Prog in Norway: What's in the water?

BrufordFreak wrote: nick_h_nz wrote: I think it is more that people outside Norway are simply just taking note of it. Okay, then, why? Why are more people outside Norway taking note of their flourishing prog scene? I’m willing to bet there are many countries around the world making as much great music as Norway, but it is simply not being shouted about. But: countries of similar population to Norway? I think that's the point of my thread: Why a "little" country of 5 million inhabitants (the same size as my home state of Wisconsin)? I don't think Wisconsin's 21st Century prog scene is as burgeoning as Norway's is (or Finland).   Even on the Fennoscandian peninsula alone, Finland and Sweden have as much great music as Norway. Sweden has been recognised previously, and now Norway is getting its turn to shine. But all three have great musical history and heritage, and all three have a booming modern prog scene. When I think of the Finnish music scene I associate it with jazz and jazz-rock fusion not mainstream prog. My thread is really intended to recognize hotbeds of mainstream prog. Like Togo or East Anglia! That said, I love so much Norwegian prog (from the classic through to today). 🇳🇴

Noting that sadly Nick has not logged in in over two years (January of 2023) but maybe he still visits now and then. Of course those questions can be considered by others too. I really miss Nick, he was one of my favourite people at PA, and I hope he is well.

One thing is that if you get one or a few few recognised, renowned artists then a scene can be built up and expanded from that. And those guys from one band that is making a name for itself might work with other musicians who then get into playing that kind of music, and then others get involved playing with those other guys, more are inspired and so on.

And Scandinavia does have a rich tradition of music and art to draw on.

I don't know much about Wisconsin, but maybe they have other scenes which are blooming, like in country music, bluegrass. That said, even if they had some local Prog acts which gained success, I don't think Wisconsin would be as culturally distinct as Norway (and Norway has its own language) and so as a local thing I think it might be less recognised around the world for its particular scene (and culture). The Wisconsin Sound/ Scene could have more ring to it, by the way. Had various bands in Norway been inspired by US style country-rock and became popular there, and those inspired more and more, then maybe one might ask, "What's in the water there, why is that music so popular there?" The answer might be the spat out juice of chewing tobacco (I could be very off-base, but I associate that with country).

On another art note: I have found Norway (and Sweden, and Denmark) fantastic for TV and film. I really want to visit Norway, and visit my relatives in Sweden.

Edited by Logan - Yesterday at 15:00

nick_h_nz wrote: I think it is more that people outside Norway are simply just taking note of it. Okay, then, why? Why are more people outside Norway taking note of their flourishing prog scene? I’m willing to bet there are many countries around the world making as much great music as Norway, but it is simply not being shouted about. But: countries of similar population to Norway? I think that's the point of my thread: Why a "little" country of 5 million inhabitants (the same size as my home state of Wisconsin)? I don't think Wisconsin's 21st Century prog scene is as burgeoning as Norway's is (or Finland).   Even on the Fennoscandian peninsula alone, Finland and Sweden have as much great music as Norway. Sweden has been recognised previously, and now Norway is getting its turn to shine. But all three have great musical history and heritage, and all three have a booming modern prog scene. When I think of the Finnish music scene I associate it with jazz and jazz-rock fusion not mainstream prog. My thread is really intended to recognize hotbeds of mainstream prog. Like Togo or East Anglia! That said, I love so much Norwegian prog (from the classic through to today). 🇳🇴

RockHound wrote: Mix heavy water, Norwegian oil, and Viking blood, and the only possible outcome is pure magic. I had a wonderful time in Norway a few years ago, and their culture seems like a perfect breeding ground for adventurous and eclectic music. I remember a booth at a market in Oslo that had about 20 varieties of lox-I was totally inspired.

Edited by BrufordFreak - June 10 2022 at 09:27

In the early 2000s I was communicating with some musicians from Norway . At that time I was discouraged regarding my accomplishments in music because living in New Jersey was not encouraging and particularly when it came to Progressive Rock.

Although Progfest in New Jersey was supported and exciting the hope for a Prog community putting together events began dwindling away as time progressed. One particular musician in Norway emailed me and wrote..."You should move to Norway because Progressive Rock is a way of life here"

More people generally interested in that style of music. Did Norway have billboards with an advertisement that Bruce Springsteen was going to be in town? In the end I decided to remain a recluse and work on music. I just block out imposing business deals or offers that revolve around someone else's agenda. According to musicians in Norway I wouldn't even have to deal with such realities if I lived there instead.

You Norwegian prog fans are going to drool over this one! 

Norway is a wealthy nation with 20% of it's money coming from gas and oil production. They've committed to giving 1% to the arts which is absolutely huge. Would have been something like under 2 billion in the mid 10's.

Cristi wrote: I don't see the point of this thread.

I believe we are trying to prove they have better water in Norway. 

Whatever it is, we DO appreciate it!

nick_h_nz wrote: Personally, although it was never the main point of the OP, population density is completely irrelevant, as a lower population density can suggest a population is more spread out than a higher one. For example, Australia has a population density of approximately 3, while New Zealand is more like 15. (These are from memory of when I was at school, so are no doubt now changed, but their accuracy doesn’t change the point.) But, Australia has a large part of the country where next to no one lives, and their population is in more dense clumps than that of New Zealand. If you are going to use population statistics for wondering why there is so much music coming out from a country, then looking on a per capita basis is probably better than looking by density. Not that it is a particularly good way of looking at it, either, but it does work a little better, I am definitely not suggesting every country has as much music coming out of it as Norway, so it will be easy to find countries which are not. I just think that Norway seems to be getting more attention, so it seems like there is considerably more coming out from there than other countries, when this really doesn’t seem to be the case, so much as more of their bands getting more attention. Writing lists of what you have doesn’t change this. I can write lists, too.n The other thing is, of course, that once one starts to dive into the output of one country, it becomes easier to find more, and more, and more, and more, from that country. Norway has a great number of high quality music, it’s true. But it’s not alone or special in that, and it’s number isn’t considerably more than many other countries with a great number of high quality music. (Ignoring the subjectivity as to what at high quality music is, as I am using that only because it was used by the OP).

Personally, although it was never the main point of the OP, population density is completely irrelevant, as a lower population density can suggest a population is more spread out than a higher one. For example, Australia has a population density of approximately 3, while New Zealand is more like 15. (These are from memory of when I was at school, so are no doubt now changed, but their accuracy doesn’t change the point.) But, Australia has a large part of the country where next to no one lives, and their population is in more dense clumps than that of New Zealand.