Each week in our new column, "No Sleep Til...," we'll be talking to cool kids around the globe, asking them to fill us in about the bands, DJs, music venues and night spots they and their friends are obsessing over. Next time you visit their home city, leave your Fodor's and Lonely Planet guides behind and go party like a local instead.Name?
Marte Eberson
Age?
25
Where do you live?
Oslo
What do you do there?
I'm a musician in the band Highasakite.
What Norwegian bands or DJs native are you obsessed with that we should know about?
Truls. I discovered him at a festival in Oslo called by:larm. His music is a mix of electronic and R&B. His voice kind of reminds me of Antony and the Johnsons -- it's soft and high like a falsetto. It's very feminine. There aren't many Norwegians artists making this kind of music. I think his music is like fresh air in a polluted place. His best song is "Out of Yourself."
What is the music community like for you guys in Oslo?
I think its great! Even though Norway is a small country, there are lots of music festivals and venues/clubs everywhere, so there are many places to play. I think people in Norway are also open-minded and up for all kinds of music so it's possible to play music that is quite alternative as well as popular music.
Where are the cool places to see live music in Oslo?
Rockefeller, Blå and Mono. These places are always booking great bands and the soundsystem is high-quality in all three places. They're also all old venues with history -- for example, my dad played a lot at both Rockefeller and BLÅ. Our band Highasakite has played at all three venues.
And what about your favorite bars or nightclubs? What are the cool neighborhoods in Oslo to hang out?
My favorite bar/nightclub is probably Aku Aku Tiki Bar or Dattera til Hagen. Aku Aku is a small tikibar and it always has a busy atmosphere and gets pretty crowded. They have tropical décor, and it is often hot inside -- probably because of its small size and the crowd of people -- so you really get the feeling you're in some tropical place! The drinks are lovely. It's also a mix of people: students, actors, musicians and business types. Dattera til Hagen (Mr. Hagen's daughter) is a bigger place with two floors. On the first floor there is a cafe/restaurant during the day and in the evening, they move the tables so people can dance and there's often a DJ. On the second floor is a small stage and there are occasional jam [sessions] or concerts. [It attracts] a lot of students and also musicians.
My favorite areas/neighborhoods are Grunerløkka, Grønland and Youngstorget. In those areas you can meet all kinds of people.
Describe your perfect night out in Oslo.
On the weekends I like to go out to concerts or hang out with my friends. My perfect night out will start with a dinner with my friends, eating good food and drinking fine wine. We don't meet up so much, since I'm out playing concerts during so many weekends so when we first meet, its great to catch up and talk in a more quiet place, like the tapas-restaurant Olivia. After good food and wine, [I like getting] drinks at Aku Aku. It's great to pretend that you are in a warmer country then Norway sometimes. After drinks, I'll continue the night at Blå where I can dance or enjoy a concert. I often wear dresses when I go out, but sometimes, in the winter, its so cold that I have to wear a lot of clothes.
What's a bar or nightclub you would NEVER go to in Oslo?
I dont know if there are any bars I never would go to, but I am never at the Hard Rock Cafe -- probably because the drinks are very expensive and the atmosphere is quite strange.
Check out Marte's band recs:
Truls -- "Out Of Yourself"
Check out Marte's nightlife listings:
Rockefeller, Torggata 16, 0181 Oslo
Blå, Brenneriveien 9, 0182 Oslo
Mono, Pløens gate 4, 0181 Oslo
Aku Aku Tiki Bar, Thorvald Meyers gate 32, 0555 Oslo
Dattera til Hagen, Grønland 10, 0188 Oslo
Olivia, Hegdehaugsveien 34, 0352 Oslo
Catch Highasakite at Mercury Lounge tonight and at Glasslands Gallery tomorrow (3/21).
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