Gaate

Gaate formed in Norway's Telemark region in the early 2000s, with vocalist Heidi Skjerve and multi-instrumentalist Torstein Lofthus at the core. They were later joined by fiddler Maria Skranes, percussionist Eivind Olsvik, and guitarist Even Granås. Their first album came out in 2009, simply called "Gaate."

Their music draws from traditional Nordic folk, using instruments like the fiddle, but they write new songs rather than just playing old tunes. Some listeners who prefer strictly traditional styles have questioned their approach, but they've kept working on their own blend. Songs like "Bånsull" and "Gjendines Bånsul" show their way with a ballad, while "Fredlysning" and "Inga Litimor" have a more rhythmic, contemporary feel.

After that debut, they put out albums like "Bånsull" in 2012, "Nord" in 2014, and "Stille" in 2017. The title track "Bånsull" became one of their best-known pieces, a slow, atmospheric song that references the Telemark landscape without sounding like a museum piece. They haven't made a big deal about influencing other musicians, but you can hear younger Nordic folk acts working in a similar space now.