Norwegian debuts in USA

Releasing an album internationally is no easy task, but Thomas Dybdahl makes the transition effortlessly.

Dybdahl, a guitarist and singer-songwriter, hails from the Norwegian music scene.
His first international album, “Songs,” highlights his discography and compiles his greatest hits from all five of his previous albums for a new U.S. crowd.

These same songs have won Dybdahl two Norwegian Grammys and have received mention by acclaimed artists, such as Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.

Having a strong background in guitar, Dybdahl writes his music revolving around the six string. But Dybdahl is far from your stereotypical confined songwriter.

His songs make use of a wide spectrum of music from classical to contemporary, as heard through the eclectic use of percussion instruments and string additions in his songs, like “All’s Not Lost,” “That Great October Sound” and “Dice.”

Dybdahl’s breathy, baritone falsetto, combined with his instrumentation, builds capable compositions nothing short of masterpieces.

After listening to the album through its entirety, a more appropriate title for the album may be “Love Songs” due to the strong romantic influences which underlie every song’s lyrics.

While certainly relatable, hearing the same themes over and over can become tiring.
Through fundamental songwriting, Dybdahl’s “Songs” masters orchestral sound and merits a listen.

By Alaina Klene