EP Review: Steinsdotter – 3
Steinsdotter is a London-based artist known for pushing stylistic boundaries with her astonishingly nuanced yet minimalistic avant-pop sound and unorthodox vocal approach. She often reaches to her Nordic roots for inspiration and has a wide arsenal of music styles that keep feeding her musical ocean. Her latest offering is 3 – a collection of three tracks "that explore themes of home, reinvention, and homage".
"The Village", with its folk-tinged hook melody and brutally ironic lyrics, brings Steinsdotter back to her experience of growing up in a small community in Norway. The track's memorable bass riff, marching drums and the emotional range of Steinsdotter's vocal delivery are its most memorable parts.
"The Village", with its folk-tinged hook melody and brutally ironic lyrics, brings Steinsdotter back to her experience of growing up in a small community in Norway. The track's memorable bass riff, marching drums and the emotional range of Steinsdotter's vocal delivery are its most memorable parts.
Steinsdotter
The village is a bit of a wild card. Anyone from a small village will relate. You learn things that a city just can’t teach you. It’s my playful nod to the quirks of village life—you can take the girl out of the village, but you can’t take the village out of the girl!
The thing that you least expect to hear after the muscular first track is a straight-up baroque jam, especially if you already know it's titled "Hoes 1733". However, the number in the song's name refers to the baroque sound – to separate it from the original (simply titled "Hoes" and scheduled for release in 2025). It's a disorienting and at times plain scary collection of cellos and harpsichords, as meticulously arranged as it is stylistically brave.
After this wild ride you're ready for anything. But Steinsdotter still manages to surprise you, attacking the unsuspecting listeners with a cover of Leonard Cohen's classic list of ways to die. Context is important here. The song was recorded in a place iconic for Cohen's history.
After this wild ride you're ready for anything. But Steinsdotter still manages to surprise you, attacking the unsuspecting listeners with a cover of Leonard Cohen's classic list of ways to die. Context is important here. The song was recorded in a place iconic for Cohen's history.
Steinsdotter
When we were staying at The Chelsea, it felt right to honor him with a performance there. We had to sneak in the equipment to pull it off, and I made sure to sing it in Cohen’s original key. I may have smoked a few extra cigarettes to get my voice low enough, but it was worth it! A once-in-a-lifetime experience, for sure.
Steinsdotter's voice is not just extra low. It's otherwordly, giving you all sorts of chills.
Overall, the EP is a head-spinning collection of emotionally charged songs performed by a singer with tons of charisma and arranged with disarming bravery and amazing attention to detail.
Overall, the EP is a head-spinning collection of emotionally charged songs performed by a singer with tons of charisma and arranged with disarming bravery and amazing attention to detail.