“Sun Will Come”
– nominated –
Norwegian Grammy Award 2022
New single by “Women in Blues!
A new single by Women in Blues is to be released on this coming Women’s Day March 8th!
“Let The Freedom Come” is a new self-penned song which has been recorded at the Juke Joint studio in Notodden together with guitarist Morten Omlid.
“Let The Freedom Come” is the first 2023 celebration marking their 20 years anniversary.
Photo: Christin Lund
Nominated
Norwegian Grammy Award 2022
Interview with Norwegian Blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Rita Engedalen.
Jazz Blues News / Simon Sargsyan / February 2023.
I want people to feel that they are not alone!
First, let’s start out with where you grew up, and what got you interested in music. How exactly did your adventure take off? When did you realize that this was a passion you could make a living out of?
– The first time I was on stage was when I was 8 years old. I grew up with folk music and I yodeled. I am an only child and singing is what I like all the most in my life.
My first years I lived in Notodden, which is Clarksdale’s sister-city, and Norway’s blues capital, home to the Notodden Blues Festival. When I was 6 years old, my mother, father and I moved to Jondalen in Kongsberg, where I have lived ever since. It is a beautiful little village surrounded by mountains and forests – and a river I have often sat by, letting my thoughts turn into songs.
Through my parents I heard a lot of artists such as Johnny Cash. I was interested in music early on, especially folk music, and have pretty much always been singing. At first singing by myself in my room, then later with friends and others. When I was 8 my mom and dad took me to festivals and hotels where I sang with a country band. At the age of 15, I took part in a big talent competition, making it to the national finals. It was a boyfriend of mine who introduced me to the blues. I loved it from the start, especially artists such as Muddy Waters , Bonnie Raitt and Big Mama Thornton. A couple of years later I started performing in pubs, at parties and in restaurants all over Norway together with a friend who played the piano while I sang and played my guitar. We continued for 10 years as a duo, living off the money we made from our music for two years. Already at this time I sang some of my own songs, but our repertoire for the most part was well-known cover songs played to give the party goers a great night out on the town. The times were gratifying, but they were tough years filled with a lot of music. In 1993, I joined a blues band which became Backbone, all well-known musicians from Notodden. It was at that time that I went back to my blues roots, and the music that is closest to my heart. We performed at many festivals, clubs and such touring for over 20 years. One of the guitarists from this time is still with me to this day. Performing in my band, with me at my solo performances, and is often the guitarist used in our music concept project “Women in Blues” with my blues sister vocalist Margit Bakken from Notodden. This year 2023 “Women in Blues” will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
How has your sound evolved over time? What have you been doing to find and develop your own sound? What routine practices or exercises have you developed to maintain and improve your current musical proficiency, in terms of both rhythm and harmony?
The blues is totally natural for me, and in my case has developed through my time with Backbone, and its repertoire, which consists of cover songs from artists such as Ike & Tine Turner, Janis Joplin and others.
My great personal inspiration for blues comes from the late Norwegian blues artist Kristin Berglund. For me, she was not only inspirational, but also a good friend.
When I went on my first trip to Memphis and Clarksdale in 2004, I meet the blues legend Jessie Mae Hemphill in Como, Mississippi. I had been listening to Jessie Mae for quite some time, and her being a great inspiration for me with her North Mississippi hill country blues.
I have since written several songs about her, our meetings and experiences together. Hearing her made me find my own kind of blues, which I have since developed into a personal expression. In my blues, I also gather inspiration from gospel, Americana, rock, folk music, soul and roots. When I write songs, the form can be anything from a cappella to acoustic to full band. My lyrics are almost always very personal, but with opportunities for those who listen to fill in their own meaning and interpretation when they listen. I think that’s a nice way to do it. I do get a lot of feedback from my audience telling me that my songs mean a lot to them and have done so in difficult times in their lives. They tell me that I touch something in them.
In my sound-landscape, I am very fond of acoustic instruments, and have developed my own guitar style since I started playing at the age of 15. I like a backdrop of drums, guitar and bass, and if I feel for it, I like my songs to include a fiddle, choir, organ, piano, trumpet or even a mandolin.
How do you prepare for your recordings and performances to help you maintain both spiritual and musical stamina?
-From my first album recording in 2004, “Hear my song”, I have been concerned that the recordings should not be too polished, and often one of the first takes are used. Then they are the most natural and genuine. I have good friends who remind me of who I am. One of my good friends Ed Murphy has been very important for me, being helpful on my 7 albums.
What do you love most about your new album 2022: Rita Engedalen – Sun Will Come, how it was formed and what you are working on today?
I am most satisfied that I have managed to create an album with expressions and a musical landscape that I feel at home in, that is unpolished and has an honesty – just like what my songs are about! I am lucky to also have so many talented musicians with me who are able to create this musical statement. The recording has been worked on for almost two years, and has been created through all my musical expressions. Each song has its own language that takes it form in one or several of the varying blues’ voices such as gospel, rock, hill country blues, Americana, soul. The album has captured all my many musical landscapes! It feels credible.
Today I am working on our “Women In Blues” 20th anniversary project, and I am in the middle of mixing a new single that will be released on Women’s Day, March 8, it is called “Let the Freedom come”. In addition, I will be performing concerts in Norway with the new songs from my album.
How did you select the musicians who play on the album?
– It was natural for me to have my own band Morten Omlid, Eskil Aasland and Bård Gunnar Moe with me on “Sun Will Come”, and I chose guest artists who could provide extra colors and moods to the recordings. For the remake of “I am Changed” Nils Petter Molvær as he has the nerve and an expression I wanted. My inspiration of Billie Holliday was reinforced by him, exactly as I hoped and wanted. I’m very happy I recorded that song again, especially since I haven’t been able to play it live for 14 years, as it had gotten too personal, and I easily could start crying on stage.
In your opinion, what’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?
-Always the most important of all is the soul, but I think listening to music, and knowing the music and the history of the blues will make the balance come naturally. I’m not a good liar.
There’s a two-way relationship between audience and artist; are you okay with delivering people the emotion they long for?
-I am singing for the people! They make me feel, and they make me want to sing. I want them close; I want them to feel with me. When I feel them, I don’t feel alone. That’s why I really love small stages. I am sure that «Sun Will Come» will give hope and inspiration to people. And when it does, it is really meaningful to me, it keeps me going on as a musician.
Can you share any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions over the years?
– There are so very many memories over my 25 years as a musician, but one that comes to mind is when I was on a TV-show in Memphis performing Janis Joplin’s song Turtle Blues. I had sung it on TV in Norway two times before without any problems. The song contains the lyrics «I know this goddamn life too well». That was shocking for the TV crew and the network, and they almost took me off the air, causing me to cry. But as my guitarist said at the time, «That’s Rock`n Roll!»
One of my warmest memories is from a jam-sessions when I sang and played together with the legend Jessie Mea Hemphill in her hometown of Sentobia MS. She my favorite one. Together we sang one of my early songs «Hear my song» in a duet, while she played her tambourine, and then spontaneously she sang her own personal verse in my song. A very strong moment! Her music has been a big influence on my music ever since.
I never forget my two gigs at The Sunflower River Blues Gospel Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It is a free festival for everybody – I have great respect for that, it is for everybody. Also, I recorded a song at the studio in Clarksdale with the Community Gospel Choir, a soulful choir with young black singers – with a unique style of singing. They sing with me on my recording of «Holy Land» and «Mississippi Prayer».
How can we get young people interested in jazz when most of the standard tunes are half a century old?
–It is important that the blues and jazz-music and their history are shared with young people in schools. So that young people can listen and learn. My guitarist and I visited classrooms in Norwegian schools for several years now. In my songwriter-session with young people, I know it is important to include them! One very good example is taking place in Notodden during the festival there. Together with Steve Van Zant they have established the «Little Stevens Blues School». By lending his name to the existing music for youth school, Steve has made it possible to reach a broader audience, and now young people are coming to the school from all around the world.
If you could change one single thing in the musical world and that would become reality, what would that be?
-I would like to see and hear a greater diversity of music genres presented in the major media channels. I think our society would benefit from that. Music can give a lot of help and hope, so I would like that arena to be a bigger one.
Whom do you find yourself listening to these days?
-Right now, I am listening to Billie Holiday, Lucinda Williams, Betty Davys, Valerie June, Memphis Minnie, Rosa Lee Hill and Big Mama Thornton.
What is the message you choose to bring through your music?
-I want to give hope, love and freedom. I want people to feel that they are not alone.
Which lyrics/song has given you the most in life, and why?
-For me, it is «The Rose» by Bette Midler, because the song was in my life, and it was in the funeral when I lost somebody I loved.
Which song has been important to our community – I will say Strange Fruit.
Have you ever given a free concert during your entire concert career? At the bottom line, what are your expectations from our interview?
-I often do benefit concerts for children crisis centers and for women causes in Norway, for example benefit concerts for fundraising after the Tsunami in Thailand and benefit concerts funding support and meeting needs for drug addicts, and concerts in prisons.
I hope that this interview will give an honest picture of who I am, both as a person and as a blues musician.
Most played album Topp-40
# 2 Sun Will Come
The UK IBBA album playlist chart for November 2022.
Collated from the playlist of the UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association members!
If you love blues in its truest sense, you will love this album!
Review “Sun Will Come” / Bluestown Records
Rhythm & Booze 04.11.22 / Graham Munn
Multi international award-winning Norwegian artist, Rita Engedalen, has come up with a very original and engaging selection of Blues on this 11-track album. Blues that are influenced by such artists as Ma Rainey, Billy Holiday and Jesse Mae Hemphill, they became close friend over the later years of Jesse’s life. The songs on this album reflect true Delta blues, Louisiana blues and country blues.
The album opens up with, ‘Let’s Go Down’, a beautifully stark acoustic, the guitar setting the groundwork, but what is immediately apparent is Rita’s stunning voice. The feel is almost tribal, with her arabica dark roast timbre, wonderfully textured, like tree bark that grips from the off. ‘Sunshine Devil’, has thumping bass and lively, kick-ass, thunderous drums, Rita picks up on the rhythm delivering her message, “I am a woman”, invulnerable to the works of the devil himself, as intoxicating as Tennessee whisky.
Equally lively is the fast tracking, ‘I Wanna Feel Good’, which features a harp buzzing around like a bee on a promise, Rita’s voice has that slight vibrato edge, as electric guitar sweeps in for a lead. Time to get up and groove, “black dress, blue night, I’m looking for me in your eyes”, a great line. Much more profound, dark even, ‘I’m Changed’, “but I’m still here”, deeply atmospheric percussion, is given a gilded edge with muted trumpet from Nils Petter Molvær, but the storm still rages. A phenomenal piece of music that says so much about the human condition, time moves ever on, but we can all change to find our way forward.
Title track, ‘Sun Will Come’, presents Rita’s awesome vocals in the starkest, most perfect way, just her guitar framing this blues lament, that drips with emotion. The sun can lift our spirit, the rich voice is for our soul. A good time to let rip with the cracking blues, Cajun empowered, ‘Black Cat Bone’, tambourine sparkles away, whilst the rhythm will have your feet moving, let the vibe carry you.
In contrast to much of this album, ‘North Mississippi Blues is an outright rocker, the band release their collective force for Engedalen to sing about a small town, small shack, up in the North, where she awaits Jesus, all night long.
Much as I want to unwrap more of the stunning songs in this album, I know space does not allow, but I’ll not ignore the closing song, ‘Wait For Me’, another wonderfully dark atmospheric song. That soundscape conjured up from the percussive spells cast by Olaf Olsen, veined throughout with Morten Omlid’s, guitar.
Engedalen’s album is superb start to finish, if you love blues in its truest sense, you will love this, like a Turner watercolour it is full of subtle shades, and wonderful stormy skies, its beautifully addictive.
Rita’s new album “Sun Will Come” gets airplay on 60 radio stations abroad!
We’re delighted to tell that Rita’s album ‘Sun Will Come’ has been selected as one of the UK’s Independent Blues Broadcasters Picks Association of the Month for November 2022.
As such it will receive considerable airplay across the radio shows presented by the IBBA’s 60 plus members’ shows through november.
Digital Blues airs 16 times per week on stations based in UK, France, New Zealand & USA and is available worldwide via the internet.
A Beautiful Record!
Review “Sun Will Come” / Bluestown Records
BN126 – SEPTEMBER 2022
Bluesnews 27.09. 2022 / Johnny Andreassen
On her new album, Rita Engedalen appears more ardently African-American and Native American in soul, song and blues than ever. It is a powerful performance in which nothing is indifferent or “mere entertainment.” The opening song is a timeless acoustic old school blues. The simple and magical Mississippi blues formula that she has refined into her very own style over a long life. The jangle in the guitar strings, the naked nerve, giving the feeling that this has been recorded in the most honest and direct production possible. Where the strong feelings of pain and hope merge, being powerful and magical. Just put away your cell phone, the newspaper and your deck of cards. Rita Engedalen will hand out the cards for you this time. She has a lot of emotions and a lot of strong blues to share with you on a wonderfully strong album. The bare acoustic opening immediately turns into a heavily rocked voodoo priestess in “Sunshine devil.” The menacing rumble of the bass, the African-American ominous and dense drumming, the voodoo B3 Hammond and Morten Omlid’s less-is-more electric guitar riffing, together with Rita’s foreboding vocal is a high-end of exceptional. There is nowhere to hide. Here you need to be strong. This is exactly how the world feels for many of us today. After pouring out naked emotions and painting herself with war paint, everything is subdued to a lingering country beat a la Rosanne Cash. It’s the hour of reckoning, a debt is to be paid, but we need God’s strength and help to make it. The crows circle above us while the sky turns black. You can put a lot into the lyrics and mood in a country tune that feels so relaxed and laid back as this song, a bit like Chris Rea in one of his melancholy moments. The variety of song material is enormous on this album, everything is surprisingly well connected, complete and not feeling cut or pasted, but rather like a whole lived life split into several chapters. I say astonishingly, because the album didn’t feel that way right away. You need three or four listens, preferably by yourself focusing on the music and details, before you are “home” at the center of this album. The experience of the album’s Zen. And I promise you: This feels like Rita’s best album to date. The album has a live recorded feel, just hearing Rita count in the title track confirms that. It is an album about survival, about rain and dark clouds. it is about a promise that the sun will break through one day. It is blues to the bone in the singer/songwriter’s presentation style of her mentor Jessie Mae Hemphill and on to John Prine’s country blues. She does one of Jessie Mae Hemphill’s truly iconic blues songs in “Black Cat Bone”, where Daniel Eriksen brings out his rattlesnake guitar which, together with Rita’s heartfelt vocals and timing, makes this a moment that feels bewitching and magical. Jessie Mae Hemphill is Rita Engedalen. Rita Engedalen is Jessie Mae Hemphill. Proud and magical blues, right up there with the best you’ve heard from treasure chests up north Mississippi. When Rita delivers the song which is about exactly what we’re talking about here “North Mississippi Blues.” the guitars are sharper, more rock ‘n’ roll, more CBGB’s than the time when a young Patti Smith ravaged there with intense ferocity in the mid-’70s. Things are turned upside down, and it works. The soul and spirit of this album is unlike that of anyone else’s.
“I am Changed”, which Rita first recorded in 2008, is one of her most personal and professing songs, which is done in a completely new version with Nils Petter Molvær on trumpet. The jazz feelings really dresses this song’s personal and almost religious message, where Morten Omlid’s guitars are delightfully withdrawn and more like a 50’s backdrop. Proof that things mature, and can always be done better. It is one of Rita’s strongest songs that has been lifted to someplace new and will make an impression on many, I think. The album is entirely recorded in Juke Joint Studio at Notodden, Rita has produced herself, Margit Bakken, Tuva Syvertsen and Kari Gjærum carefully. They are a chorus with 150 years of experience. Olaf Olsen from Bigbang delivers tasteful percussion, Notodden’s B3 magician Espen Fjelle performs on a number of songs, with Bård Gunnar Moe skilfully on bass, the foundation of Spoonful Of Blues, Eskil Aasland on drums and Morten Omlid providing guitars. Jostein Forsberg plays harmonica on “I want to feel good”. If there’s anything you feel after getting into this seventh album by Rita Engedalen, «it’s feeling good». Rita leaves the album with Native American nerve on “Wait for Me,” similar to the one she began with on “Let’s Go Down and Pray.” The mood from the introduction is there, the dark clouds, the lived life, the blues. “Time is running out now, like the water to the sea, wait for me”. No party record, no easy record, no incoherent record, but a lot of soul, blues and a Rita Engedalen who, in Norway, there only is one of. A lovely album – almost perfect as the material is completely there!
New album coming!
Release date 5th August.
Norway’s Blues Queen Rita Engedalen is back with her new album, “Sun Will Come”.
The new album “Sun Will Come” will be released at Notodden Blues Festival August 5th 2022.
Rita’s songs are original material she has written and which she performs in a distinctive and personal style
She is described as an artist owning a most unique presence. She often strikes the listener’s soul with her honest lyrics, strong melodies combined with her powerful and sensitive vocal.
“Sun Will Come” is a strong blues recording containing a wider musical horizon than her previous releases.
The style is directly inspired by music from the American South states. A solid mix of American Blues, Gospel, Roots Music and Hill-Country Music, Rock, and Norwegian Folk Music.
The album contains current and personal lyrics, and the first cut ” Let´s Go Down and Pray” which acoustically performed by guitarist Morten Omlid and Rita Engedalen creates a magical allusion of folk music, while at the same time as they are clearly within the concept of blues.
The song “Sun Will Come” brings the listener back to the original acoustic blues. “Sunshine Devil” is a rock-song where Rita and the band raises the temperature as audiences have learned to love during her live performances.
Rita Engedalen’s intensively personal song “I´m changed” reaches new heights in this new recording with musician Nils Petter Molvær on the trumpet.
On this recording Engedalen interprets Jessie Mae Hemphill’s “Black Cat Bone”. During her first pilgrimage to the Mississippi, Rita met this Hill-Countryblues legend who is one of her great inspirations. A natural chemistry and a close friendship developed between the two blues performers. In “Black Cat Bone” Rita is joined by Mattis Kleppen and Daniel Eriksen, both known for their unique and expressive styles in folk music and in the blues.
The album is defined by a talented band which has performed together for a long time and with appearances of skilled guest musicians that give the album its own dispersion of colors.
Musicians on Sun Will Come:
Engedalen on vocals and acoustic guitar, Morten Omlid (acoustic and electric guitar) Eskil Aasland (drums and percussion), Bård Gunnar Moe (bass), Margit Bakken (choir) Tuva Syvertsen (choir), Kari Gjærum (choir), Nils Petter Molvær, Olaf Olsen, Jostein Forsberg, Espen Fjelle, Mattis Kleppen, Halvor Halvorsen and Daniel Eriksen. The album is mixed by Christian Engfelt. Technicians are Halvor Halvorsen and Bård Gunnar Moe.
All songs are recorded in the Juke Joint studio in Notodden, but the new version Colors in Rain is recorded in Studio Paradiso in Oslo and is an acapella with Margit Bakken from Women in Blues, and the folk musician Tuva Syvertsen. The song is a tribute to some of the important African American blues women who fought for their freedom such as Billie Holiday and Ma Rainey.
The album “Sun Will Come” is Rita’s seventh album, and is produced by the blues queen herself, together with co-producer Bård Gunnar Moe. The album is released by Bluestown Records in Notodden.
More about Rita Engedalen
Rita Engedalen is one of the most high-profile female blues artists in Europe.
She has recently concentrated on the important and popular project “Women In Blues”, but now Rita is focusing on her solo career and her new album “Sun Will Come”.
Rita Engedalen debuted as a blues artist on record in 2004 with the album «Hear My Song». She has recorded six albums under her own name and has a remarkable and award-winning career. She received the Norwegian Grammy Prize for the album “Heaven Aint Ready For Me Yet” in 2006, and awarded the Notodden Blues Festival’s Blues Prize in 2010.
Rita Engedalen has an international audience and won the European Blues Challenge in Berlin in 2012.
In 2016 Engedalen became one of the few Norwegian artists who has headlined Sunflower River Gospel festival in Clarksdale.
Rita’s influences are mostly American folk music from districts and areas not very familiar to the mainstream audiences.
Dusty roads, back and forth from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi Delta are areas she travels musically.
Her intense nerve, her strong and rich voice mixed with deeply rooted soul form her personal musical expression.
Many songs rooted in Rita’s musical landscape are often formed upon a simple, repetitive chord progression with intensely felt emotions and the raw power of trance. Making songs in these musical terms is for Rita very natural; she’s actually a natural born master.
Rita is a full range artist, both on CD and as a live performer. The combination of natural talent, a beautiful voice, solid song writing skills, original music and her outstanding musicians makes Rita’s live shows to amazing experiences!
New upcoming album!
Rita Engedalen is Norway’s definitive Blues Queen and one of the most profound female blues artists in Europe.
Rita has now making her solo-album number seven, who is about to be released August 5th at Notodden Bluesfestival 2022 .
She will perform with Morten Omlid guitar, Eskil Aasland drums, Bård Gunnar Moe bass and her long time musical partner and blues-sister Margit Bakken.
Engedalen debuted as a blues performer with the 2004 recording of her album “Hear My Song”.
She has since recorded five albums under her own name while receiving the Norwegian Grammy for her blues album “Heaven Aint Ready For Me Yet” in 2006.
Rita Engedalen has an international audience and she was the winner of the European Blues Challenge in Berlin in 2012.
The music: The style, directly inspired by music from the American South states.
Solid mix of American Blues, Gospel, Norwegian Folk Music, Roots Music and Hill-Country Music.
Rita’s songs are original material she has written and which she performs in a distinctive and personal style.
You can Pre-Save the album “Sun Will Come” by using this link:
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