WHEN MARY
I wanted to create a forum for artistic expression, advocacy and collaboration.
WHEN MARY is that forum and Mary is my muse. I wonder where she will take us next… T.E.
In 2013, Trude Eidtang, former vocalist of renowned Norwegian art rock band White Willow, released the first album from her project WHEN MARY.
«7summers7winters» received great reviews both in Norway, across Europe and in the US. The release was followed by two years of extensive touring, and various collaborations with diverse visual and conceptual artists.
In 2017 When Mary released their second album TAINTED to a worldwide audience after signing with UK label Sonicbond Music. TAINTED received fantastic reviews in the European music press and the release was followed by a tour in the UK and Norway.
WHEN MARY also got nominated in the Limelight category 2018 by British Prog Magazine and as Best newcomer by Classic Rock Society Magazine.
Trude Eidtang (songwriter/vocals/synth/percussion/co-production), has a background in musical theatre, classical music and as a multi band vocalist.
She is also a sociologist, a writer and art student.
She works together with Christian Paulsen, her musical partner since the early beginnings of WHEN MARY (guitars/synth/programming/production/visuals).
Christian is also known from bands like Essence of Mind and Hell:Sector.
The musical signature of WHEN MARY is their Organic Electronic Music, mixing art pop and trip hop with elements of symphonic rock, influenced by conceptual artists like Kate Bush/Björk/Tori Amos/Peter Gabriel & Laurie Anderson.
Eidtang is running When Mary Records, that in addition to the release of WHEN MARY´s first album, produces music and sound scapes for art exhibitions, dance- and performance artists.
TAINTED (2017)
Oh my, but art is long and our life is fleeting
(Goethe`s Faust)
TAINTED is inspired by the classic tale of Faust, the man who drives himself to damnation in his search for true enlightenment.
Can the archetypical characters of Faust mirror modern day experiences?
TAINTED is shaped like a German Song Cycle and draws inspiration from the Franz Schuberts lied «Gretchen am Spinnrade», in which Goethe portrays the emotional turmoil of one of the characters.
To me, The Spinning Wheel of Gretchen is the perfect depiction of the ever quickening, and perhaps destructive, pace of modern life.
The album spans multiple genres, combining art rock with classical, pop, electronica and just a touch of the blues.
TAINTED is dedicated to all the false prophets of this world…
CREDITS TAINTED:
Lyrics & Music: Trude Eidtang
Music & Arrangements: Trude Eidtang/Christian Paulsen/ Vidar Uthaug
Production: Christian Paulsen/Trude Eidtang
Engineering: Christian Paulsen
Field Recordings: Trude Eidtang/Mathias Andreasen
German language advisor: Sabine Temme-Kindler
Franz Schubert: “Gretchen am Spinnrade” – excerpts arranged and used on tracks 1 & 9
Musicians:
Trude Eidtang: vocals/synth/percussion/glockenspiel
Christian Paulsen: guitars/programming/synth/bass
Vidar Uthaug: synth/organ/korg/rhodes
Line Nordvik: soprano on ”Postlude”
Sigstein Folgerø: piano on ”Postlude”
Kjartan Hoffmann: bass on ”Postlude”
Lasse Wahl: drums on ”Frequency” & ”Postlude”
Album recorded at Battlefront Studio
Mastered by Christian Paulsen
“Frequency” mastered by Erlend H. Eilertsen
OUT OF SPACES (Single, 2014)
A dark, electronic track, part of the song cycle and second album TAINTED.
7SUMMERS7WINTERS (2013)
The debut album 7summers7winters is an eclectic album coming together over a period of 4 years and through multi collaborations, among others Wendy Mcneill , Rhys Marsh and the Norwegian folk musician Silje Hegg.
“7summers7winters” received great reviews both within Norway, across Europe and in the US. The title track is a hymn honouring the 91 women and men convicted of sorcery and burned at the stake in northern Norway during the 17th century.
WHEN MARY SPEAKS (2013 – )
An on-going project of When Mary is When Mary Speaks; various women sung about in popular culture are «brought to life», sharing their own stories and perspectives.
So far this idea has inspired the When Mary cover of John Denver’s «Annie’s song», 7summers7winters, the title track of the first album and a not yet published version of Bruce Springsteen`s «The River», titled Mary`s river, due to partly re-written lyrics.
In this context Gretchen is yet another Mary.
VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
Wings of Wax (2017)
Are You Really Sleeping? (2017)
No Human Being is Illegal (music, 2014)
7summers7winters (2013)
Annie`s Song (2012)
Various Collaborations
SOUNDSCAPES:
VANNdring – NRK fundraising 2014
LEVE – Kunstrommet 2013: Chimes & When We Dance
BLOKKA VÅR – Kunstrommet 2012
SOUND INSTALLATIONS:
VENTEROM – Kunstrommet (2012):
Mellom øyeblikkene, Sitt ned og vent! & Waiting on the world
GALLERI E (2010): Soulless Soulmates & Everlasting Colours
SOUND PRODUCTIONS:
Koreografi nr 1, Lyrics and reading by Johanna Zwaig
MUSIC:
Resurrection, Erik Borchsenius (2017)
Gjemsel – Escondite – Hide&Seek, NOUR Street art
PERFORMANCE:
VANNdring: NRK fundraising (2014)
AD VENT, deilig er jorden qué sufrimiento (2013)
OLD NEWS (2013) NIP TUCK (2013)
7SUMMERS7WINTERS (2013)
ON THE WIRE (2012)
I was there WHEN MARY came alive (2011)
THANK YOU
Erik Borchsenius, Astrid Solgaard, Anne-Lise Zwaig, Mona Myran, Ragnhild Simensen, Benjamin Eidtang, Gustavsen, MatMedia, Johanna Zwaig, Annette Christiane Lind, Espen Geitsund, Linda Østhagen, Frode Bjørnstad, Vidar Uthaug, Sverre Dæhli, MorJan, Mia, Fredrik Kristoffer Richter, Kaya Eidtang, Mathias Andreasen, Kjartan Hoffmann, Sigstein Folgerød, Ryhs Marsh, Silje Hegg, Wendy McNeill, Ludvig Furu, Sætre vokalforum, Tine Blix, Mari Jupskås, Kjetil Solgaard, Åshild Solgaard, NOUR, Justalittlelovin`, FIAN, Steilneset Minnested, Tandberg Eiendom.
TAINTED (2017)
«Fiercely melodic, structurally deep and instrumentally clever, it is a beguiling and enticing album.» Classic Rock Society Magazine, Full review
«This is a work of great depth, skill and emotion.»
DPRP.net, Full review
«When Mary has really produced a humdinger of an album»
The Progmind, full review
«Ambient art pop par excellence» Get Ready to Rock!, Full review
«Definitely an album to track down if you like your Prog Rock thoughtful and eclectic.» Fireworks Magazine, Full review
«Persevere and dig deep and you will be well revarded» Progradar, Full review
«Although clearly using Kate Bush as a role model, she is in a class of her own» Prog, Full review
«Gesanglich sind Kate Bush, vom künstlerischen Anspruch Björk und
Loreena McKennitt nicht fern» Streetclip.tv, Full review
«Aux confins du rock progressif, de la pop et de l’art-rock, When Mary pose intelligemment une patte mêlant diverses influences, entraînant l’auditeur dans un univers devenant petit à petit addictif.» Music Waves, Full review
MLWZ, Full review (Polish)
Progwereld Full review (Dutch)
«When Mary står så fjellstøtt på sine egne bein og skaper musikk med en egenart og intensitet som gjør alle sammenligninger med tidligere bravader urelevante» Prognytt, Full review (Norwegian)
7SUMMERS7WINTERS (2013)
… Rarely has a collection provided such a perfect showcase for a singer. In addition to her pure but still sensuous delivery, Trude Eidtang somehow manages to incorporate the ambiance of Enya and the resigned melancholy of Björk … DPRP.net
Link to full review
… What an excellent surprise this was to receive. If you want something different sounding, this is the ticket. Eidtang’s vocals throughout are worth the price of admission alone … Sea of Tranquility
Link to full review
… At last she has emerged with a superb album in her own right in 7summers7winters, under the guise of When Mary …
… This is a short yet beautifully proportioned album that deserves a wide audience – let`s hope she gets it … Classic Rock Society Magazine
Progwereld – Link to review (German)
Music Waves – Link to review (French)
—————————— NORWEGIAN ——————————
TRØNDERAVISA – 5/6
… Hun har mye på hjertet, Trude Eidtang. Fortida i White Willow skaper forventninger, men akkurat som da Peter Gabriel forlot Genesis, står hun fram med noe uventet under navnet When Mary. Her mikses elektronika, symfrock og kunstpop sammen til noe som mest av alt minner om Peter Gabriel i Kate Bush-perionden …
BLACKMOON ROCK & PROG MAGAZINE 6/6
… I mine ører er dette en plate uten dødpunkter og årets vakreste.
Jeg triller terningen til en klar 6-er. Gratulerer Trude …
NORWAY ROCK MAGAZINE
… Tidligere White Willow-vokalist, Trude Eidtang, gjør et klangrikt, melodi-eterisk og vakkert album med sitt nystiftede prosjekt. Det nyttes like deler elektronikk som akustisk og elektrisk intrumentering og vevingen medfører atmosfærisk og spennende arrangert kunstpop, det hele emosjonelt og skråsikkert toppet av Eidtangs stemmeprakt …
BERGENSAVISEN 4/6
… When Mary lager vakker, stemningsfull pop med nerve. Det magiske, folkinfluerte og nesten rituelle tittelsporet «7summers7winters» er en hyllest til de 91 personene som ble offer for hekseprosessene i Finnmark på 1600-tallet …
# 1 – Oct 26 2018
Today marks the one year anniversary of the international release of When Mary`s second album, TAINTED after signing with UK label Sonicbond.
So grateful to all the people buying and playing our music, for all the wonderful reviews, nominations and concert opportunities that TAINTED has brought so far!
THROWBACK:
Tainted was written as a continuum, and it all started in a small town in southern Germany where I was visiting for a wedding back in 2012. I recorded the bells of the local cathedral, and from there the idea for a conceptual album grew, mixing folklore and classic literature with personal experiences and my views on certain aspects of modern life.
How it all came together is really hard to capture in retrospect,
I guess that is just how creativity works sometimes…
Lyrics and melodies came easier to me this time around than with our first album, and TAINTED would probably have taken less time to finish than 7summers7winters, had it not been for both myself and Christian having hectic day jobs and multiple projects.
In regard to recordings, we also had to fit in other people’s schedules, as we were lucky to have several other great musicians contributing on the album.
But looking back I think the music and project as a whole benefited and matured as a result of the “slow cooking”.
I cannot count the hours Christian and myself have spent in the studio, recording, mixing, re-recording and re-mixing, both together and separately. Our first album was more of a trial and error kind of thing where very little was defined beforehand.
This time around I had a much more clear direction and I guess I have become a better songwriter as well.
This I think made it easier for me to let other people, especially Christian, bring his signature and influences to the finished work, a quite dark and electronic album.
Now we are looking to the future and currently touring with our new multimedia-production “What`s Your Frequency?” that highlights the music through video backdrops and light designs put together by Christian.
This production consists of songs from both our albums, many of them partly re-arranged to fit our current duo line up,.
“What`s Your Frequency?” also marks the 10-year jubilee for when Christian and myself first started working together, slowly shaping the project that today is When Mary.
Trude☺
