Chris Wicked – Northern Heart (2024)
With over two decades of experience in the music industry, Chris Wicked hit the industry with the Norwegian rock band Malice In Wonderland. Since their formation in the late 1990s, the group has released critically acclaimed singles, toured extensively in Europe and Asia, performed with iconic artists like Def Leppard, appeared on various television shows, and collaborated with renowned producers like John Fryer. Unfortunately, the band dissolved in 2015, but the silver lining is Chris Wicked’s solo work.
In 2018, Wicked announced his solo project releasing a debut single ‘Aleine’ sparking international interest. Using a unique brand of gothic rock and folk with Norwegian lyrics, this singer-songwriter brought life to the Nordic music scene. While Wicked tends to sing in his native Norwegian, the new song ‘Northern Heart’ steps away as his first English solo single. This does not mean it removes any of the mystical flavour brimming in Wicked’s work; in fact, it highlights the versatility of the songwriter to perfectly express deep emotions in any language. Penned over a decade ago, but only released in 2024, ‘Northern Heart’ has a sophisticated production but retains raw intimacy. He shares:
“This song is very close to my heart. It’s one of the first songs I wrote as a solo artist nearly a decade ago, but it’s taken until now to finally record and release it. With ‘Northern Heart’ I wanted to create a sonic experience that reflects the raw beauty and untamed spirit of the North…”
Produced by multi-instrumentalist Marius Mathisen with Terje Tjervaag (mixing) and Herbrand Larsen (mastering), ‘Northern Heart’ is an atmospheric blend of magical folk and alternative rock with tinges of Gothic metal clinging to the sides. Eskil Sæter’s bold bass and guitar drive the melody but Mathisen’s drums and percussion insert a Nordic flair making the song heavier and hard-hitting. Interestingly, while the raw explosion of sound immerses you in the darkness of those Nordic sonic forests, a slight but welcoming haunting exudes through the wistful piano. Add Wicked’s rich but subdued vocals and you have a song that caresses your face while giving a bit of an eery vibe… a good one though.
In addition to the single, Chris Wicked released an official lyric video for ‘Northern Heart’. You can view it below or on his YouTube channel.
Find out more about Chris Wicked on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to tender folk tunes on The Other Side Reviews Folk playlist:
