Ai Phoenix

Ai Phoenix came together in Bergen, Norway during 1997, guided by the serene lyrics and soft vocals of Mona Mørk. The five-piece group, consisting of Patrick Lundberg, Bosse Litzheim, Espen Mellingen, and Robert Jønnum, pursues rich sonic textures alongside a nostalgic pop sensibility tinged with melancholy. Establishing their independent imprint Ai Phoenix Recordings in 1998 enabled the release of a pair of works before year's end: the demo CD The Violence/Mature along with a restricted pressing of their debut album Film. Following the independent issuance of the Extract demo CD in 1999, DBUT Records, an indie outfit from Norway, put out a new edition of Film that generated notable attention for the band, leading to mentions in various European web and magazine outlets of modest circulation. Momentum increased further after a restricted self-issued edition of The Driver Is Dead appeared in 2000, prompting a deal with Racing Junior; this led first to the Happy to Get Her 10" and then the complete The Driver Is Dead album later that year, which helped Ai Phoenix connect with listeners in underground scenes worldwide. Their contribution "This Is Close" to a 2001 split 7" shared with St. Thomas on Racing Junior earned a nomination as Norway's Best Single of the Year.