Oh Land has the curiosity-seekers saying ‘Oh, yes’
Seraphina Lotkhamnga on
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Oh Land arrived in Los Angeles this week more than a month ahead of her album release (March 15 on Epic) – and at the forefront of a plethora of Scandinavian dance-pop queens aspiring to be the next Robyn, Annie or Lykke Li. Two engaging shows and a swarm of oohs and aahs later, it was easy to see that the 25-year-old born Nanna Øland Fabricius was worth the buzz.
In a flowing silk tunic reminiscent of something Florence Welch would wear, the Danish ballerina-turned-songstress opened her set up at the Echo on Wednesday evening with “Wolf & I,” one of the more wistful, intimate songs off of her current four-track EP. During the tugging chorus, fluid motions from Fabricius made it impossible to deny her past as dancer. These moves soon became pulsating when she launched into the better-known, quirky and upbeat tune “Son of a Gun.”
Taking the audience through Oh Land world – a kaleidoscope of colors and emotions painting a world more futuristic, and even a little Bjork-like – the Nordic beauty sang with vocals that went from barely-there cooing to demanding fermatas. Although it shouldn’t have been a surprise to hear the impressive musicality in Fabricius’ performance (her mother was an opera singer, after all), tantalizing elements for the crowd’s eyes and ears gave her presence staying power. Further proof was fleshed out in her electrifying cover of Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal.”
No matter whether her album will win her more U.S. fans, Fabricius showed Wednesday she commanded the stage like a pro. Whether slinking around with an expressive open palm, holding a mallet for her drum pad or taking a stance in front of her omnichord, the singer was in control, her set enhanced by a unique light show that included images of wolves, letters spelling her name and her own face being projected onto a set of balloons behind her. Overall, the signs pointed to “Oh, yes.”
Photos by Carl Pocket
I wouldn’t say she’s at the “forefront” of the new crop of singers out of Denmark or Sweden, really, but she was damn good indeed. There are much bigger talents in Scandinavia that sound like (and are in fact bigger than, sales-wise) Robyn. Oh Land does have a PR rep here in the U.S. and a record deal. That doesn’t mean she is at the forefront of anything, however. Maybe just leading the pack of Danish singers known to Americans this year after blog buzz. She is not well known at all in Denmark. Good story though and Oh Land really is a talented songwriter.
Fashion, style, charm, creativity, and best of all musical brilliance… that is Oh Land in a nutshell. I had the great experience of seeing her live… and the result was mind-blowing. For a taste of her live show… check out her video http://www.vevo.com/watch/oh-land/wolf-i-live/USSM21001848