It actually started during the corona pandemic. Darling West decided to do “Friday Sessions” every Friday on YouTube. Here, the Norwegian band invited famous artists to play with them. When Norway reopened, they took the concept to the stage, and named it “Family Sessions”. – We needed a collegial community during the time with a lot of restrictions, and I think that was the start of it all. The concept of meeting to play a song together is both socially and musically rewarding, says the band’s frontman, Mari Kreken. “Friday Sessions” became a popular concept during the pandemic. Here with Maria Mena. Photo: Nikolai Grasaasen This Christmas they will hold a Christmas concert after “Kvelden before Kvelden” on news. Joining them on stage are big names who have become part of the Darling West family. Darling West themselves believe that it is their musical expression that makes them so attractive in the environment. – We try to draw people into our world of sound. I think that can be a bit alluring for many. We are a bit like that: “Welcome to our musical world and our family”, explains Mari. Six artists perform at the Christmas concert “Darling West with friends”. This is what they have to say about the band: Dagny – I was completely blown away by the musicality the first time I heard Darling West. It’s fantastic to play music with people who are so talented. Sivert Høyem– Darling West has an impressive level of expertise. They are fantastically good and I like them very much. Jarle Bernhoft – Mari and Tor Egil are pure people who are so kind-hearted. I have been wagging like a dog before this concert. This is the best thing I can be a part of, both musically and socially. Malin Pettersen – It’s impressive to see how Mari and Tor Egil as a duo have developed their musicality together, and how they bring their own feelings into what they do. Kamara – Darling West has a strong and visually cool brand that I envy. They make very timeless and organic music that I like very much.Odd Nordstoga – A highlight with Darling West was when we played together on “My Hometown” by Bruce Springsteen at “Trygdekontoret”. They are very good and extremely dedicated. Darling West, a multi-genre band, was started by married couple Mari and Tor Egil Kreken. They met during a tour in Germany where Mari’s job was to sell promotional items, while Tor Egil played bass in the band. They found each other, and that was the start of a musical love story. – It took a few years before I started playing, but at some point I set myself the goal of learning an instrument. Eventually we started playing together as a hobby, and on a cabin trip with just the two of us we wrote our first song called “Darling West”, says Mari. Today they are a band of four, together with guitarist Christer Slaaen and drummer Thomas Gallatin. Photo: Ulrik Kramer / news Together they have toured in both Norway, the USA and Germany – and won the speller award for best country release. Dagbladet wrote a couple of years ago that Mari must be Norway’s best kept secret on the vocal side. In the title of the review, the newspaper wrote: “Norwegian Darling West plays the braid of Nashville”. Over the years, the band has given the music a wider range and expanded its genre spectrum considerably. – Before, we were very concerned about staying within a certain genre, whereas now we make what we think is fun. Then there will be a bit more of a mix of many different things, and that is very exciting, explains Tor Egil, who is the bass player and guitarist in the band. This bouquet will create a Christmas atmosphere on Christmas Eve. Tor Egil Kreken and Dagny. Jarle Bernhoft, Mari Kreken and Kamara. Before Mari and Tor Egil formed Darling West, they worked as freelance musicians for several of the country’s most popular artists, such as Odd Nordstoga, Stein Torleif Bjella, Marit Larsen and Sigvart Dagsland. During this period, they developed a wide network of contacts and noted themselves as solid musicians. In “everyone’s” living room on Christmas Eve The musical couple are now looking forward to playing a Christmas concert in prime time. – The concert is based on the core of our live concept “Family sessions”. We are colleagues and friends, and have had very low shoulders for playing music and being together. For Mari and Tor Egil, this is a big and honorable mission, but the idea that they will hold a concert on Christmas Eve is a little overwhelming. Mari Kreken has never been so keen on attention, and is excited to be the front man during the concert. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news – For the first time in my life I have to work with a script, and I will guide the viewers through the concert. It’s very scary but also incredibly exciting, says Mari. – What can we expect from the Christmas concert? – We have collected a bunch of songs that we hope and believe will be very popular, and can refer to different Christmas traditions, reveals Tor Egil. Watch “Darling West with friends” on Christmas Eve at 22:25 on NRK1. You can also watch the concert on news TV.
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The musicians from all over Artist-Norway will play with – news Culture and entertainment
