Norwegian artist KALENA’s sweet sensations impress with debut release

21-year-old KALENA is a brand new artist from Bergen, Norway and makes an instant impression with her debut release ‘Why Are We Still‘.

This newly discovered Norwegian pearl impresses with an exquisitely sweet and smooth voice subtly coloured with her Nordic tones. This sonic palette is where we live.

While the subject of this English sung single ‘Why Are We Still‘ hears Kalena seeking answers in a troubled relationship. The arrangement, electronic in touch and mellow, sparkles and feels upbeat and lightening. The chorus hook is a delight. This juxtaposition of emotions is a facet of music that makes it such an enjoyable art. It’s hard to believe tracks like Missing (Todd Terry Club Mix) / Everything But the Girl and Robyn / Dancing On My Own also have such sad lyrics.

Music doesn’t stop

KALENA wrote “Why Are We Still” on a piano in her childhood home during the lockdown and sent a recording to guitarist Mathias Keilegavlen Nygård (Finding Neo). Together with his bandmate Ole-Petter Ålgård (who provides the soulful keys on the track), and KALENA they worked through the Covid restrictions to produce this track over FaceTime and messages.

“I write a lot of my music in my bedroom,” says KALENA. “Most of the songs I write in my room will probably stay there forever and never be released, but there was this one song I just couldn’t get out of my head, and that was ‘Why Are We Still’.

Citing her influences as artists like YEBBA, Tom Misch, Snoh Aalegra and Amber Mark, Kalena joins the growing hotbed of emerging talents within Norway’s urban music scene with an unmissable debut.

Why Are We Still is released via Diamond Club.

FOLLOW
Instagram