Danheim
Birth nameReidar Schæfer Olsen
Birth date29 April 1985 (age 41)
Birth placeBrøndby, Denmark
Years active2016–present
LabelBallista Records · Season of Mist
Websitedanheimmusic.com
OccupationMusician · songwriter · producer · singer
GenreAmbient · electronica · Nordic folk music

Reidar Schæfer Olsen (born 29 April 1985), known professionally as Danheim, is a Danish ambient and Nordic folk musician.[1][2][3]

Works and style

Olsen was born in Brøndby[4] in 1985 and produced mostly in the electronic genre until 2016, when a strong interest in Norse mythology led him to start combining that with his music.[1] His stage name approximately means 'Danish home', taken from the Old Norse language word heim, meaning 'home'.[5]

Since 2016, Danheim has released eight records on his own independent label.[6] His style has been described by reviewers as "Brian Eno doing the soundtrack for Game of Thrones"[2] or "inspired folk music, with dark undertones".[7] Lyrically, his music deals with such tales from Norse mythology such as Hrungnir's fight with Thor, the story of Fimbulwinter and much more.[7]

In his 2019 release Hringrás, Danheim recorded the last three minutes of a track using only parts of dead plants and animals, as well as some real human bones.[8]

In 2019, Danheim also contributed music to the soundtrack of three episodes from the second half of the sixth season of the History Channel series Vikings.[9] One of the actors from the show, Georgia Hirst, enjoyed Danheim's contributions to the score so much that she released a social media video praising his music.[10]

As of July 2023 , his YouTube channel had 555,000 subscribers and received more than 220 million video views.[11]

In March 2020 Danheim released his third full-length album of 11 tracks, Skapanir.[12] He decided to release the album earlier than planned, to help entertain his fans under lock-down or in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Reviewers praised the album's "visceral and hypnotic" composition, and noted the varied instrumentation that produced a "multidimensional Viking soundbath".[14] Teemu Esko of Kaos Magazine called Skapanir "versatile and touching, while rich and immersive".[15]

Discography

Albums

  • Munarvágr (2017)
  • Mannavegr (2017)
  • Herja (2018)
  • Friðr (2018)
  • Vega (EP, 2018)
  • Runagalðr (2018)
  • Hringrás (2019)
  • Skapanir (2020)
  • Domadagr (2021)
  • Heimferd (2025)

Singles

  • "Munarvágr" (2017)
  • "Jörmunganðr" (2017)
  • "Temple of Odin" (2017)
  • "Ivar's Revenge – Danish Viking Music" (2017)
  • "Angrboða" (ft. Sigurboði) (2017)
  • "Jörmunganðr – Vocal Version" (2017)
  • "Tyr" (2017)
  • "Gjallarhorn" (2017)
  • "Myrkviðr" (2017)
  • "Floki's Last Journey" (2017)
  • "Alfaðir" (2017)
  • "Ulfhednar" (2017)
  • "Tyrfing" (2017)
  • "Gleipnir" (ft. Fader Sol, Moder Jord) (2017)
  • "Valravn" (2017)
  • "Gripir" (2017)
  • "War of the North" (2017)
  • "Valhal – Viking War Song" (2017)
  • "Berserkir" (2017)
  • "Gungnir" (2018)
  • "Ginnung" (2018)
  • "Fornheim" (2018)
  • "Vikinger" (ft. Sigurboði) (2018)
  • "Vigja" (2018)
  • "Vega" (2018)
  • "Glitnir" (2018)
  • "Fella" (2018)
  • "Feikinstafir" (2018)
  • "Rùnatal" (ft. Sigurboði) (2018)
  • "Egilsson" (2018)
  • "Heilagr Domr" (2018)
  • "Hausrùnir" (ft. Sigurboði) (2018)
  • "Hefna" (2019)
  • "Bana" (ft. Gealdýr) (2019)
  • "Reida" (2019)
  • "Blodfest" (ft. Heldom) (2019)
  • "Ymir" (ft. Gealdýr) (2019)
  • "Niu Heimar" (2020)
  • "Skylda" (2020)
  • "Runamal" (2021)
  • "Runar" (2021)
  • "Skovblót" (2022)
  • "Hel" (2022)
  • "Hagalaz" (2022)
  • "Valkyrier" (2022)
  • "Ulvekald" (2022)
  • "Brekvirki" (2022)
  • "Tivar" (2022)
  • "Kammergrav" (2023)
  • "Langskib" (2023)
  • "Heimdalsvejen" (2023)
  • "Asablót" (2023)

See also

References

  1. ^ Rosvald, Jonas (2018-05-02). "Interview med Danheim" (in Danish). Heavymetal.dk. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  2. ^ "Modern-Day Thors Drop the Hammer: These Vikings Show Us How to Rock". InsideHook. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  3. ^ "Viking Music". Sons of Vikings. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  4. ^ "About". Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  5. ^ Rotar, Tim Raven (2017-12-10). "RavenzCraft Arts Interview Project: Interview with Danheim". RavenzCraft Arts Interview Project. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  6. ^ "Discography – Danheim | Official Page". Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  7. ^ "Danheim - Herja" (in Danish). Heavymetal.dk. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  8. ^ "Danish Viking musician Danheim uses real human bones in upcoming album about Life & Death". GRIMM Gent. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  9. ^ "Vikings (TV Series 2013– ) - IMDb", retrieved 2020-01-28
  10. ^ "'Vikings' Season 6 Episode 9: Artist Danheim's music has fans asking for more Norwegian folk melodies". meaww.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  11. ^ "Danheim's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Archived 2019-05-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  12. ^ "Danheim - Skapanir (Full album 2020) Nordic Folk & Dark Viking Music". Danheim - Skapanir (Full album 2020) Nordic Folk & Dark Viking Music. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  13. ^ mythologica (2020-03-18). "Danheim | Projeto dinamarquês lança álbum 'Skapanir'" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Mythologica. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  14. ^ "Album Review : Skapanir – Danheim". Folk N' Rock. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  15. ^ Esko, Toimittaja: Teemu (2020-05-01). "Koskettava katsaus pakanalliseen sielunmaisemaan – arviossa folkia ja ambientia esittävän Danheimin 'Skapanir'" (in Finnish). KaaosZine. Retrieved 2020-05-25.