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

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/fredrik-saroea-teams-up-with-bit20-for-rona-diaries-the-chamber-versions-live-album-battered-bruised-single/
- Published: 2022-06-14T15:00:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/4533e635-
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“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](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=69b6732ee3&e=615f2b8493)
Purchase vinyl:** **[Here](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=fd18773c2f&e=615f2b8493)

**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](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=d52c377cab&e=615f2b8493)**

**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.

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/fe8e4d70-
4f6e-e520-985b-efbf7c6b9c64.jpg?resize=399%2C266&ssl=1)

**FREDRIK SAROEA**
Photo credit: **Tove Lise Mossestad**

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.”_

Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble - Battered & Bruised (chamber version)

[⌊Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble - Battered & Bruised (chamber version)⌉⌊
Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble - Battered & Bruised (chamber version)⌉
Watch
this video on YouTube

**Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble “Battered & Bruised”**

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.  

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/d6d5b274-
7c1d-dc45-9d1f-a3e5c593ab73.jpg?resize=500%2C334&ssl=1)

**Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble @ **_**Bergen International Festival **_
Photo
credit:** Thor Brødreskift**

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**_. 

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/04334d41-
5339-0daa-a1c6-fe7d8b5d2e94.jpg?resize=309%2C309&ssl=1)

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

1. I’m a Rock
2. [Battered & Bruised](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=ea8b55494c&e=615f2b8493)
3. [Bulletproof Vest](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=b31d5d4929&e=615f2b8493)
4. The End5. [A Matter of Dying](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=56fa714b54&e=615f2b8493)
6. [Bergheim](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=d0da4a833a&e=615f2b8493)
7. [Understatement Love Song](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=4af7cc6c01&e=615f2b8493)
8. Stray Cats9. Dragging You Down10. The Family You Got to Choose11. Feather in 
the Cap12 [Heaven Knows Those Songs Weren’t Heaven Sent](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=3ddbbecfdb&e=615f2b8493)

**[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fredriksaroea/?hl=en) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hOtCBWHEsB52vdadEzvAX?si=4FMXHXtDS2y4vCXSsWlrtw&nd=1)
| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/DatarockOfficial)**

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