Violeta Violeta

Untitled

Violeta Violeta is a series of studio albums by Norwegian alternative rock group Kaizers Orchestra, comprising their sixth, seventh, and eighth studio albums. This album trilogy will be released throughout 2011 and 2012. Vol. I is scheduled for release on January 31, 2011, Vol. II is expected in November 2011, and Vol. III is expected in November 2012.

Background

In 2007, Kaizers Orchestra's co-founder and primary songwriter Janove Ottesen hit a major creative boon, and composed two to three songs every day for ten days. Using this extensive backlog of material as a basis, Ottesen conceptualized a trilogy of albums based around the same theme. Retreating to the studio in the basement of his home with an oil barrel, Ottesen recorded a "bare-bones" demo of songs intended for the trilogy. Basic information was provided regarding Kaizers Orchestra next studio album in 2009, citing a 2011 release. Later, the band announced the Studio Tour, a four-concert tour of Norway whose proceedings would go to finance the new album. Concert attendees were given a mail-in letter for a limited edition version of the first album in the series. The albums' title and format, owing to Ottesen's extensive songwriting sessions in 2009, was revealed on February 10, 2010; the day of the first show of the Studio Tour. During an interview with NRK, it was stated that each album would have 10 songs each, breaking the standard they had set of 12 per album.

Recording

Recording sessions for the first of three albums began on February 28, 2010, in Duper Studios in Bergen. Jørgen Træen, Yngve Sætre, as well as Ottesen acted as producers. On March 11, Ottesen revealed that 12 songs had been recorded in 12 days, completing the first album in the trilogy. The recording of additional instrumentations such as strings and orchestra was scheduled for a later date. On June 7, 2010, their official site confirmed the completion of Vol. I, as well as the release of the first single in August, and the second single in early January of 2011. According to an interview with VG Nett following the release of their first single, they explained that the first two albums of the trilogy had already been recorded, as the first album only took a fortnight. Participating guest musicians include the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and a 14 year old girl.

Vol. I

Promotion

The first single from the first volume of the trilogy, "Philemon Arthur & the Dung", was released digitally on August 24, 2010. In October, the single was moved to the "A-list" of Norwegian radio station NRK P3, the highest priority playlist on the station, providing the song with more frequent airplay and exposure. To promote the release of the second single, "Hjerteknuser", Kaizers Orchestra released the official notes and lyrics to the song for free download, allowing unsigned musicians to record their own version of the song. The winner, Moi, was announced on Norwegian radio on October 27, 2010, who is scheduled to have her cover of "Hjerteknuser" released on Kaizers Orchestra's proprietary record label, and the opportunity to tour with them in 2011; during the same broadcast, Kaizers Orchestra's own version of the song received its world premiere. The second and third place winners of the competition were also given permission to release their separate versions. The music video for Kaizers Orchestra's "Hjerteknuser" stars famous Norwegian actress Ane Dahl Torp portraying Beatrice, one of the characters from the lyrical "universe" of Violeta Violeta.

For their third single, "En for orgelet, en for meg", they collaborated with guest rappers from Germany (Prinz Pi) Sweden (Timbuktu), and The Netherlands (Blaxtar) to create versions of the song to be released in those countries. The album version of the song is made available for digital download upon pre-ordering the first album.

Violeta Violeta Vol. 1 album art

Track listing

Lyrics for all songs are in the Norwegian language. Lyrics and music by Janove Ottesen, unless otherwise noted.

1. "Philemon Arthur & the Dung" - 3:22
2. "Diamant til kull" (Diamonds to Coal) - 4:45
3. "Femtakt filosofi" (5/4 Time Philosophy) - 3:43
4. "Din kjole lukter bensin, mor" (Your Dress Smells of Gasoline, Mother) - 3:16
5. "En for orgelet, en for meg" (One for the Organ, One for Me) - 3:05
6. "Tumor i ditt hjerte" (Tumor in Your Heart) - 4:24
7. "Hjerteknuser" (Heartbreaker) - 3:20
8. "Psycho under min hatt" (Psycho under My Hat) - 3:03
9. "Svarte katter & flosshatter" (Black Cats & Top Hats) - 5:12
10. "Sju bøtter tårer er nok, Beatrice" (Seven Buckets of Tears are Enough, Beatrice) - 5:11

Expected Songs

The following songs have been mentioned in reports from the studio while the band was recording Vol. I and Vol. II, and are expected to be on either of those.

• "Drøm videre Violeta" (Dream On, Violeta)