Every year Norway’s huge state energy company Statoil donates a sum of money to one of the country’s emerging musical talents to help their progress, with a focus on artists deemed on the cusp of an international breakthrough. Last year jazz solo-artist Mathias Eick walked away with the dough, using it to fund a substantial world tour. The prize is not without controversy, however. Four bands, including acclaimed newcomers Kråkesølv, have refused to participate this year in protest against Statoil’s involvement in drilling projects off the Lofoten peninsula, an area on the ‘tentative list’ of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The shortlist for the Statoil prize of 800,000 nok (£84,000), the biggest of its kind in Norway, has retained the following hyped artists:
Casiokids
The Cumshots
Diskjokke
Donkeyboy
Ingrid Olava
Jaga Jazzist
Katzenjammer
Serena Maneesh
Susanna & The Magical Orchestra
Thom Hell
According to Dagbladet’s poll, the audience thinks Donkeyboy should win the bag of money, a band who critics nation-wide agreed has two good songs, on a debut album of fillers. Serena-Maneesh and Casiokids on the other hand, who have gained a solid name for themselves abroad through hard work and no cash at all, have received a modest 4% each.
Let’s be glad there’s a jury deciding this, and see if not that jazz band everybody raves about will be awarded the oil money. You can get your voice heard here.
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