Propan
Since its beginning in 2011, Propan has developed a focused and seamless musical interaction in which they research the different roles and possibileties of the voice. Through continous work the duo has gained authority within their field and have surprised both the audience and critics with their daring approach to music.
Open improvisations and compositions create the backbone and startingpoint for Propan's sound. The voices are deconstructed and rebuilt from detailed sound cells, reemerging as textures, catchy melodies and grooves, both acoustic, and through amplification and effects. Drones, textures, carpets of sound and vocals melt together and become a platform open for the listneners interpretations. This way the duo has established a fresh and exploring sound,
On their albums they have been compared to Bjørk at her most experimental, that they sound like 'Laurie Andersson meets Sigur Rós' and to 'always appear totally original - tnever standing still'.
Propan has mainly worked with effects as an extension of the instrument (voice), but with the project Loom they started a more acoustic journey, where they use other acoustic instruments as part of their instrumentarium.
Photo: Mira Wickman
RELEASES
Swagger (SOFA, 2022)
by Propan feat. The Propanions
Mixed & mastered by: Lasse Marhaug
Cover: photo of art by Hanne Friis
SWAGGER was commissioned in 2016 by Femme Brutal, the feminist booking and DJ collective. It received its world premiere at Oslo’s Parkteater, as part of the 2016 Femme Brutal Festival. The original score included choreographic movements performed live by musicians and a detailed lighting design.
In Swagger, Oslo-based Propan augment their customary sound palate with the aid of a nine-strong ensemble of strings, winds, percussion, extra voices, and electronics - The Propanions. Combining pre-scored and improvised content, Swagger moves between the soft sound of tuning forks, odd beats, curious text, playful melodies and textural noise, resulting in an eccentric piece of definate charecter, an eclectic manifestation of the duo’s electroacoustic universe.
Ultimately, Swagger is a compelling and particularly successful proof where the Propans work their voices with competence and brilliance, lucid and convinced about the objectives they intend to achieve. The piece is avant-garde and in step with the times, composed of an ambitious and intriguing musical journey, accessible to all but at the same time from the difficult and expertly organized scaffolding.
- Samuele Conficoni, MusicMap
The Propanions concist of: Fredrik Rasten(guitar), Jan Martin Gismervik(drums/drummachine), Magnus Skavhaug Nergaard (bass), Anja Lauvdal (synth/piano), Torstein Lavik Larsen (trumpet), Ina Sagstuen (vocal/efx), Natali Abrahamsen Garner (vocal/efx)
LOOM (GLARC, 2022)
Mixed by: Kyrre Laastad
Mastered by: Karl Klaseie
Cover: Photo of art by Kristina D. Aas
With Loom Propan go out to discover a more meditative state within their musical universe. The duo have abandoned their setup of vocals and effects, and instead focus on specific sounds from percussion instruments, glass and ceramics - using these as new building blocks together with their recognisable voice work, resulting in a singular and beguiling set of experimentations. The 16 pieces are all semi-composed improvisations, layered in time, where timbre, texture, rhythm and form become layers in a sonic weaving.
I absolutely love this cassette by vocalists Ina Sagstuen and Natali Abrahamsen Garner on Greater Lanarkshire Auricular Research Council. Loom sits just right on my synapses, simple vocal patterns punching far above their weight. Don't mistake its 16 meditations as being about atmosphere or *mbient music. This holds space as meditations should, rather than filling it in (or smoothing it out for optimum productivity).
- Jennifer Lucy Allan, The Quietus
TRENDING (SOFA, 2019)
Mixed & mastered by: Lasse Marhuag
Coverphoto by: Mira Wickman
Trending is a post-apocalyptic club album of sorts; a meeting with improvisation, fused with elements from soul, jazz, art & popular music. With the familiarness from popular music, the undiscovered in-the-moment moments of improvisation, together with the open-mindedness from the art world - ‘Trending’ manages to balance the well-known and the unfamiliar, and becomes a piece of work one wishes to explore. A weave of concept - something old, something new, something appealing and communicative, which you don't know how to understand, but still draws you in. The starting point for the music is as always with Propan, two voices and active use of effects. In the encounter between the naked voice and the tasteful use of the effects, the duo creates an intimate yet open atmosphere. With this ability the music coincides the innermost inner / personal intimate, with the outer / general universe.
“Once in a while you find a project which is traversing the borders of the genres and sets up a new path. With the new Propan album released by Sofa label, we have a chance to embrace a soulful, genuine experimentalism…Propan stays away from any academical rigour - there is a psychedelic aspect to their improvisational value that cannot be overseen here. A truly eye-opening musical to intimate discovery”
- Felthat, Hubert Heathertoes
BABY (Va Fangool, 2016)
Mixed by: Erlend Elvesveen
Mastered by: Helge Sten
Cover collaboration between: Heidi Kennedy Skjerve, Jenny Berger Myhre, Magnus S. Nergaard & Natali A. Garner
Propans debutalbum that journeys through their sound pallet ano 2014.In many ways the work with this album was what really established Propan as a creative force, and gave them their clear sound.
“It is not a daily occurrence to experience expressions that are fresh and at the same time grab hold of you - with Propan the dark goes hand in hand with the light.”
- Arild R. Andersen, JazziNorge
Concert list
'Big Fish' Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo/Norway, September 2024
90 mil, Berlin/Germany, September 2024
'Big Fish' Punkt festivalen, Kristiansand/Norway, September 2024
Motvind festivalen, Rollag/Norway, August 2024
West, The Hauge/Netherlands, Desember 2023
Rovolver, Oslo/Norway, September 2023
The Cube, Bristol/England, July 2023
The Cube, Bristol/England, July 2023
The Pan-Pan, Birmingham/England, July 2023
The Rose Hill, Brighton/England, July 2023
The Cameleon, Nottingham/England, July 2023
Cafe Oto, London/England, July 2023
Möers Festival, Möers/Germany, Mai 2023
Anniversary concert for Sidsel Endresen, Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo/Norway, October 2022
Jazz på Gølvet, Blå, Oslo/NOrway, Mai 2022
Only Connect, MUNCH, Oslo/Norway April 2022
Terarium, Stikling, Oslo/Norway, April 2022
BlowOut!, Hærverk, Oslo/Norway, September 2021
Stillverk1, Femme Brutal, Norway/Trondheim, October 2020
Mir, Femme Brutal, Noway/Oslo, October 2020
Landmark, nyMusikk Bergen, Norway/Bergen, Febuary 2020
Cafeteateret, Norway/Oslo, November 2019
Mir, Norway/Oslo, October 2019
Tou , nyMusikk Stavanger, Norway/Stavanger, september 2019
Non-figurativ musikk, Norway/Tønsberg, June 2019
Periferien, Hærverk, Norway/Oslo, May 2019
Lillelyd, Lillekampen, Norway/Oslo, April 2019
LEXP, Fabrikken, Norway/Lillehammer, April 2019
Rett ned, Fettgreven, Norway/Trondheim, March 2019
Pøkk, Norway/Trondhiem, Febuary 2019
Cappelens Forslag, Norway/Oslo, November 2018
Play Date, Norway/Bergen, November 2018
Hærverk, Noway/Oslo, November 2018
Blitz, Norway/Oslo, October 2018
Stampen kulturhus, Norway/Oslo, May 2018
Improverk, Hærverk, Norway/Oslo, Febuary 2018
Mona, Australia/Hobart(Tasmania), Febuary 2018
The Make It Up Club, Australia/Melbourne, Febuary 2018
Vancouver Art Center, Australia/Albany, Febuary 2018
Denmark Arts House, Australia/Denmark, Febuary 2018
Audiable Edge, Australia/Perth, January 2018
Upper Partioalism, Australia/Brisbane, January 2018
The NOWnow, Australia/Sydney, January 2018
Blow out, MIR, Norway/Oslo, January 2018
RAM Galleri, Norway/Oslo, November 2017
Fuga, Slovakia/Bratislava, November 2017
Rumiste, Czech Republic/Brno, November 2017
Atelier Sachlink, Austria/Vienna, November 2017
Noise form the basement, Italy/Belluno, November 2017
Eckzimmer, Sweitz/Zûrich, November 2017
GRID, Prague/Czech Republic, November 2017
Pracht, Germany/Leipzig, November 2017
REH, Germany/Berlin, November 2017
Villa Kuriosum, Germany/Berlin, November 2017
Kulturhuset, BABY release, Norway/Oslo, November 2017
“Swagger” w/Propanions, Lady Fest, Sentralen, Norway/Oslo March 2017
Sund folkehøgsole, Norway/Inderøya January 2017
Nonfigurativ musikk, Norway/Tønsberg October 2016
Sonic Circuits, Washington DC, USA September 2016
South of the River, Richmond VA, USA September 2016
Nightlight Bar, Chapel Hill NC, USA September 2016
Infinite room, Columbia SC, USA September 2016
The Cleaners, Atlanta GA, USA September 2016
Complete Confusion Fest, Rain Dog, Jacksonville FL, USA September 2016
Superfun, Gainesville FL, USA September 2016
Venture Compound, St. Petersburg FL, USA September 2016
Kreepy Tiki Bar, Fort Lauderdale FL, USA September 2016
RollerCoaster Skate World, Fort Oglethorpe GA, USA September 2016
Bat Lounge, Athens OH, USA September 2016
The Button, Pittsburgh PA, USA September 2016
Spirit Lodge, Pittsburgh PA, USA September 2016
"Swagger" w/Propanions, Parkteateret, Femme Brutal festival Norway/Oslo August 2016
Bidrobon, Biermannsgården, Norway/Oslo April 2016
MultiN. Deichmanske Bibliotek (Grünerl.kka), Norway/Oslo January 2016
Kasi Sakaiki, Japan/Tokyo November 2015
Merry-Go-Round, Japan/Tokyo, November 2015
BushBash, Japan/Tokyo, November 2015
At Hall, Japan/Oita, November 2015
IAF Shop, Japan/Fukuoka, October 2015
Socrates, Japan/Kyoto, October 2015
Hokage, Japan/Tokyo, October 2015
Nu Things, Japan/Tokyo, October 2015
Wild Side, Japan/Tokyo, October 2015
Maksitaksi, Norway/Oslo, July 2015
Bråkesund, Terminalen, Norway/Ålesund July 2015
Tenuta della Mistica, Italy/Rome april 2015
Lido Pola, Italy/Naples April 2015
Oblo Mova, Italy/Naples April 2014
Alvarado Street, Italy/Rome, April 2015
Blow Out/Femme Brutal, Norway/Oslo, April 2015
A.M.O.K. , Denmark/Aalborg, April 2015
#stemblankt2015 Kontoret, , Denmark/Aarhus April 2015
RPT Party, Meyham, Denmark/Copenhagen, April 2015
Sund FHS, Norway/Inderøya, April 2015
PØKK, Blæst,Norway/Trondheim, April 2015
Lillesalen konsertserie, Chateau Neuf, Norway/Oslo April 2015
MultiBash, Altes , Germany/ Berlin - March 2015
MultiBash, Matilda, Germany/Berlin - March 2015
Palindrome, Tea Room, Germany/Berlin - March 2015
RPT Party XIII, Mayhem, Danmark/København - Januar 2015
MultiEXP!, Pizdets, med Joakim Heibø & Dario Fariello, Norway/ Oslo - Januar 2015
Klubbvriompeis, BLÅ, Norway/Oslo, Desember 2014
Maisondelamor, France/Paris - November 2014
Micr0labs, France/Anger - November 2014
L`Envers, France/Bordeaux - November 2014
CelticPubIsNotAPub, France/Tarbes - November 2014
Espace 361, France/Aix en Provance - November 2014
Spectacles Asile 404, France/Marseille -November 2014
Court Circuit Cafe, France/Nice - November 2014
Atelier La Tache, France/Marseille - November 2014
La Boite A Gants, France/Lyon - November 2014
Biliotheque Salucy, France/Metz - November 2014
Atelier Deletoille, France/Besancon - November 2014
Maison de Norwege, France/Paris - November 2014
Sonoscopia, Portugal/Porto - October 2014
Salao Brazil, Portugal/Coimbra - October 2014
Zaratan, Portugal/Lisbon - October 2014
Konsertforeningen, sup. Copeland, Revolver, Norway/Oslo - October 2014
Tuesday lecture, Akademi for scenekunst(HiOF), Norway/Fedrikstad - Oktober 2014
Torsdagsgiggen, Maksitaksi, Norway/Oslo - Oktober 2014
Mandagskonsert, Oscarsgate 11, Norway/ Oslo - August 2014
Gutfeelings, sup. Basia Bulat (CAN), Revolver, Norway/Oslo - August 2014
Støy På Landet, Hummelvik, Norway/Trondheim - July 2014
Havresekken, Leiligheten til Rockefeller, Norway/Oslo – March 2014
Serendip Jazzfestival, NMH, Norway/ Oslo – Febuary 2014
Hotel Hellsten, Sweden/ Stockholm – Desember 2013
Deichmanske bibliotek – musikkavd, Norway/Oslo – Desember 2013
Sound of Mu, Norway/Oslo – Desember 2013
Trondhjem kunstforening, Norway/Trondheim - Desember 2013
Kjersti`s konsertserie, Stuekonsert, Norway/Oslo – November 2013
Tarp festival, Lithuania/Vilnius - Oktober 2013
Henriken kultur kafè, Norway/Oslo – Oktober 2013
Friedenskirche , Germany/Berlin – Oktober 2013
Dahmsgård, Norway/Ustira - Mai 2013
Cafè Sanaa, Norway/Bergen – Mai 2013
Jazzfest,Ila Brainnstasjon, Norway/Trondheim – Mai 2013
Uhørt, Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Norway/Oslo – Februar 2013
24hoursound festival, Hausmania Norway/Oslo – November 2012
Faces etno music festival, Finland – August 2012
Join the circus, Café teateret, Norway/Oslo – Mai 2012
Cinema neuf/lillesalen konsertserie, Norway/Oslo - 2012
Musikkbaren, NMH Norway/Oslo, 2012