ups, a competition this preened might lose the curiosity of a youthful technology who’re instinctively drawn to Øya for its 25-year legacy. No silent disco – regardless of how good the track choice – could make up for a gap within the programming.
