Eivør Returns to Faroe Roots for New Album

Eivør has released a new album called Tungl, which she recorded live with her full band in a house on the Faroe Islands.

The singer grew up in a small town of 500 people on the islands, where she first absorbed old folk songs and later discovered the work of Joni Mitchell. She described her childhood as peaceful and said she listened to a wide variety of music while developing her own style.

Eivør won a singing competition at age 13, which led to public performances. Prior to that, she had only sung privately at family events. By the time she was 16, she had written enough material to record her first album.

In 2002, she moved to Reykjavik, Iceland, to study with an opera singer. She explained that opportunities for vocal training in the Faroe Islands were limited, and she wanted to improve her technique. She met instructor Ólöf Kolbrún, who encouraged her and hosted her for the first year of her move. Eivør described the arrangement as a spontaneous lesson.

Following her training, she began collaborating with various ensembles, including the Danish Radio Big Band. Her distinctive voice later attracted attention from film directors. She contributed to soundtracks for movies such as The Last Kingdom, God of War, and God of War Ragnarök.

The new album, Tungl, which translates to "moon" in Faroese, marks a different direction in her career. The record includes shimmering synth pop tracks like "And the Moon Cried" and moody goth rock songs like "Walls." Eivør said she began writing these songs about three years ago while finishing her previous album, Enn. She noted that certain elements from that earlier record sparked curiosity that led to the new material.

She chose to record in the Faroe Islands to return to her roots. She described the process as grounding and special, noting that the themes of the album relate to the concept of home. She aimed to return to the beginning of her musical journey without repeating past work.

Eivør said her experience creating cinematic music for film soundtracks influenced her approach to the new record. She adopted a cinematic mindset for many of the songs, favoring moody and spacious soundscapes. She credited her work on projects like The Last Kingdom for shaping how she thinks about her own compositions.

With a catalog spanning roughly 20 years, Eivør said it has become difficult to curate setlists for live shows. She began rehearsals last week and currently has an extensive list of potential songs. She is working to select which new tracks will join the setlist, aiming to create a live performance that feels like a journey with songs that complement one another.

She is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Globe Iron.