As we merge musical energies and aesthetics, the output can emerge as new music, creating new pathways. Merge Emerge, the first Indo-Norwegian electronic music compilation in the making, is a spin off on a similar idea. That by merging styles between a diverse group of artists, the effect is of emerging prospects, full of surprises. Merge Emerge is made of 18 artists from India and Norway, audible across 13 songs. A passionate response from electronic music producers based in India and Norway, who are clearly diverse in age, background and experience. Spanning one hour and ten minutes, the songs often conceal the roots and gender of the composers, which then makes us wonder if electronic music today as any correlation to nativity. Via electronic music culture, a new north-south link is being established, call it a direct synergy between artists and curators. Despite the global hiatus within the music industry due to the Covid19 pandemic, the curators and producers have persisted through 2020 in their efforts to bring the compilation to life. An eclectic leadoff into Indo-Norwegian electronic music - Merge Emerge. An eagerly awaited release!
Curated by Endre Dalen and Audio Pervert, the idea to create a compilation was conceived in 2019, as a foundational step towards future Indo-Norwegian exchange and collaboration. Bridging culture and individual potential being the keystone of the venture. “Merge Emerge is a diverse compilation, and not necessarily showcasing the status quo of electronic music in India and Norway. The Norwegian artists’ tend to sound open-minded towards the sounds from the eastern/southern hemisphere, while the artists from India are spearheading established genres like electro, techno, glitch or synth-pop - yet with surprising takes on the given genres. The artists, on both sides have loads in common, yet the main thing separating them is nationality. I would be surprised, if you as an experienced electronic music listener could pin down the nativity on just about any of these tracks" states Endre Dalen, a designer, editor and writer for Mela Festival / Melahuset in Oslo and the Samora Magazine. Listen To 'Merge Emerge' Sneak Preview.
As most concept based compilations are about a given genre, or a region, or a similar group of artists, Merge Emerge takes the contrary route to assimilate the music. To connect two antipodal nations in terms of location, distance and size. "The artist response to our initial call for collaboration was simply amazing! A bunch of colourful, energetic tunes and demos started coming in last year. By early 2020, we were listening to a rich spectrum of tunes, stretching from the fringes of experimental electronica to dark post-techno to far-out glitch to catchy synth-pop. Deliciously synthesized throughout! The compilation is an embodiment of the thriving electronic music culture and talent present in both the countries." states Audio Pervert. Merge Emerge Electronic Press Kit + Streaming Link.
