
Advertise on podcast: The Nordic Sound, a Nordic Musicology Podcast
Rating
5from
This podcast has
104 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Jameson FosterExplicit
No
Date created
2020/03/27
Latest episode
2026/01/11
Average duration
63 min.
Release period
17 days
Description
What is the Nordic sound? Is there even a Nordic sound to begin with? Why has the music of the North long invited so much popular attention and imagination across the centuries? Join musicologist Jameson Foster as he explores the very question of music and Nordic cultural heritage through interviews with some of the most prominent musicians in the Nordic music scene today across genres, from black metal, to classical and trad folk, and everything in between. Remember: No Nazis in Valhalla.
Unlock The Nordic Sound, a Nordic Musicology Podcast podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details
Email contact information
Direct podcast contact details

Listeners
Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details
Podcast Insights

Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from The Nordic Sound, a Nordic Musicology Podcast podcast
#63 - Jósúa Hróðgeir Rood of NEXION talks Sundrung
2026/01/11
Send us a text
After a long hiatus, the Nordic Sound returns with Jósúa Hróðgeir Rood to talk about Nexion's latest album "Sundrung". Not only is Josh a rising vocal star in the extreme metal scene, but as a scholar he is currently writing my PHD dissertation on Ásatrú as a reinvention of Old Norse Heathenism for the Social and Human Sciences department at University of Iceland. Putting two PhD students in related fields together in a zoom room is typically a recipe for disaster, but I think we managed alright ;) Thanks for the good hang, Josh!
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
The Nordic Sound's Top 10 Albums of 2025
2025/12/24
Send us a text
What a year to be a Nordic music geek, eh? This is already my fourth year of doing these year-end lists, and looking back, I do believe this year has left the greatest impression on me. Not only as a listener, but as a musician myself. I look forward to what next year has in store, but for now, it's time to reflect and enjoy on the awesome music Nordic artists have brought us this year.
Thanks for another great year, everyone, and happy holidays!
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#62 - Faber Horbach talks Sowulo's new album NIHT
2025/10/12
Send us a text
Faber and I had such a good time hanging out for Nordic Sound 52 , that we just had to have him back on the channel to talk about Sowulo’s latest album, NIHT. We also talk about our shared challenges of listening to music as musicians (cognitive vs emotional listening), mythology, paganism, and why we seem to always use esoteric languages in this style of music.
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#61 - Runahild Kvitbjarkan talks Seid, Healing, and Spirituality
2025/10/05
Send us a text
Runahild joins the channel once again for Nordic Sound #61 to chat about her upcoming album (and book!) Seid, in which she takes us through a personal and spiritual journey with "seid" - an ancient Nordic shamanic practice of which there is woefully little archaeological or literary record.
Seid is out October 17th!
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#60 - Einar Selvik of Wardruna | Birna, Fire in the Mountains, and More
2025/09/21
Send us a text
Live from the Pike's Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Einar and Jameson sit down for a retrospective on Wardruna’s “Birna” and the historic Fire in the Mountains festival in Montana this past July.
Jameson Foster is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in Nordic music traditions.
Thumbnail photo: Morten Munthe
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#59 - Maja Kjaer | Danish Folk Music and Fiddling
2025/09/14
Send us a text
Maja Kjaer joins the Nordic Sound for episode 59 to talk about her debut album "Landing", why Danish music is "like that", fiddling traditions in Denmark, and more.
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#58 - MÍO | Live from Midgardsblot 2025
2025/09/07
Send us a text
Live from Midgardsblot, MÍO returns to the Nordic Sound for a second time for an interview about their signing with ByNorse, their new album "Hva Nå", and how they use creatures of folklore to tell their stories about modern issues through their lyrics.
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#57 - Mathias Dahlsveen (Vanvidd) | Live from Midgardsblot
2025/08/24
Send us a text
In this installment of the Nordic Sound live from Midgardsblot, Jameson the Garden Gnome is joined by Mathias Dahlsveen of Norwegian folk metal band Vanvidd for a chat about the band's history and how they approach their own style of folk metal in their latest album Avlivsritualer. Featuring special guest, Borrepus
I highly recommend checking out Vanvidd's discography if you haven't already.
Avlivsritualer: https://vanvidd.bandcamp.com/album/avlivsritualer
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#56 - Johannes Geworkian Hellman (Symbio) | A Nordic Hurdy-Gurdy Virtuoso
2025/07/24
Send us a text
Johannes Geworkian Hellman is one of the foremost names in the Nordic folk music sphere today, impressing audiences the world over with his acrobatic and innovative approach to an often underestimated instrument - the Hurdy-Gurdy.
Johannes sits down with Jameson for Nordic Sound 56 to reflect on his Hurdy-Gurdy journey and his own identity as a musician, the story of his acclaimed gurdy/accordion duo Symbio with Lars Emil Öjeberget, and his recent collaboration with highly regarded kantele player Maija Kauhanen.
I think this is an especially important episode for the musicians who follow the channel, as Johannes offers some profound insight and perspective on what it means to be a musician in the 21st century.
Johannes Website: https://www.johannesgeworkianhellman.se/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johannesgeworkianhellman/
Symbio: https://symbiomusic.com/
Maija Kauhanen & Johannes Geworkian Hellman: https://www.kauhanenhellman.com/
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
2:07 Johannes’ Hurdy-Gurdy Journey
19:20 The Hurdy-Gurdy in Swedish Tradition
26:44 Symbio
50:55 Migrating with Maija Kauhanen
1:01:37 Advice for Aspiring Musicians
1:10:03 Solo Project
1:21:20 Some spiritual perspectives on musicianship
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#55 - Björn Kaidel (Akleja, Plønk) | Scandinavian Folk Music in Germany
2025/07/13
Send us a text
Björn Kaidel (Akleja, Plønk) joins Nordic Sound #55 to talk about how the Scandinavian folk revival of recent decades is leading to renewed interest among German musicians to reclaim a folk music tradition of their own. Diving deeper, Björn and Jameson discuss the importance of medieval folk/rock bands such as In Extremo and Faun in keeping some semblance of folk music alive in Germany, how the folk revival is using archival work and manuscripts to reclaim a lost tradition, and the old connections between all folk musics of Europe and beyond before they became a matter of national identity.
Of course, we then tie all of this together in talking about Björn’s project Plønk and the reclaiming of the Waldzither as a German folk instrument, and his work with his wife in Akleja that could fool anyone into believing he’s Swedish (the name Björn doesn’t hurt).
Timestamps:
0:00 Overture
1:59 Introductions
5:50 Getting into Scandifolk
11:11 Where’s the German folk music scene?
44:02 Why Folk Music?
51:24 Plønk and the Waldzither
1:08:32 Akleja
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#54 - Mia Guldhammer (Virelai) | Danish Folk Music, Medieval Ballads, and Viking Reenactments
2025/06/15
Send us a text
Please join me in welcoming the inimitable Mia Guldhammer to Nordic Sound #54. Performing with acts such as Virelai, Mallebrok, and now Guldganger, Mia has long made a name for herself as a passionate keeper and performer of the Scandinavian ballad tradition at Medieval markets and reenactments, as well as a celebrated vocalist in the Danish folk music scene. Mia takes us through her experience in both, diving deep into the enchanting world of medieval balladry, how we keep them alive (and meaningful) today, and how we can bridge the worlds of traditional folk music and medieval reenactment.
Mia, thank you so much for joining the Nordic Sound, it was an absolute pleasure to nerd out with someone as passionate and knowledgeable as yourself.
0:00 Overture
1:46 Introduction
4:06 Mia’s Musical Upbringing
12:29 Medieval Ballads
25:24 Danish Folk Music
51:40 Medieval Markets and Reenactments
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#53 - Levina Storåkern | Indie Nordic Folk, Musicianship, and "Månadsvill"
2025/06/08
Send us a text
Most known through her bands Diket and Ævestaden, Levina Storåkern joins Nordic Sound #53 to talk about her recently released solo endeavor “Månadsvill”. Captivated on the first listen, Jameson sits down with this rising star to talk about her songwriting process and the inspirations that went into the record, as well as learning more about her journey as a folk musician. Along the way, we also get into a pretty interesting discussion about how we understand others through their music, and the importance of understanding what kind of musician you are so you can thrive. You can’t teach a butterfly to bark, after all.
Come join us in Nordic Sound 53 to hear more!
Album link: https://levinastorakern.bandcamp.com/album/m-nadsvill
0:00 Overture
1:25 Introduction
9:00 Levina’s story
21:03 Is folk music cool again?
35:39 Understanding others through their music
42:05 The Kantele
50:42 Musicians, artists, and virtuosos
1:00:14 Månadsvill
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
Album Review: Maija Kauhanen and Johannes Geworkian Hellman, "Migrating"
2025/06/04
Send us a text
Painting vivid impressionistic landscapes through their ancient instruments, Nordic folk titans Maija Kauhanen and Johannes Geworkian Hellman join forces on their debut album Migrating. Each of these musicians are heavy hitters, or even icons, if I could be so bold on their respective instruments, Maija on kantele and Johannes on hurdy-gurdy, so I have been fairly curious in the lead up to this record to see how these musicians were going to pull off blending these instruments which, despite being rather ancient, have seldom been put together, and certainly not at this caliber.
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
#52 - Ritual Music with Faber Horbach (Sowulo)
2025/06/01
Send us a text
Faber Horbach of Sowulo joins the Nordic Sound for episode 52 to talk about Sowulo’s origins, the recent tour, and walk us through the band’s development from Alvenrad to Wurdiz. We also get into a pretty good discussion about artistic integrity when bridging music, mythology, and history. Thanks for hanging out, Faber!
0:00 Intro
1:08 Europoean Tour, Echoes and Mervailles, Opening for Heilung
12:52 Early Sowulo
26:30 Alvenrad
29:34 Sol
35:08 Artistic Integrity
47:39 Mann
55:56 Grima
1:03:20 Wurdiz
1:14:16 What’s Next?
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
Album Review: Noiduin, "Lovi"
2025/05/28
Send us a text
Rooted in ancient Finnish lore, Noiduin emerges with their first full-length album Lovi, an homage to an otherworldly state or space, a rift between worlds, and a place of crossing where the veil between the living and the dead thins. With a sound palette dominated by tagelharpa, percussion, kantele, and raw ethereal voices, Lovi brings songs both new and revisited to their already impressive repertoire.
Support the show
The Nordic Sound is supported by its patrons over on Patreon.com/nordicsound
Bar
Monica
Ember
George
Bets
Carrie
Gen
Leigh
Mike
Cindy
Clayton
Drake
Eric
Jamie
Julia
Mary
Michael
Michael
Sean
Simon
Tony
You too can support the project at patreon.com/nordicsound
Podcast reviews
Read The Nordic Sound, a Nordic Musicology Podcast podcast reviews
Nico 2025/09/25
Gold standard of podcasts
No fluff, no surprise agenda. Just great musicians having wonderful conversations. The sound quality is exceptional and consistent. Host Jameson is so...
Yogiaccountant 2025/07/18
Love this
I’m so intrigued by the music, the history, the insight. The guests are interesting and Jameson is a wonderful podcaster!
LukeAGriffin 2023/08/10
Great and Accessible Musicology
I’m a very new listener, but have found this podcast to be intriguing, interdisciplinary, and totally accessible for people from all musical backgroun...
Podcast sponsorship advertising
Start advertising on The Nordic Sound, a Nordic Musicology Podcast relevant audience podcasts
You may also like to advertise on these Podcasts

4.4371061566
The Megyn Kelly Show
SiriusXM

4.888901269
Fearless with Jason Whitlock
Blaze Podcast Network

4.8118931000
Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge

4.8102131585
Tara Brach
Tara Brach

4.541561215
Something You Should Know
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media

4.513841343
Strictly Anonymous Confessions
Kathy Kay

4.8292781897
Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
Fantasy Football

4.62382612
Football Weekly
The Guardian

4.45387666
Two Judgey Girls
Two Judgey Girls

3.8258501152
The Viall Files
Nick Viall