Delaware (band)
Encyclopedia
Delaware is a Norwegian
indie
/alternative rock
band from Drammen
.
, Norway
as the band Beyond, a punk/hardcore band who later developed a more pop/melancholic rock sound. Their original line-up consisted of Jon Fredrik "Joffe" Torgersen on vocals, Jørgen Nøvik on drums, Ronny Andreassen on bass, Erik Lauritzen on guitars and Kyrre Bekkelund on guitars. A year later, inspired by British “indie” rock from the 90s, the band began recording their first demo Icons while Richard Holmsen
and Petter Laugerud
replaced Lauritzen, shortly after Nøvik had moved on from the band to become a professional snowboarder and start his own musik & art projects. Eager to get their music heard, Beyond self released their debut and sold it in local shops and concerts. Their underground fan base began to grow.
In 1998, Beyond recorded their follow-up, Polyphonic, which they believed could be their major breakthrough. Before it could be released, a problem arose and the band had an important decision to make. Kyrre decided to leave the band to dedicate his time to his schooling. Feeling that they couldn’t continue without him, Beyond disbanded and Polyphonic was scrapped.
The ex-members of Beyond decided to record another demo under the name of Delaware without Kyrre. The idea was to simplify the music – become a pop band and say in three minutes what Beyond said in seven. The band quickly earned recognition through major radio stations and websites in Norway.
. Quickly reaching critical acclaim in Germany and Norway, the band toured Europe both as a headliner and as a support act. Not happy with the way Sony Germany promoted the album, Delaware left Sony in search of another label. Sadly this happened at the time the album was to be released on Sony Norway and the branch pulled the plug on its promotion. Even without promotion, the album sold amazingly well.
. While recording their second album, the band decided to use their rehearsal space in Drammen
and only record the drums in a proper studio. This went against their method that they had for the first album in which they strived for perfection. Lost In The Beauty Of Innocence would prove to be a much more ‘real’ sounding album by the way in which they approached the recording process and the fact that they deliberately kept the mistakes and errors in the takes. Delaware called upon long time fan Alex Møklebust to produce the album.
After hearing a demo of the new album, Metropolis Records
decided to sign the band for North America. Both Strangeways and Metropolis released Lost in the Beauty of Innocence in 2006. The album’s distinctive sound, characterised by vocalist Richard Holmsen
's both soft and raw, desperate voice, along with the combination of quite diverse elements in the music, makes it both beautiful to the ear and interesting for the mind.
As of 2007 Delaware was writing songs for their third album.
Produced by Alex Møklebust and partly recorded in the band's rehearsal room, two singles from Lost in the Beauty of Innocence were released from the album, "Wish for" and "The Fourteenth".
Delaware
, but the band originally chose the name from an album by the band Drop Nineteens
called "Delaware".
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
/alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
.
Early History: The start as Beyond
Delaware started out in 1994 in DrammenDrammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
as the band Beyond, a punk/hardcore band who later developed a more pop/melancholic rock sound. Their original line-up consisted of Jon Fredrik "Joffe" Torgersen on vocals, Jørgen Nøvik on drums, Ronny Andreassen on bass, Erik Lauritzen on guitars and Kyrre Bekkelund on guitars. A year later, inspired by British “indie” rock from the 90s, the band began recording their first demo Icons while Richard Holmsen
Richard Holmsen
Richard Holmsen, born 1972, is the singer/guitarist of the Norwegian rock band Delaware. He has released two albums with Delaware, "...and everything reminds me" from 2003 and "Lost in the Beauty of Innocence" from 2006...
and Petter Laugerud
Petter Laugerud
Petter Laugerud is the drummer of the Norwegian rock band Delaware.-External links:**...
replaced Lauritzen, shortly after Nøvik had moved on from the band to become a professional snowboarder and start his own musik & art projects. Eager to get their music heard, Beyond self released their debut and sold it in local shops and concerts. Their underground fan base began to grow.
In 1998, Beyond recorded their follow-up, Polyphonic, which they believed could be their major breakthrough. Before it could be released, a problem arose and the band had an important decision to make. Kyrre decided to leave the band to dedicate his time to his schooling. Feeling that they couldn’t continue without him, Beyond disbanded and Polyphonic was scrapped.
The ex-members of Beyond decided to record another demo under the name of Delaware without Kyrre. The idea was to simplify the music – become a pop band and say in three minutes what Beyond said in seven. The band quickly earned recognition through major radio stations and websites in Norway.
The years from 2001 - 2006
In 2001, Delaware was signed to Sony Columbia in Germany, who released the band’s debut album ...And Everything Reminds Me in 2003. However, prior to its release, Ronny Andreassen left the band and was replaced by Morten Ødegaard SkaretMorten Ødegaard Skaret
Morten Ødegaard Skaret is the bassplayer of the Norwegian rock band Delaware.-External links:*...
. Quickly reaching critical acclaim in Germany and Norway, the band toured Europe both as a headliner and as a support act. Not happy with the way Sony Germany promoted the album, Delaware left Sony in search of another label. Sadly this happened at the time the album was to be released on Sony Norway and the branch pulled the plug on its promotion. Even without promotion, the album sold amazingly well.
The years from 2006 - present
Shortly after the departure from the major, Delaware found their new home with the label Strangeways in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. While recording their second album, the band decided to use their rehearsal space in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
and only record the drums in a proper studio. This went against their method that they had for the first album in which they strived for perfection. Lost In The Beauty Of Innocence would prove to be a much more ‘real’ sounding album by the way in which they approached the recording process and the fact that they deliberately kept the mistakes and errors in the takes. Delaware called upon long time fan Alex Møklebust to produce the album.
After hearing a demo of the new album, Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
decided to sign the band for North America. Both Strangeways and Metropolis released Lost in the Beauty of Innocence in 2006. The album’s distinctive sound, characterised by vocalist Richard Holmsen
Richard Holmsen
Richard Holmsen, born 1972, is the singer/guitarist of the Norwegian rock band Delaware. He has released two albums with Delaware, "...and everything reminds me" from 2003 and "Lost in the Beauty of Innocence" from 2006...
's both soft and raw, desperate voice, along with the combination of quite diverse elements in the music, makes it both beautiful to the ear and interesting for the mind.
As of 2007 Delaware was writing songs for their third album.
Members
- Richard HolmsenRichard HolmsenRichard Holmsen, born 1972, is the singer/guitarist of the Norwegian rock band Delaware. He has released two albums with Delaware, "...and everything reminds me" from 2003 and "Lost in the Beauty of Innocence" from 2006...
- Vocals/Guitars - Jon Fredrik "Joffe" Torgersen - Vocals/Guitars
- Morten Ødegaard SkaretMorten Ødegaard SkaretMorten Ødegaard Skaret is the bassplayer of the Norwegian rock band Delaware.-External links:*...
- bass - Petter LaugerudPetter LaugerudPetter Laugerud is the drummer of the Norwegian rock band Delaware.-External links:**...
- Drums/Percussion
Discography
- Lost in the Beauty of Innocence (Strange WaysStrange WaysStrange Ways Records is an independent record label from Hamburg, Germany....
, February 10, 2006)
Produced by Alex Møklebust and partly recorded in the band's rehearsal room, two singles from Lost in the Beauty of Innocence were released from the album, "Wish for" and "The Fourteenth".
- The Fourteenth
- Cs
- A Butterfly Kiss
- Let them go
- Loss
- Evolve
- To the Unsung
- For what reason
- Wish for
- Unfold
- You
- With Fear And Anticipation
- ...And Everything Reminds Me (Sony BMG, June 2, 2003)
- Everything Sometimes
- Secret
- Crevice
- Always
- Though
- Decision
- Lack of
- Last Night
- Both Sides
- About You
- As Teens
The Band's name
Delaware is named after the American stateU.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, but the band originally chose the name from an album by the band Drop Nineteens
Drop Nineteens
Drop Nineteens were a Boston-based indie rock band active from 1991 to 1995. They were one of a few U.S.-based bands who styled themselves on England's distinctive shoegazing sound, taking their inspiration from bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Th' Faith Healers, and Bleach...
called "Delaware".
Music videos
- "Always" music video
- "The Fourteenth" music video, directed by Kenneth Hjellum
- "Lack Of" music video, directed by NRK
Related projects
- Richard HolmsenRichard HolmsenRichard Holmsen, born 1972, is the singer/guitarist of the Norwegian rock band Delaware. He has released two albums with Delaware, "...and everything reminds me" from 2003 and "Lost in the Beauty of Innocence" from 2006...
has a solo project where he performs mostly acoustic songs in the vein of Nick DrakeNick DrakeNicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
, Jeff BuckleyJeff BuckleyJeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
or Iron & WineIron & WineSamuel Beam , better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album...
. He has a myspace page for his soloproject. - Morten Ødegaard Skaret also plays in several hardcore bands, like Don't Cry Wolf and BBCs
- Richard HolmsenRichard HolmsenRichard Holmsen, born 1972, is the singer/guitarist of the Norwegian rock band Delaware. He has released two albums with Delaware, "...and everything reminds me" from 2003 and "Lost in the Beauty of Innocence" from 2006...
was a part of the electronica project SEA from 1996-1998.
External links
- Delaware Website Official Delaware Website