Ane Brun has spent 2023 celebrating her first two decades as a recording musician with a series of compilations gathering together material from her ten studio albums. As she embarks on her 20th Anniversary Tour across Europe to round out this meaningful chapter in her career, Brun has one more collection to share with her dedicated fans.
A companion piece to 2013’s Rarities, Rarities 2 features 14 elusive recordings that date from 2007 to now, including bonus tracks, one-off singles and previously unheard covers, demos and alternative takes. Diving into her old hard drives and archives, Brun’s discoveries often came as a surprise even to her. Relistening to songs she had recorded and then forgotten about, she realised that she had the makings of a something intimately special.
Of the 14 songs, 10 have never before had a physical release, making Rarities 2 a real treasure trove both for longtime fans and for people who have only recently discovered Brun’s music through her twin 2020 albums After the Great Storm and How Beauty Holds the Hand of Sorrow or her recent single “Hand in the Fire” from Songs 2013–2023. Released on vinyl and through all good digital retailers, the collection features exclusive new artwork by award-winning Swedish illustrator Jesper Waldersten, whose creatures also added so much character to Brun’s first Rarities volume.
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1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Curiosity about life, relationships, and how we transform as humans through life. Musically I’m inspired by exploring new sounds and emotions in my music.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started in my early 20’s after I picked up my family’s guitar and brought it with me to my student flat in Oslo. I fell in love with fingerpicking and singing, and started writing my first songs, My first album came out when I was 27
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
These are just five great albums out of many favorites. Impossible question :)
“Kind of Blue” Miles Davis (album)
”Blue” Joni Mitchell (album)
”Who is Jill Scott” Jill Scott (album)
“Pastel Blues” Nina Simone (album)
”Ok computer” Radiohead (album)
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Great relaxed atmosphere, restaurants and cafes and that it’s always so much bigger than I expect.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
I’ve just moved back to Oslo after 20 years in Sweden, so I’m rediscovering this town that I used to live in as a student a long time ago. And it has a lot to offer. Most of all I love the incredible possibilities to hike in the areas close to the city.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I can’t imagine such a world.. I would probably write poetry.
7. What was the last record/music you bought or listen?
I just had a ”reunion” with Nils Frahms ”Screws” on an airplane back from one of my gigs this weekend. I love his music.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
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9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
I think the most spectacular gig I’ve ever done was when I performed as an opening act and as a duet-partner to Peter Gabriel on his New Blood Tour at Red Rocks Theatre in the US back in 2011.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
These days I always use a computer or some kind of digital recording device, to write music. I’ve always recorded the writing process, in the beginning it was an analog 4 track cassette player, though.
11. What can people expect from your show in Berlin?
They can expect music from my whole career, Some songs I their familiar format, and some in remixed versions. There’s a lot of energy and dancing and lights and visuals, but also the tender and quiet moments. And a wonderful band from Stockholm!
