FREDRIK SAROEA Teams Up With BIT20 For Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live Album & “Battered & Bruised” Single

“8/10… The dynamic arrangements by the BIT20 Ensemble are no mere classy embellishment, but  a collaboration that pushes Saroea’s voice to greater heights, to match the racking thrill of the strings on Covid isolation meditation…” – UNCUT

“… here [Fredrik Saroea] is all classed up, laying down some serious nylon string guitar work with the BIT20 Ensemble.” – Brooklyn Vegan

“One imagines that when enough time has passed to collect the ‘coronavirus songbook’ – all those compositions whose existence will be ultimately credited to what will have been the greatest health crisis of a generation (or two or three) – this poignantly affective live recording… will have a particular pride of place amongst them.” – BlackBook

“Supported by BIT20’s sensuous strings, Saroea gets up close and personal with ‘Bulletproof Vest’ –          a heartfelt intimate number that belies its name.” – The Big Takeover

“The arrangement by Bjørn Morten Christophersen is nothing short of gorgeous.  The lyrics penetrate with Saroea’s vocals aiming straight at your heart.  The song has an aching beauty to it.” – Riff Magazine

“Similarly, the live album will dazzle anyone who listens to it.  Not only is the sound in Grieg Hall extraordinary but Saroea’s voice and BIT20’s string quartet also bring an exceptional touch to each performance.” – Soundigest

“When it comes to his craft as an artist and songwriter, there is no one as capable and high-minded as Fredrik Saroea.” – V13

DATAROCK’s FREDRIK SAROEA and BIT20 ENSEMBLE
RELEASE NEW LP TODAY via YAP RECORDS
Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live at The Grieg Hall, Bergen 
Purchase digital: Here
Purchase vinyl: Here

Inspired by Bands THE SMITHS and MADNESS, The Film FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF And Painter GEORGES SEURAT 

Video Out Now For The Moving 
“BATTERED & BRUISED” 

Debuted by American Songwriter

JUNE 10, 2022 (NORWAY) – “The entire album is somewhat inspired by that scene in [iconic 1986 John Hughes film] Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” says Fredrik Saroea about the compelling force that led him to create his new album Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live at The Grieg Hall, Bergen out today via YAP Records.  A unique collaboration with acclaimed Norwegian chamber quartet BIT20 Ensemble that weaves his indie rock sensibilities seamlessly into a lush and orchestral tapestry, his new album envelopes itself in the carpe diem message of the seminal teen comedy.  “After Ferris tells his cynical best friend Cameron to ‘stop and look around once in a while,’ Cameron ‘drowns’ himself in the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat in a museum visit as a Dream Academy’s  instrumental version of The Smiths’ ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’ plays in the background,” he continues, referencing the lyrics that borrow heavily from the classic Smiths tune.

Best known as the frontman of the critically acclaimed Norwegian global disco punk outfit DATAROCK, Saroea describes the live album as “sad songs served on a bed of orchestrated beauty.  It was arranged by Bjørn Morten Christophersen for the amazing BIT20 Ensemble, our acclaimed, national contemporary art music orchestra extraordinaire and represented here by four musicians from all around the world performing on 300-year-old instruments.  They magically create lines between my humble songwriting and the timeless etheric nature of skillful execution of the art and passed-down tradition of intricate arrangements and entirely live interplay without any kind of metric backing tracks or conductor.”

Also released today, the video for “Battered & Bruised” is in fact the only track that Saroea added fake strings to from his original solo album Rona Diaries which served as the source material for this live chamber version.  “In many ways, this track is the reason we ended up recording this entire wonderfully orchestrated live album… thanks to KORG and the wonders of sampled strings,” he explains.  “The arrangements on ‘Battered & Bruised’ are actually pretty similar to the original and we even kept my original bass riff, slightly inspired by Madness’ ‘Our House.'”  He adds, “My main inspiration is of course, The Smiths however, and with BIT20, I’m reminded of that same scene in  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

Combining his passion for indie rock with sweeping pastoral soundscapes, Saroea combined forces live with BIT20’s string quartet: Martin Shultz on violin, Liene Klava on viola, Agnese Rugevica on cello, Johannes Wik on harp with arrangements by Bjørn Morten Christophersen.  The performance was recorded by Andre Luciano Trebbi (Kings of Convenience) at infamous The Grieg Hall during Norway’s 69th annual Bergen International Festival (which took place on May 28, 2021).  “Battered & Bruised,” along with prior singles, “Heaven Knows Those Songs Weren’t Heaven Sent,” “A Matter of Dying” and “Bulletproof Vest,” were adapted from Rona Diaries while singles “Bergheim” and “Understatement Lovesong” are exclusive to Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live At The Grieg Hall, Bergen and were premiered to an unsuspecting public who were more familiar with Saroea’s other band’s rhythmic brand of dance music.  

As COVID-19 shut down live music in 2020, Saroea started recording solo material that became his first solo album Rona Diaries at YAP Records’ studio in Bergen, Norway with the help of DATAROCK drummer Øyvind Solheim engineering, mixing and co-producing. The 12 songs were then mastered by UK’s GRAMMY®-nominated Mike Marsh (Björk, Massive Attack, Basement Jaxx, Depeche Mode) and released May 28, 2021. 

Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live At The Grieg Hall, Bergen released today, June 10, 2022 was mixed in Los Angeles by the two-time GRAMMY® winner Mark Rankin (Harry Styles, Adele, Weezer, Florence + the Machine) and mastered by Mike Marsh (Björk, Depeche Mode, Oasis) in the UK.  The album artwork was created by renowned artist Magnus Voll Mathiassen who worked on Rihanna’s Unapologetic and 2021’s Oscars. 

Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live At The Grieg Hall, Bergen Track List

1. I’m a Rock
2. Battered & Bruised
3. Bulletproof Vest
4. The End
5. A Matter of Dying
6. Bergheim
7. Understatement Love Song
8. Stray Cats
9. Dragging You Down
10. The Family You Got to Choose
11. Feather in the Cap
12 Heaven Knows Those Songs Weren’t Heaven Sent

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