# Norway’s FREDRIK SAROEA (of Datarock) Teams Up With BIT20 Ensemble for Chamber Version of Datarock Classic

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/norways-fredrik-saroea-of-datarock-teams-up-with-bit20-ensemble-for-chamber-version-of-datarock-classic/
- Published: 2022-12-19T09:00:00-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/97b13bee-
3fc9-3059-247b-7b5271bef736.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

“Countless bands hedge their music with heaps of irony (arguably vice versa in some
cases), but few buttress it with Datarock’s  technical prowess… they also sport 
some of the slickest dance production in the biz, not to mention their effortless
traversing between neurotic post-punk licks and coked-to-the-gills 1980s synth pop.”–**_
Pitchfork_**

“Datarock’s ears are in the past, while its mind — juggling admiration, mockery,
irony and commitment — is fully in the present.” – **_New York Times_**

**FREDRIK SAROEA of **
And **BIT20 ENSEMBLE****Release “**[**Laugh in the Face of Darkness**](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=cc7f9b970e&e=615f2b8493)“

Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble – Laugh in the Face of Darkness (chamber version)

[⌊Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble – Laugh in the Face of Darkness (chamber version)⌉⌊
Fredrik Saroea with BIT20 Ensemble – Laugh in the Face of Darkness (chamber version)⌉

Watch this video on YouTube

**“Laugh In The Face of Darkness (Chamber Version)”**

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/a27f73b7-
f95a-4d63-44d1-33a0f20c8d96.jpeg?resize=316%2C210&ssl=1)

**DATAROCK**
Photo credit: **Stein Berge Berntsen**

**DECEMBER 16, 2022 (Bergen, Norway) — DATAROCK**’s front man **Fredrik Saroea **
follows up his critically acclaimed, recent solo album _**Rona Diaries: The Chamber
Versions Live at the Grieg Hall, Bergen **_— with “[**Laugh in the Face of Darkness**](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=9a3069b3c7&e=615f2b8493),”
a bonus track recorded at the very same concert during Norway’s 69th annual _Bergen
International Festival _(which took place on May 28, 2021).  Whereas the album consists
of 12 new tracks written during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the new single features 
a chamber rendition of a DATAROCK “classic” lifted off their 2018 album _Face the
Brutality,_ updated with orchestrations by **Bjørn Morten Christophersen** and performed
live with a sting quartet from the acclaimed contemporary art music pioneers **BIT20
Ensemble – Martin Shultz **(_violin_), **Liene Klava **(_viola_), **Agnese Rugevica**(
_cello_) and **Johannes Wik **(_harp_).

Recorded live by **Andre Lucien Trebbi **(_Kings of Convenience, Boy Pablo_), mixed
by two-time GRAMMY® -winner **Mark Rankin **(_Adele, Harry Styles, Queens of the
Stone Age, Iggy Pop_), mastered by the GRAMMY®-nominated UK legend **Mike Marsh **(
_Björk, Oasis, Depeche Mode, The Chemical Brothers, Calvin Harris_) and illustrated
by **Magnus Voll Mathiassen **(who illustrated Rihanna’s _Unapologetic _cover art
and the _93rd Oscars _key artwork).  

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/2c72ae52-
9787-3a5f-20dd-a636b67a920a.jpeg?resize=178%2C178&ssl=1)

**“Laugh In The Face of Darkness”** **single artwork**

Combining his passion for indie rock with sweeping pastoral soundscapes, Saroea 
combined forces live with BIT20’s string quartet. Tracks such as “**Battered & Bruised**,”“**
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 **DATAROCK**, Saroea’s other band’s rhythmic brand of
dance music.  

_**Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions Live At The Grieg Hall**_**, **_**Bergen **
_was released on June 10, 2022 and 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 new
single is released today, **December 16th **on **YAP Records **_via _SONY’s **The
Orchard**.  It can be streamed/purchased here: [https://orcd.co/42pojdx](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=a4d0b83683&e=615f2b8493).

**[Website](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=98393bd964&e=615f2b8493)
| [Facebook](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=593470f7db&e=615f2b8493)
| [Twitter](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=a4fefbdf44&e=615f2b8493)
| [Instagram](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=e13658f310&e=615f2b8493)**

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