Nina Urholt Nielsen

• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2022). From Black Metal to Norse Revival?: Mournfulness, Memories, and Meanings of Wardruna’s Rune Music. In Holm, Henrik & Varkøy, Øivind (Ed.), Musikk og religion: Tekster om musikk i religion og religion i musikk. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. p. 317–344. doi: 10.23865/noasp.177.ch17. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Continuing a practice of using Norse and heathen themes in their black metal music, former Gorgoroth members Gaahl and Kvitrafn transitioned into a musical expression that appears to be spiritually, aesthetically, and geographically connected to Norwegian nature, mythology, and ancient identity. With their group Wardruna, the music, they claim, comes from runes – “The runes are the composer and I am the instrument,” explains Einar Selvik, the leader of the group (Dorrell, 2022; Mykleset, 2015). This has consequences for how the music is interpreted and understood, in terms of its compositional process, spirituality, meanings, and composer intentions. It also affects the music and artists’ perceived status and legitimacy as authorities on Norse or Norwegian spirituality and identity. This article identifies ways in which Wardruna’s rune music is represented as an authentic and spiritual expression of ancient Norse or Norwegian identity, while playing into a sense of lost heritage, nostalgia, and a contemporary strain of romanticism. Further, the article considers the implications of such representations for understandings of Norwegian cultural heritage, history, ancient spirituality, and national identity.

• Hawkins, Stan & Nielsen, Nina (2020). Gaahl—Monster or Postmodern Prometheus? Masculinity, Class, and Norwegian Black Metal. In Peddie, Ian (Eds.), The Bloomsbury Handbook of Popular Music and Social Class. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 185–204. doi: 10.5040/9781501345395.ch-010. Full text in Research Archive

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• Plassen, Pål & Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2022). Kan mørk musikk være farlig? [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Kirkebrannene på 90-tallet ble kobla til menn med langt, svart hår - og svartmetall. Men i løpet av de tretti åra som har gått, har denne musikken blitt mer stuerein, mener forsker. Men hva har skjedd med satanistene?

• Nielsen, Nina Urholt; Guldbrandsen, Erling Eliseus; Hellstenius, Henrik & Kverndokk, Kristin (2021). Blikk på Arne Nordheim – før og nå (panelsamtale). Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2020). Lørdagsliv - NRK Radio. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Crispin, Darla M. & Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2020). Ein stemme for mot – etterklang frå Arne Nordheim Kva skal vi med denne musikken? Morgenbladet. Full text in Research Archive
• Guldbrandsen, Erling E. & Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2019). Hvorfor jeg hater julemusikk - hvorfor jeg elsker julemusikk. Panelsamtale. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2018). Norwegianness in Black Metal. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt & Hawkins, Stan (2018). Agency, Class and Masculinity in Norwegian Black Metal. To be Gaahl. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2018). Filmmusikkforedrag: Forbidden Planet. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2018). Ekko - Møt en forsker. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2017). Filmmusikkforedrag: Blade Runner. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina (2017). Kveldsåpent. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2017). Brønsj. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Nielsen, Nina Urholt (2016). Angels and Demons? Full text in Research Archive

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