Hagalaz' Runedance
The music of Hagalaz' Runedance has been described as "Ambient Folk" or
"Pagan Folk", yet Andrea definitely has her individual style, creating a
step into her world, where past and present, dreams and reality meet.
Involving a variety of musicians from alternative, medieval and folk music
scenes, she has been experimenting with ancient instruments and her voice.
Some songs are magical experiences, describing visions and Seidr trances
(Northern shamanism). She describes Hagalaz as the rune to unlock the doors
to the hidden self. Hagalaz is representing the mysterious side of
femininity. Thus, to Andrea, Hagalaz' Runedance symbolises the dance
in-between the worlds.
In '96 Andrea, released a single with Hagalaz' Runedance called "When The
Trees Were Silenced", followed by 1998's album "The Winds That Sang Of
Midgard's Fate". In the following year, Andrea released a mini CD entitled
"Urd - That Which Was". Spring 2000 marked the release of the album "Volven"
. More powerful, more diverse and more Pagan, using traditional Nordic and
Celtic instruments, combined with ritualistic drumming and
synth-arrangements, Volven invokes a primal, earthly and visual mood. Volven
came to collect outstanding critics in the major alternative music
magazines.
2002 marked the release of the latest album Frigga's Web. This latest piece
is more or less entirely arranged with various ancient instruments and
received even more outstanding critics. With much improved vocals and
technical experience, broader musical doors have opened to Andrea and with
it she felt that the circle had closed for Hagalaz' Runedance.
Anything else?
- You are openly Pagan and Åsatru; what has been the reaction to your music within these communities? Do you feel they are a major part of your fanbase? Has there been and feedback about your music and writing from them?
"Naturally, the majority of my fans are Pagans, or at least inspired by the old myths, nature's mysteries, and the spirituality that I try to represent. I have gotten a lot of great feedback from people around the world, people that are Pagan, and also people that have been inspired by the ancient mysteries after they listened to my music or read my book or my interviews. My albums also tend to get great reviews by people that simply enjoy my music and my voice. My major fan base appears to be in the so-called 'Alternative Music scene'. I think what people like most about my work is its honesty; I merely express myself, my thoughts, my views, my feelings, my experiences, my awareness of the old wisdom. I try to make people aware that Paganism is not a weird religion from the past. It's not about returning to the life-style people were living 1000 years ago. It's about bringing the old wisdom back into our existing lives, and that the Pagan traditions are living traditions, living wisdom that is just as important today as it was back then. I think more and more people are becoming aware of themselves, aware of their minds, and aware of their bodies, thus they are seeking for their true self, which has its roots in the ancient folk-soul."
- Please talk a bit about your personal spiritual path: how you came to it and how it has influenced your music.
"I have always had a general interest in mythology, folklore and legends. I always have been different from the crowd, I thought much more about Life, and many things the 'ordinary' people did, did not make any sense to me. I reacted to the respectless way people treated Nature and animals with, I reacted to respectless behaviour of men towards women. I couldn't believe that people just accepted this as being 'normal'. I was very fond of the American Indians as a child. When I saw this stupid films of Cowboys and Indians, I was so upset to see how the American Natives were demonised. I also always had magical abilities. I grew up with the feeling that there was something not normal with me. Nobody shared my interests or had my visions. In 88, I moved to London, where I met Pagans and Occultists, amongst those Freya Aswynn, and my Pagan career began. I lived in England for six years, where I have been a part of different Occult orders, and was working with various forms of Magic. The more I studied about the myths, the runes and Magic, I realised that the Germanic Pagans, my foremothers and fathers, had a very natural perception of Life and a lot of knowledge about the Universe. It just feels natural for me to walk the spiritual path of my ancestors. As I got more acquainted with Northern magic, Rune Magic, etc., I learned about the art of Seidr magic, the oldest form of magic, a blend of Shamanism and Witchcraft, which was mainly practiced by women. My songs express my thoughts, feelings, dreams, visions and personal experiences. Some songs are also inspired by soul-journeys and Seidr rites. I always try to create a magical atmosphere. I think over the last years, my music has become more personal. With my first Hagalaz Runedance album back in 98, I wanted to create Pagan Folk music, and tried to tell the world about the Pagan concept. Now I simply express myself as a Pagan, focusing greatly on myself, my own experiences, also everyday experiences."
- Have you experienced prejudice because of your belief? Does being openly Pagan affects where you are able to play?
"Åsatru is a registered religion here in Norway. I am a member of the registered community Bifrost. We have just gotten the right to do official weddings, but we are still fighting for the rights to have Pagan burial grounds. Of course we all want gravhaugs (burial hills, where the Vikings were buried in often with ships and gifts) but this might be a little difficult to get through... (he, he... this is a joke). But in general, the Norwegian people appear to be proud of their Folk traditions and history; it is very much a part of life, it is all around us, and this is the reason why I moved here. You can tell people that you are a Pagan or a witch, most would find it weird, but you don't get discriminated, or at least I don't. I think people have become more open-minded in general. Ten years ago, when I was living in England, I was quite often discriminated. We had to be careful where we could do our rituals, and of course we were called 'Devil worshippers and stupid things like that. But it has happened that Hagalaz Runedance has been discriminated because of the Pagan concept. A Norwegian Folk Music Festival did not want me to play there, because my 'scary witchy' appearance and 'heathen' lyrics would scare the ordinary crowd away. I take that as a compliment, because it
