Vår historia
One summer’s evening in 2015 when the thunder was rumbling and the storm was howling through the valley of Håga, Sweden, the three siblings Daniel, Gabbi and Natasja suddenly heard and got enchanted by a voice of a flute. It was Säde playing and singing traditional spells of Estonia. The three siblings felt like it was the ancestors and the folk ‘n’ roll gods making a common cause and in that moment they knew they had to create a bridge between the sacred lands of Håga and Estonia. That’s how FRÄNDER born – like a lightening fired by a spark! And Säde became part of the family.
“We are energized by, and find creative freedom within the expressive modern sound of nordic traditional music. But we have never been interested in merely reproducing the past, instead we strive to find new ways back into the future.”
Their 2017 debut album FRÄNDER I was met with strong reception, leading to a world tour. Over the next few years, FRÄNDER performed at major music festivals across Europe and North America, showcasing their unique sound. In addition to touring, FRÄNDER initiated their own semi-annual curated music festival in 2019. It’s called Fränder & Vänner Folkmusikfestival, held in Fränder’s home town Uppsala. The second edition of this festival took place in March 2020, featuring bands from seven different countries. Despite the impending pandemic, they successfully hosted the event just before global restrictions were implemented.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, FRÄNDER adapted by collaborating with the Polish band Sutari. They recorded an EP titled Across the Baltic Sea in March 2020, which was released in 2021. This project is a beautiful blend of two strong and very different voices on the folk music scene and also combining Polish and Swedish traditional music. It wasn’t until 2022 Sutari and FRÄNDER were finally on tour together again with their common material.
“We don’t like to be stuck in one genre. For us that also means not to mix genres heedlessly. Instead it’s important for us to unnoticeably blend them together – like a carefully taste balanced stew. That’s why we chose to work with people who are experienced in other musical fields – but not necessarily tied to the doctrines of traditional Swedish music,” says Gabbi.
The group’s second album, FRÄNDER II, was released in 2023 and is like nothing else heard on the folk or world music scene, pushing stylistic boundaries and proving FRÄNDER to be among today’s most trendsetting Scandinavian bands. They make a personal imprint on the nordic sound of folk music and their music is hauntingly evocative, with subtle echoes of Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tulland even the Beatles blending seamlessly with sounds from both Swedish and Estonian traditional music. Although their compositions are original, FRÄNDER interprets traditional music in a rock idiom, sometimes dubbed “heavy folk”, despite using acoustic instruments. Their music truly rocks!
“We composed and recorded FRÄNDER II throughout the pandemic, selecting Daniel Bergstrand as engineer and co producer – one of Sweden’s most-hired producers for metal. Yet it’s important for us to still be playing acoustic instruments commonly used in our traditional music. Even the percussion is played in a, for Swedish music, traditional way. FRÄNDER’s music is filled with traditional rhythms, medieval folklore and based on our traditional dance types. You will also hear us play all sorts of traditional instruments, like Swedish bagpipe, Jew’s harp, willow whistle, Swedish mandola and kulning – an ancient way of singing used for herding cattle, that is unique to Swedish tradition.”
Another bridge the group built for the new album was generational, as they enlisted veteran percussionist Björn Tollin, a founding member of Sweden’s Hedningarna who had revolutionized the Nordic folk scene in the 90s with his drums. He hadn’t recorded an album since the critically acclaimed first album of BOOT “Virvla”, but upon hearing FRÄNDER he said, “I have never heard anything like this!” — and came enthusiastically onboard.
“Listening to our debut album you can hear that everything’s already there – our personal expression, the intricate arrangements and the beautiful melodies. With FRÄNDER II we took it further, not caring so much of labeling the music, but with the ambition to challenge what’s considered folk music and placing us on the outskirts of the genre. We’re still playing acoustic instruments, but heavier, with a modern sound and influences far beyond the folk scene. Making a mix of music accessible to people with no expertise or special insight in Swedish or Estonian traditional music, but still using all the typical stylistic elements from our tradition. This is how we heard it in our heads all along!“
In 2024 parallel to continuously touring, FRÄNDER organized their festival in New York City for the first time. This time under the name Nordic Now! The event featured both emerging and established Nordic bands, all invited to perform at a full house theater and introducing Nordic folk music to North America. By showcasing these incredible talents, FRÄNDER aims to increase engagement in the U.S. and spread the beauty of Nordic folk music to a wider audience.
“The name FRÄNDER is an old Swedish Viking word that means next of kin, family, relatives, and close friends. Choosing this name for the band is no accident, as we are family and share a view of life rooted in the belief that music is a universal language and a unifying force. FRÄNDER embodies this belief, representing an inclusive term that signifies a deeper kinship among us as humans, beyond mere acquaintances. Our music captures the meeting of different languages and musical traditions, which fosters a human connection and reminds us that, at our core, we are all FRÄNDER, regardless of background and culture.“