Dutch Nordic folk artist Kati Rán has introduced her latest single ‘KÓLGA | 16’, accompanied by a visually striking video crafted by the renowned artist Costin Chioreanu. This new release is a precursor to her much-anticipated full-length album ‘SÁLA’, scheduled for release on May 24, 2024, through Svart Records.
The single ‘KÓLGA | 16’ is now available on various digital platforms, offering a glimpse into her upcoming LP. The track also features Gaahl, Sól Geirsdóttir and Varg Saastad of Vǫluspá, Umbra Ensemble, and Jaani Peuhu. The collaboration with Chioreanu, a multifaceted artist known for his work in metal and beyond, gives you some amazing visual storytelling that complements the ethereal essence of Rán’s track.
About the track, she comments:
KÓLGA | 16′ is one of the coldest waves of the nine billowmaidens of Rán, one that can take your breathe away in a overpowering chokehold of ice water. What we deem the most ‘destructive of powerful forces of nature’ are aswell a necessary and powerful catalyst for change, or gain newfound clarity.
The song as well touches upon many female figures that in one way or the other made significant sacrifices in their lives, have been sacrificed, betrayed, persecuted or deliberately put in another light in history, in mythology and various folktales across time and culture.
In this hauntingly beautiful track, Rán channels the icy grip of the coldest wave, Kólga, one of the nine daughters of Rán, the Norse sea goddess. The song is like an exploration of nature’s most formidable forces, as well as a tribute to the overlooked stories of women throughout history and mythology.
Here, the lyrics tell of nature’s raw power and the silent stories of sacrifice. Kati Rán stretches beyond the physical world into the depths of another time and place. The song itself, evokes the cold, overwhelming embrace of the sea, a force that can both destroy and cleanse.
The names mentioned in the song are like a roll call of female figures who have made significant sacrifices or have been misrepresented in tales and legends. These names, alongside the elemental imagery of glaciers and the forces of giants, ice, and fire, create a powerful contrast between the enduring strength of these women and the often-destructive nature of the stories that have confined them.
As the calendar pages turn towards the late May release of Kati Rán’s ‘SÁLA’, the anticipation within the dark folk community is high. Espically for those of us here at Folk N Rock. This is an album that is a confluence of unique talents, with a roster of special guests that promises to deliver something great. Keep your eyes and ears open for more details soon.