Irene Tillung (accordion) has waited a long time to release her own album, but now that it’s finally here it bears witness to a composer and musician who has invested substantial energy and devoted herself wholeheartedly to the project. Tillung has written all of the gripping new compositions on the record, and has gathered a dream team of ten other musicians, from bands such as Valkyrien, In the Country, Oslo Strings and Sver, to join her at the legendary Rainbow Studio.
Dream project
Tillung, who is currently studying film music at Lillehammer University College, had been interested in tackling her own project for a long time. In 2015 she received a grant from the Composers’ Remuneration Fund, and began working on the project nearly before she had put the Fund’s letter down. She finally had the chance to fulfil a long-standing dream. She booked the recording dates at Rainbow Studio well before the compositions were finished, and then the long process of choosing musicians began. “I have called the ensemble put together for this project Ti på Taket (Ten on the Roof)”, says Irene, referring to the Norwegian proverb “A bird in the hand is better than ten on the roof”. “In realising the project I have defied this proverb by stretching uncompromisingly towards a lofty goal, one which often seems to be out of reach: assembling a special ten-member dream team to record my own music in a dream studio.”
Enthusiasm
While playing at the Hardanger Music Festival, Irene met jazz trumpeter Mathias Eick. During a conversation he mentioned that he would like to work more with folk music. When Irene got the chance to make an album she took him at his word and asked him to produce it.
It’s not difficult to hear that the album is the result of a process marked by enthusiasm, energy and joy. The music is relaxed and gives the hand-picked musicians space to let their creativity loose. Hildersyn is an original, lively and dynamic release.
Release concert:
5 October, Riksscenen, Oslo
