Biography
Norway's Broen, whose name translates to "bridge" in their native language, fuse dub, electronic textures, jazz, R&B, and psychedelia into colorful, shape-shifting pop. Their 2019 album Do You See the Falling Leaves? channeled that hybrid approach into optimistic, connective themes at a moment of growing social fragmentation.
The lineup comprises vocalist Marianna Røe, tuba player Heida Karine Johannesdottir Mobeck, keyboardist Anja Lauvdal, drummer Hans Hulbækmo, and guitarist Lars Ove Stene Fossheim. Each member passed through jazz studies at Sund Folkehøgskole at different points; additionally, Hulbækmo, Fossheim, and Lauvdal continued at the Trondheim jazz conservatory, Mobeck pursued music technology, and Røe focused on sound arts and design at the London College of Communication. Forming in the early 2010s, the group drew from sources as varied as Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Talking Heads, and Paul Simon while developing a stage presentation built around striking costumes and movement. Their first full-length, Yoga, appeared in Norway in 2015 before being trimmed to a four-track EP for worldwide release on Propeller Records. Sessions for that international introduction took place in Oslo under the engineering of Jaga Jazzist's Marcus Forsgren. The resulting album I <3 Art, issued by Bella Union in 2017, followed the advance singles "<3" and "You (Detective)." Rejoining Forsgren, Broen crafted the expansive 2019 set Do You See the Falling Leaves?, whose songs aimed to foster unity through their sonic breadth.
The lineup comprises vocalist Marianna Røe, tuba player Heida Karine Johannesdottir Mobeck, keyboardist Anja Lauvdal, drummer Hans Hulbækmo, and guitarist Lars Ove Stene Fossheim. Each member passed through jazz studies at Sund Folkehøgskole at different points; additionally, Hulbækmo, Fossheim, and Lauvdal continued at the Trondheim jazz conservatory, Mobeck pursued music technology, and Røe focused on sound arts and design at the London College of Communication. Forming in the early 2010s, the group drew from sources as varied as Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Talking Heads, and Paul Simon while developing a stage presentation built around striking costumes and movement. Their first full-length, Yoga, appeared in Norway in 2015 before being trimmed to a four-track EP for worldwide release on Propeller Records. Sessions for that international introduction took place in Oslo under the engineering of Jaga Jazzist's Marcus Forsgren. The resulting album I <3 Art, issued by Bella Union in 2017, followed the advance singles "<3" and "You (Detective)." Rejoining Forsgren, Broen crafted the expansive 2019 set Do You See the Falling Leaves?, whose songs aimed to foster unity through their sonic breadth.
Albums
Singles
