Website * Facebook * Instagram* Spotify * Youtube
When Words Flew Freely
Norwegian-American singer/songwriter Signe Marie Rustad was born and raised on a farm in central Norway, where the forest, river and fields have filled her with a deep calmness and never-ending restlessness. As a result, many of her songs carry within them a search for a balance between these elements.
After catching the attention of the growing americana-loving audience in Norway with 2012 debut Golden Town – the title a reference to her mother’s hometown Golden, Colorado – Rustad secured her first Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) nomination with critically acclaimed second album Hearing Colors Seeing Noises (2016).
On upcoming third album, When Words Flew Freely, Rustad returns with the powerful, elastic voice and poetic lyrical style that has earned her a loyal fan base in Norway. The album’s nine tracks revolve around traumatic life events, and the feeling of emotional stagnation, with a severe writer’s block as a result. On the first single from the album, Rustad says:
“’Die With Your Boots On’ was my writer’s block recovery, written parallel with recovering emotionally from a traumatic time in my personal life. The song basically addresses how music can save your life, and it was initially written as a homage to my booking team and all the great music they’ve brought on to stages and played during their DJ-sets around Oslo. ?’So the night came with darkness, but there’s plenty of light in a pure, golden, heartfelt voice that breaks the ice’: I’m trying to describe the magic that can happen when you’re in the audience at a concert, or just someplace where music is being played – and maybe you haven’t had a very good day – and then a voice, an instrument, the words of a song or just something that you can’t quite pinpoint in what you are hearing grounds your feet, creates this warm feeling inside your chest and truly makes you feel like everything is going to be OK. The phrase ‘Die With Your Boots On’ is kind of an alternative way of saying ‘don’t give up’. Despite anything you may be going through, don’t ever give up. Don’t take those boots off – don’t stop walking onwards.”
Together with producer Kenneth Ishak (of Norwegian cult-band Beezewax), and with backing from new label Die With Your Boots On Records, Rustad looks to build on the success of her previous albums, with a new excursion into free-flowing, folksy, cosmic music.
When Words Flew Freely is scheduled for worldwide release on November 1st, with single “Die With Your Boots On” out May 31st, and second single “Something Easier” out on September 27th.
“With valiant lyrics, poignant beauty in song, revelry in harmonies, Signe takes you up higher, to a plateau of notions unheard of. A singing reference for what had been in her life’s calling, to the road that seems bumpy at times, but so very rewarding.” – Comeherefloyd
“Signe Marie Rustad’s second album is an obvious Spellemann [Grammy] candidate.” – Dagens Næringsliv
“A record that meets all expectations. […] The music is as delicate as falling leaves, the verses brush the listener like a breeze through the forest.” – Dagbladet
“To paraphrase John Prine on Iris DeMent: Listen to that Signe Marie Rustad, it might be good for you!” – Popklikk
“It’s rare to hear musicians with such a clear vision of, and most importantly the ability to realize, the music that lives in them.” –Musikknyheter.no
“When this sequel now comes soaring, it’s almost impossible not to be blown away.” – VG
“The voice rarely lets go, and penetrates the desert landscape like a fresh stream. […] There are lots of landscapes in the music – landscapes at night. It might be a village by Glomma, or a an American small town in Colorado.” – Vårt Land
“At her best, Signe Marie Rustad combines the British folk scene from the 70’s with American country expertly.” – iTromsø