Ida Maria – Fortress ’round My Heart
It’s imperative that I write about Ida Maria, not only because of the fact that I recently got her newly refurbished North American album release, but also because of an ongoing personal feud I have with a Norwegian guy (you know who you are… Ola) about her music.
I have travelled Ida’s homeland of Norway (amazing country, you gotta check it out, but don’t forget to take out a mortgage to be able to afford Norwegian beer) a couple times in my recent past. That’s how I first came to hear Ida’s music, live at a wonderfully awesome festival in the capital city of Oslo called the Øya Festival.
My ongoing feud with Ola originated because Lykke Li (the current reigning Swedish pop-tart) was also playing the same festival on the same day as Ida Maria back in August 2008. I had a long alcohol fuelled debate with Ola about who was better musically and also who was, well, let’s not be childish about it; more bangable. I hate to use that as a concerning factor for musicians. It always makes me think of a terrible old ad featuring Blondie wearing a skimpy dress that had the words below; “Wouldn’t you like to rip her to shreds?”
Not to bring Lykke Li into this, as one should not compare such different musicians (I do like some of her stuff too) but my angle concerning Ida Maria and her music is that she’s not an oversexed piece of meat tossed out to ravenous deaf wolves. She’s got a wholesome yet edgy survivalist feel to her. She came from the tiny town of Nesna, on the rugged Norwegian coastline, then onto a missionary run boarding school in Bergen (of a similar rugged coastline) which by the way could be the most gorgeous city in the world, maybe if it rained one third less than it does (it rains about 275 days of the year there) so she has an endearing tale of coming from relative obscurity and striving to get her voice and music heard.
Ida Maria’s music is an energetic flow of pop rock, it has an uplifting and introspective feel to it. I dig her voice, she has an honest persistence as she sings with a gentle raspy tone, occasionally escalating into a proclaiming yell. Her lyrics are delivered with an admirable sense of urgency that makes her songs come off very openly with personal sentiment. She has a strong and dedicated musical persona, really giving it her all during live shows that can leave her falling to her feet, or even head butting a guitar that once drew blood. She really is one strong and sincere woman.
Her album Fortress ‘round My Heart has only recently been released to the North American audience. These songs have existed for a little while now. The album comes off a bit tinkered with and more polished, but only if you’re already a fan or a well tuned Norwegian in the know. Either way, it’s good stuff to have a solid Norwegian musician being well received outside her home country. Isn’t that right Ola?
Ida Maria – Oh My God
Ida Maria – Keep Me Warm
Ida Maria – Queen of the World
Ida Maria – Drive Away My Heart
p.s. listen to her song; To Do List For January (on her myspace or youtube) as soon as you can just in case the American political environment changes too much…
Tags: album
You can write what you want aboot Ida, you know in your heart that Lykke Li has more talent, makes more creative music and yes, I don’t like it either, but damn she’s hot! No contest!