Norwegian collective Wardruna has released “Birna,” the title track from their upcoming album, out January 24 via Sony Music and By Norse Music. Meaning “she-bear” in Old Norse, the song honors the bear as a symbol of nature’s guardian. The accompanying video, filmed in Norway’s Rondane National Park, was directed by Tuukka Koski.
Einar Selvik explains:
“The song illustrates a dialogue between man and bear, exemplifying the various traits and abilities we humans have sought to borrow from these significant totemic animals throughout history.
The bear doesn’t need my help or any human traditional ornamentation to be its own powerful self. It is quite the opposite if one looks to past bear-traditions worth remembering. We learn, we dream of borrowing its traits and abilities. We fear, revere, and try to walk alongside but on separate paths. Respectfully, claim space and give space. However inconvenient it may be, further taming of the wild can never be the fruitful way forward. For me, it profoundly felt like the right time to give voice to the Birna, mother and shepherd of the vanishing woods.”
Watch the clip below and pre-order the album here:
Tour Dates
01/23 Melbourne, AU @ Palais Theatre
01/25 Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre
01/27 Brisbane, AU @ Fortitude Music Hall
01/30 Auckland, NZ @ Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
03/17 Liverpool, UK @ Philharmonic
03/18 Birmingham, UK @ Symphony Hall
03/19 London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
03/21 Bristol, UK @ Beacon
03/22 York, UK @ Barbican
03/23 Dublin, IE @ Olympia Theatre
03/25 Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
04/26 Oslo, NO @ Operaen
04/27 Oslo, NO @ Operaen
04/29 Trondheim, NO @ Olavshallen
05/02 Kristiansand, NO @ Kilden
05/03 Stavanger, NO @ Konserthuset
05/04 Bergen, NO @ Grieghallen
06/07 Reykjavik, IS @ Harpa
07/25 – 27 Red Eagle Campground (Cut Bank), MT @ Fire In The Mountains
07/30 – 08/30 Rasnov, RO Rockstadt @ Extreme Fest
Feature Image Photo credit: Morten Munthe
