The Nordic Sound, a Nordic Musicology Podcast

Jameson Foster
  • 5.0 (17)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY

What is the Nordic sound? Is there even a Nordic sound to begin with? Why has the music of the North long invited so much popular attention and imagination across the centuries? Join musicologist Jameson Foster as he explores the very question of music and Nordic cultural heritage through interviews with some of the most prominent musicians in the Nordic music scene today across genres, from black metal, to classical and trad folk, and everything in between.  Remember: No Nazis in Valhalla. 

  1. JAN 11

    #63 - Jósúa Hróðgeir Rood of NEXION talks Sundrung

    Send us a text After a long hiatus, the Nordic Sound returns with Jósúa Hróðgeir Rood to talk about Nexion's latest album "Sundrung". Not only is Josh a rising vocal star in the extreme metal scene, but as a scholar he is currently writing my PHD dissertation on Ásatrú as a reinvention of Old Norse Heathenism for the Social and Human Sciences department at University of Iceland. Putting two PhD students in related fields together in a zoom room is typically a recipe for disaster, but I think we managed alright ;) Thanks for the good hang, Josh! Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    1h 34m

  2. 12/24/2025

    The Nordic Sound's Top 10 Albums of 2025

    Send us a text What a year to be a Nordic music geek, eh? This is already my fourth year of doing these year-end lists, and looking back, I do believe this year has left the greatest impression on me. Not only as a listener, but as a musician myself. I look forward to what next year has in store, but for now, it's time to reflect and enjoy on the awesome music Nordic artists have brought us this year. Thanks for another great year, everyone, and happy holidays! Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    25 min

  3. 10/12/2025

    #62 - Faber Horbach talks Sowulo's new album NIHT

    Send us a text Faber and I had such a good time hanging out for Nordic Sound 52 , that we just had to have him back on the channel to talk about Sowulo’s latest album, NIHT. We also talk about our shared challenges of listening to music as musicians (cognitive vs emotional listening), mythology, paganism, and why we seem to always use esoteric languages in this style of music. Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    1h 14m

  4. 10/05/2025

    #61 - Runahild Kvitbjarkan talks Seid, Healing, and Spirituality

    Send us a text Runahild joins the channel once again for Nordic Sound #61 to chat about her upcoming album (and book!) Seid, in which she takes us through a personal and spiritual journey with "seid" - an ancient Nordic shamanic practice of which there is woefully little archaeological or literary record.  Seid is out October 17th! Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    1h 8m

  5. 09/21/2025

    #60 - Einar Selvik of Wardruna | Birna, Fire in the Mountains, and More

    Send us a text Live from the Pike's Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Einar and Jameson sit down for a retrospective on Wardruna’s “Birna” and the historic Fire in the Mountains festival in Montana this past July. Jameson Foster is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in Nordic music traditions.  Thumbnail photo: Morten Munthe Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    41 min

  6. 09/14/2025

    #59 - Maja Kjaer | Danish Folk Music and Fiddling

    Send us a text Maja Kjaer joins the Nordic Sound for episode 59 to talk about her debut album "Landing", why Danish music is "like that", fiddling traditions in Denmark, and more.  Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    1h 26m

  7. 09/07/2025

    #58 - MÍO | Live from Midgardsblot 2025

    Send us a text Live from Midgardsblot, MÍO returns to the Nordic Sound for a second time for an interview about their signing with ByNorse, their new album "Hva Nå", and how they use creatures of folklore to tell their stories about modern issues through their lyrics. Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    43 min

  8. 08/24/2025

    #57 - Mathias Dahlsveen (Vanvidd) | Live from Midgardsblot

    Send us a text In this installment of the Nordic Sound live from Midgardsblot, Jameson the Garden Gnome is joined by Mathias Dahlsveen of Norwegian folk metal band Vanvidd for a chat about the band's history and how they approach their own style of folk metal in their latest album Avlivsritualer. Featuring special guest, Borrepus I highly recommend checking out Vanvidd's discography if you haven't already. Avlivsritualer: https://vanvidd.bandcamp.com/album/avlivsritualer Support the show The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound Bar Monica Ember George Bets Carrie Gen Leigh Mike Cindy Clayton Drake Eric Jamie Julia Mary Michael Michael Sean Simon Tony You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound

    35 min
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About

What is the Nordic sound? Is there even a Nordic sound to begin with? Why has the music of the North long invited so much popular attention and imagination across the centuries? Join musicologist Jameson Foster as he explores the very question of music and Nordic cultural heritage through interviews with some of the most prominent musicians in the Nordic music scene today across genres, from black metal, to classical and trad folk, and everything in between.  Remember: No Nazis in Valhalla. 

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