The Faroese Music Awards exist since 2014. Before that the event was called Planet Awards. The faroese name of it is Føroysku Tónlistavirðislønirnar. As this is a nice jawbreaker they simply call it Faroese Music Awards on the Faroes as well. The Faroese Music Awards are awarded in a collaboration of Miðlahúsið (the media house), Norðurlandahúsið (the Nordic house), Føroya Tónleikarafelag (Association of Faroese Musicians), Felagið Føroysk Tónaskøld (Association of Faroese composers) and Kringvarp Føroya (the Faroese TV station). Every year in March the best musicians of the country are chosen in a complicated procedure by a jury and awarded in a big show. Usually the nominees have released an album the year before. There are two main categories: Pop/Rock and Open Group. And open really means open. From Classic to Choir to Hip Hop or Black Metal – everything can be part of it. In the last years I always saw the show in the internet and shared the excitement. This year I finally could join the show live. And I even was invited by the organizers.
But not only have I and some other journalists from various European countries been invited to the FMA, but there was a whole week with events for us. Thus we could dive deep into the Faroese music scene and also see something of the country itself. The story about this you find here. But the climax of this week is of course the award ceremony.
It is taking place on the 09.03.2019 in Norðurlandahusið, the Nordic House. At 07:00 pm the who is who of the Faroese music scene is meeting. Within a few days the event, which is broadcasted live in Faroese TV and radio, is sold out. Absolutely in time it starts and after a short welcome by host Rólant Waag Dam it starts directly with the main thing of the evening: music. The first band that plays is PÁLL FINNUR PÁLL. This is a band I have often read about, but I did never really listen to their music. So I’m curious.
The band isn’t playing a single song but a medley, containing „Trettan“, „Tað Allarbesta“ and „Hyde“, the only song by them I really know. And I have to say – apart from the fact that it is ordinary pop music, albeit handmade – the band cannot convince me musically, especially the singing. But the program continues.
After a short crossover by host Rólant, who uses the PÁLL FINNUR PÁLL song „Tað Allarbesta“ (the very best) to describe the motto of the show the first award is given out in the category „newcomer of the year“. The honorific speech is given by Gunn Hernes of the Norðurlandahusið. We met her in person yesterday when we visited the Nordic house. Because she is Norwegian she speaks in Danish – nearly all Faroese speak Danish anyways. Or is it Norwegian? Anyways, the important thing is that I understand what she’s saying. She underlines that you can win this prize only one time. The nominees in this category are: SPEGIL SPEGIL, JASMIN, VSJ, ELI TAUSEN Á LAVA, BIRITA POULSEN and SVARTMÁLM. Two Pop bands, a Soul/Pop singer, a Classical composer, an opera singer and a Black Metal band – a nice cross section through the scene. What is refreshing in this award ceremony: in Germany there would be a dramatically important advertisement break after the announcement of the nominees and a lot of talking – here they just announce the winner: ELI TAUSEN Á LAVA. And he as well isn’t talking much during his acceptance speech. Even though it is the first time a classical composer wins this price.
And instantly it goes on. Now it’s up for the prize “singer or solo artist of the year” in the open group category. The honorific speech is given by Annika Olsen, mayor of Tórshavn. The nominees are: EIVØR PÁLSDÓTTIR, HÚS (Rólant av Reyni) und KRISTIAN BLAK. The winner is not really a surprise: Of course Eivør Pálsdóttir, the best known Faroese musician, wins this award. But she isn’t present herself tonight because she is currently touring in Scandinavia. Her former manager Sigvør Laksá takes delivery of it. But Eivør is connected live from Stockholm from where she sends her thanks and greetings.
Now it’s time for the next live act. It is Birita Poulsen, a young opera singer, who was nominated as “newcomer of the year”. She’s currently living in Berlin where she studies at the Hochschule für Musik. She is singing a song by Sunleif Rasmussen who is, like her, originating from Sandur on Sandoy. The lyrics are written by Oddfríður Marni Rasmussen, who also is from Sandur – so it is a pure Sandoy song. She is accompanied on piano by Mattias Kapnas (he is the only one involved in the song who is not from Sandoy). But the name of the song is only revealed at the end: “Gypsy”.
Subsequently awards are given out. They stay in the “open category” and award the prize for “group or choir of the year”. Eyðdis Hartmann Niklassen is giving the honorific speech. During the week we met her in person during our trip to Vágar. The nominees are: The Faroese Symphonic Orchestra (Føroya Symfoniorkestur), YGGDRASIL and TARIRA. The winner is the Faroese Symphonic Orchestra and of course they do not come all to receive the award, they sent one representative.
We stay in the open group and are looking forward to the prize in the category “Release or concert of the year”. The nominees are: „Sálmar Í Nýggjum Hami“, „The Last Kingdom“ by Eivør & John Lunn and „Voyage“ by Óli Jógvansson. Again it’s no surprise that Eivør wins this prize. She has, together with the Briton John Lunn, written the soundtrack for the BBC series “The Last Kingdom”. Again Sigvør Laksá is taking the prize for her. This time not Eivør is connected live but John Lunn, who also thanks heartily and says that he has never been on the Faroes so far but he is hoping to visit one day.
And – as always – after two awarded prizes it’s time for some music. And this time it comes with free comedy. The next band is SILVURDRONGUR, the alias of Trygvi Danielsen, the currently most famous rapper of the Faroe Islands. During Rólant’s introduction of him, he nonchalantly ambles along the front row over to Rólant. He’s having a look over Rólant’s shoulder and nods knowingly and approvingly. Unfortunately this can’t be seen on TV screens as well as live in the Nordic House, so people at home might have wondered why everybody is laughing. The host can’t stop praising the man which culminates in his saying that the name SILVURDRONGUR (silver boy) is misleading, because he is a man of gold. And as nonchalantly as SILVURDRONGUR walked in, as nonchalantly Rólant folds his cards and puts it into Trygvi’s pocket. But now it’s time for the song by SILVURDRONGUR: „Rógv Ella Ró“. Last year at G!-festival I thought he is pretty boring. This time he got me. Also, Trygvi Danielsen is the only artist on this evening who plays with the cameras and really uses this medium.
Now I would have liked to see a whole concert, but it’s time again for the next awards. First one is the award for the „Cover of the year“. For once there’s a long introduction, while the nominees are not announced. But if you know a thing or two about the Faroese music scene you can assume from the long description who the winner is. They speak of masculine, hard, dark music. Of an artist who was born 100 years ago. Elinborg Lützen. The winner can only be SVARTMÁLM. Lena Mohr even thanks the band that they brought the art of Elinborg Lützen back to actuality. And then something funny happens that apart from metal fans nearly nobody realizes: While they wait for Uni Árting who is accepting the prize, they do not play SVARTMÁLM, but „Frosthvarv“ by HAMFERĐ. Host Rólant still apologizes for that afterwards.
Even though the question what comes first, music or lyrics is similar to the question about hen and egg, as Rólant Waag Dam says, the prize for the „lyrics of the year“ are now awarded. Here as well no nominees are announced. Sissal Kampmann and Vónbjørt Vang will present this award. And while the two are talking and describing the lyrics I think: „By far I do not know all lyrics that are published on the Faroes within a year but this, this sounds a LOT like HAMFERĐ. And the longer the two talk the surer I am: This is HAMFERĐ. And finally Jón Aldará is announced as winner, and he himself seems to be a bit surprised. He tells me afterwards that nobody told him that he is nominated which is unusual. And this is also what he says in his accepting speech: that this came a bit unexpected.
This time it’s three prices in a row and Petur Petersen gives the honorific speech for the „composition of the year“ in the open group. In this category SUNLEIF RASMUSSEN – “FSOuvertura“, EIVØR & JOHN LUNN – “The Last Kingdom” and UNN PATURSSON – “Kantina Magica” are nominated. And – slowly it starts becoming boring – Eivør and John Lunn win this prize as well. This time Eivør is connected live from Stockholm again and thanks again, although with less words than the first time.
It’s time again for some music! Now it’s MARIUS ZISKA who presents with his band the song „Ongin Er Orsøk“. It’s a wonderful, gentle and calm piece during which you can just dream yourself away. Hans Marius Ziska is just a fantastic singer with a wonderful voice. Here as well I would have loved to hear more, but unfortunately the award ceremony has to go on.
Levi Mørk und Uni Leitisstein Hansen step onto the stage; the two are speaking the honorific speech for the „producer of the year“. An immensely important job in the music business, as host Rólant underlines. According to him, they do not turn good into better, but better into best. Nominated are: Mikael Blak for „Portur“ by MARIUS ZISKA, Theodor Kapnas for „Támsins Likam“ by HAMFERĐ and Kristoffur Mørkøre for Swardi, Lailu av Reyni, Jón Mørkøre, Bjarki Hansen and others. As the speakers mention, you can hear in all those works the immense amount of time and money that has been put into the production. The announcement of the winner causes a bit of confusion. Levi has to be told that he has to proclaim the winner. But there is a lot of laughing on Faroese award ceremonies anyways. And then Levi is so excited, he misspeaks Theodor Kapnas’ name. Theodor has to leave his workplace to accept the price, as he is mixing the show tonight. In his excessive speech he talks about that you put exactly the time you need in such a work – or maybe even more then you would need.
Next one is the price for the “initiative of the year”. The honorific speech is held by Kristian Blak and Torleik Mortensen. And while Torleik Mortensen tries to give a proper introduction, Kristian just jumps in and announces Maggies in and on Nólsoy for their video recording as the winner. And then it becomes funny again. Terji Rasmussen, owner of Maggies, just does not appear. People applaud, people look out, people wonder – but no Terji in sight. Although several people know that he is here tonight. And when the eulogists just wanted to give up he comes in running. He was smoking outside – and nearly misses his own award ceremony. But you can’t be mad at this happy and likeable man. He’s extraordinary happy over the price and his thanks do not go out without mentioning, that many concerts in Maggies are recorded on video. And he also uses the opportunity to announce the new opening hours. And at the end he mentions with a wink that he wants to win the price for the “song of the year” next year.
And again it’s time for some music. But before that, host Rólant can’t resist to give a tip to Terji: Next time first get your award and then go smoking afterwards. Now Ingi Poulsen is on stage and plays „Tá Ið Eg Síggi Teg“ for us. He is accompanied by nearly a Big Band. Besides many others there are no less than 3 brass players on stage. And even though the music of the young artist is not really my cup of tea I really like this song. You can’t get it out of your head.
And we already made it through the first half of the show. At least concerning the Nordic House. Here it’s a break and we really need it. It’s unbelievably hot inside and in the foyer there are cool drinks to buy. Besides that one can use the time to meet all kinds of friends and acquaintances and to congratulate those of your friends who won a prize. On TV there is no break, but there are interviews with some of the winners as well as playing artists. There are interviews with Páll Finnur Páll, Theodor Kapnas (Jón Aldará should be there as well but he somehow went lost), VSJ, Gunn Hernes and Kári Jacobsen. Between the interviews they send sequences from the different videos that are nominated as “video of the year”. After little more than half an hour, when everybody is back on their seat, the show continues.
It starts immediately with music. Kári Sverisson and Hans Jacob Kollslíð start with „Samrøða Fjalla Millim“. This is also a rather calm song in singer/songwriter style, but you can get really hooked by this song. And here as well are many musicians on stage, among them brass and string players to give authentic sound characteristics. Unfortunately the song is way too short.
Who gets the next price is decided by the association of Faroese filmmakers (Felagið Føroysk Filmsfólk) and Kringvarp Føroya. Of course it’s the price for the “video of the year”. The honorific speech is given by Susanna Sørensen of Visit Faroe Islands. Nominated are VSJ – „God’s Work“, REBEKKA PETERSEN – „Eg Veksi“, FROSTFELT – „Angel“, HEIÐRIK – „Black For The Occasion“, and GUT Productions – „Aftur (ein prologur)“. The winner is “God’s Work” by VSJ. The price is accepted by Pætur Høj, who produced the video.
And without hesitating we switch to the next price. It’s the first price in the category pop/rock. This means we slowly reach the really prestigious prices. It is the price for the “Song of the year”. Nominated are INGI POULSEN – “Tá Ið Eg Síggi Teg”, BYRTA – “Hennara Dansigólv”, TEITUR – „Sara“, MARIUS ZISKA – “Silvurlín” and VSJ – “Something Magical”. I have to admit, that I like all these songs. So I think it was a pretty tough decision. Measured by the intensity of the applause the winner of the audience would be MARIUS ZISKA. Ivan Niclasen of Kringvarp Føroya gives the honorific speech and announces the winner who is no surprise: TEITUR. He appears a bit bumbling, as always and his acceptation speech is short.
The musical part that now follows is the most extreme one of the evening. And as host Rólant rightly says: There is no comparable band on the Faroes: JOE & THE SHITBOYS. They play Hardcore and equally short are their songs. Thus they play, different to all other bands not one, but three songs. Those are: „Drugs R‘4 Kidz“, „Pretend Serious“ and their new song „If You believe in Eating Meat Start With Your Dog“. And all this in less than three minutes. Besides this, I am extremely impressed by singer Joe who manages to run the stage up and down all the time but never accidentally kicks the water bottle in the middle of the stage.
But now it’s time for the most important awards. At first the price for the “singer of the year” is awarded. Pætur Trónd Thomsen, head of Hotel Hafnia is giving the honorific speech for this award. The nominated are: Jón Aldará, Teitur Lassen, Kári Sverrisson, Hans Marius Ziska and Janus á Húsagarði. A really hard competition as all of them are fantastic singers. But I think most people thought, like me, that Teitur will win again. But as winner Jón Aldará of HAMFERĐ is announced. So he has to come down to the microphone for the second time this evening. And it’s also not the first time he wins this price. Already back in 2014 he could take it home. This time he’s thanking more elaborately and mentions that without his two bands HAMFERĐ and BARREN EARTH he would never be standing here, so it should also be seen as an award for those bands as well.
Afterwards, Pernille Rostgaard Olsen introduces the nominees in the category “album of the year”: MARIUS ZISKA – “Portur”, TEITUR – “I Want To Be Kind”, THE CROWBERRY BAND – “Good Luck To You All”, HAMFERÐ – “Támsins Likam” and SILVURDRONGUR – “Silvurpláta” and announces the winner: MARIUS ZISKA. And although I kept my fingers crossed mostly for my friends in HAMFERÐ I can live very well with this decision. “Portur” is just an extremely amazing album, there’s no doubt. Hans Marius is joined by Heðin Ziska Davidsen and Allan Tausen to accept the award and thank for it. They as well have the opinion that it was a hard competition.
Now it’s time to see JASMIN play whom we could already see yesterday. And as well as yesterday, she brought her own fan base along. No other artist is welcomed with more enthusiasm then her – her fans make a lot of noise. Like yesterday she presents her song “Remember”. I have to admit, that I liked her more the other day. But I think the excitement could have played a role in that.
It goes on with the only price where no nominees where announced beforehand (well, that was probably forgotten in at least one other category, but that’s ok. It’s the audience award, the award that is given by the fans in the country. For a few days it was possible to send a SMS with the suggestion for the winner for this price. Pretty fast VSJ are announced as winner. It takes a moment until they are on stage because they had already been backstage preparing for their gig. The young band is extremely happy with the price and neither can they agree on who of them should go to the microphone, nor what they should say – but you can easily see how much it means to them and how cheerful they are.
After that it’s time for another one of the main prices – it’s time to announce the “female singer of the year”. The nominees are: Jasmin Mote, Lea Kampmann, Guðrið Hansdóttir, Edith Dahl Jakobsen and Sissal Grækarisdóttir Magnussen. Exactly as in the male category it is an extremely strong concurrence. Árni Olsen of Atlantic Airways gives the honorific speech. And when Jasmin is announced as winner the audience goes crazy. Her fans scream and yell, there’s thunderous applause. Her father, who origins from Kenya, freaks out, he jumps out of his seat and cheers loudly. Even Jasmin down on stage has to laugh. Besides that, she’s more or less speechless, doesn’t know what to say except that the whole last year was totally crazy for her and she thanks especially her band and her family.
Now there’s an artist playing who has won more than one award at the FMA. This year, but also in previous years. TEITUR sits at the grand piano and plays his song “I Would Love You All The Same”. And besides playing and singing he is also operating several synthesizers which are placed on the grand piano. And as if this wouldn’t be enough he plays the violin in between. This performance is musically a piece of great art. But still I can do whatever I want – I never really like Teitur. Nevertheless, this was sure one of the best musical performances of this evening.
The next award, the second to last of the evening is at the same time the last in the category Pop/Rock. It’s the price for the artist of the year. Sophus Dal Christiansen of Føroya Bjór is giving the honorific speech. Nominated are MARIUS ZISKA, VSJ, TEITUR, SILVURDRONGUR und JASMIN. It’s no surprise that this award his going to Teitur as well. He is first a bit helpless about what to say now again, but when he first started talking he has a run and begins to philosophize over the fact how nice it is to play everywhere on the islands and that it is very well possible to tour the islands even though many people say it’s not feasible to do it.
And then it’s already time for the last award of the evening on this year’s FMA. Kristina Háfoss is holding the honorific speech. It is the price for the lifework of an artist, so it’s more an honourous award. They do not announce who wins the price but just show a video recording. After a few seconds the Faroese have recognized the artists and cheer loudly. It is Nicolina Jacobsen and her siblings, who were already since the 50s making music in the band TEY AV KAMARINUM. I have to admit that I never ever heard about them, but on the Faroes they seem to have a huge reputation as pioneers. This reputation is so big that already during the video people stand up from their seats to pay their respect and give standing ovations. The award is accepted by two of the male members who tell a short story of the band and thank heartily. The band was once made up of seven siblings of whom five are still alive.
To end the evening it’s now the turn of VSJ who won two prices today. VSJ are a very young band who play happy pop for happy young people. It is this kind of music that I, personally, would never listen to, but I have to admit that this music makes you feel good and it’s easy to dance along to it. To prove this they are accompanied by a break-dancer, who storms the stage at one point and starts his dancing. Later, a female dancer joins in. In typical 90s pop band style they dance synchronically while singing and even the keyboard player can’t really resist. The band is live not as good as on record but you can’t really judge this from one song. It sounds a bit as if the singers can’t really hear themselves, so that might be an excuse. Also, it doesn’t affect the good atmosphere in any way.
Here is an overview over all winners:
In the category Pop/Rock:
Female singer of the year:
Jasmin Mote
Male singer of the year:
Jón Aldará
Album of the year:
MARIUS ZISKA – „Portur“
Song of the year:
TEITUR - Sara
Artist of the year:
TEITUR
In the category open group:
Artist of the year:
Eivør Pálsdóttir
Group of the year:
Føroya Symfoniorkestur
Release/concert of the year:
Eivør & John Lunn – „The Last Kingdom“
Composition of the year:
Eivør & John Lunn – „The Last Kingdom“
Video of the year:
Director Pætur Høj for VSJ – „God's Work“
Cover of the year:
Uni Árting for SVARTMÁLM – „Svartmálm“
Lyrics of the year:
Jón Aldará for HAMFERĐ – „Támsins Likam“
Newcomer of the year:
Eli Tausen á Lava
Producer of the year:
Theodor Kapnas for HAMFERĐ – „Támsins Likam“
Listener’s award:
VSJ
Initiative of the year:
Terji Rasmussen für Videoaufnahmen im Maggies
Honour award:
TEY AV KAMARINUM
So the winners of the evening are EIVØR and HAMFERĐ who each won three awards, followed by TEITUR and VSJ with two awards each. I personally, am happy that my friends in HAMFERĐ won so many prices, but also all others deserved to win and I am happy for them. The Faroe Islands proved once more in an impressive way that music of highest quality is produced on the islands. Congratulations again to all winners!
The show itself ends unspectacular. It was really interesting to see such a live show. It stands out in a very positive way that there were no useless commercial breaks, no artificial tension or award ceremonies that have been stretched artificially as it is done in Germany most of the time. What was also unusual: Names were not showed, just mentioned. Well, people know each other. All in all it was a pretty relaxed show with a lot of laughing and cheering. And that’s also a good point for the rest of the evening. Who paid the entrance fee for the show has free access to the aftershow party. Busses bring the guests from the Nordic House down into the city to the Reinsaríð, where the party is going on. Already at the entrance you get your first schnapps, inside there is free beer and some snacks. And a lot of music, this time not live though.
Here we have the opportunity to meet and chat with many of the winners and also those who didn’t win this time, nearly everybody is there. Thanks to some new people I met during this week I was also able to have a look behind the mystery which musicians hide behind SVARTMÁLM. The evening grows long and longer, there is a lot of alcohol and we all just have a great time. Some of my journalist colleagues I see for the last time as they have booked the early morning flight tomorrow. When I wanted to go home at around 03:00 in the morning my friend Theodor is not allowing that. “No! We go to the studio now. There is a freezer filled with beer. And you come with us!“. Ok. If he says so, I guess I have to follow.
So we walk with several people over to studio Bloch where we listen to music via the studio boxes for around an hour and drink beer until I am really done and go back to the hotel. On the next morning I barely make it to breakfast, then there’s little time to pack my bags and do a short stroll through the city. During the night it was snowing, the snow nearly reaches down to the sea level, the sun is shining from a clear blue sky – the Faroe Islands look absolutely beautiful. My heart is bleeding when I think about the fact that I have to leave the islands today.
But everything has to come to an end, also this wonderful, fantastic week. I am so very thankful I had the opportunity to join in this week and the Faroese Music Awards 2019. I want to thank everybody who made this possible and invited me to the Faroe Islands: Fróði T. Vestergaard, Sölvi Símonarson, Sólvá Svartafoss, Sigvør Laksá, Fróði Tórálvsson Stenberg, Kristian Blak, Knút Háberg Eysturstein, TUTL Records and also the sponsors Atlantic Airways and Hotel Hafnia. And last but not least I want to thank all the musicians who played for us, and I want to thank all the other journalists, bookers or concert organizers in our group. It was a pleasure to meet all of you! It was so cool that people from such different countries as Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Germany and Spain feel immediately connected through the music and get along so well with each other. I have rarely laughed so much as in this week. I hope that I will one day meet every single one of you again! (Anne)
Foto: Myndaboks/Norðurlandahúsið
