releases

First single from Norwegian artist Susanna’s upcoming album ‘Go Dig My Grave’ feat. Giovanna Pessi, Ida Hidle & Tuva Syvertsen.

‘Go Dig My Grave’ is a unique project between Susanna, Swiss baroque harp player Giovanna Pessi, accordion player Ida Hidle and fiddle player & folk singer Tuva Syvertsen. The quartet have reworked ten eclectic songs from seemingly disparate worlds and brought them together on this album of sympathetic and beautiful interpretations. They lend their talents to traditional English and American folk songs, numbers by Purcell, Elizabeth Cotten, Joy Division and Lou Reed, as well a new composition by Susanna written to a poem from Charles Baudelaire’s once banned ‘Flowers of Evil’.

The first track to be shared online is the album’s title track, “Go Dig My Grave”, a traditional folk previously sung by Jean Ritchie. Speaking of how she discovered this Susanna explains: “During my trips to the States over the past years I have picked various Folkways records (which is an incredible label) and I have been able to discover some old songs. The label presents a broad variety of American folk songs and among my favourites are the Jean Ritchie albums, and her version of ‘Go Dig My Grave’. When I heard the song I knew immediately that I wanted to sing it, I was struck by the presence in her singing and the tragic story to the song. It took a while to make my own version of it though, to find the right way to present it.”

Susanna- vocals

Giovanna Pessi- baroque harp

Ida Løvli Hidle- accordion

Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen- fiddle

Recorded by Jan Erik Kongshaug at Rainbow Studio Oslo

Mixed by Jan Erik Kongshaug with Helge Sten and Susanna at Rainbow Studio.

Produced by Deathprod and Susanna

Mastered by Helge Sten at Audio Virus Lab. 

Cover is an artwork by Arne Bendik Sjur, used with the artist’s permission.