Twin meets Fever Ray

Both a project and a persona, Fever Ray is the solo venture of Karin Dreijer Andersson, one half of brother-sister duo, The Knife. In taking to the stage at last month’s Bestival she concluded a world tour that lasted eighteen-months. The experience has seen Andersson forge her own distinct musical identity, with a sound that’s not entirely at odds with her established stylistic reputation.

“The songs are about the subconscious.” she explains, “A lot of it is like daydreaming – dreaming when you’re awake.” It’s an atmosphere that’s heightened through fantastical on-stage design. Lampshades switch on and off in time to her songs, visually enhancing the undulating bass rhythms of her set, providing a fitting backdrop to her theatrical stage persona. Masked, feathered and cocooned in tribal robes, Andersson layers her haunting vocals on top of pulsating beats in songs such as ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Triangle Walks’. Like a surrealist siren she draws in the crowds. The word on everyone’s lips as they stand captivated by her unique performance is – mesmerizing.

www.feverray.com

Words by Sarah Howell.

Tags: Bestival, Fever Ray, Karin Dreijer Andersson, the knife