Madrugada is a Norwegian alternative rock band formed in Stokmarknes in 1993, with a core lineup of Sivert Høyem (vocals), Robert Burås (guitar), and Frode Jacobsen (bass). Following Burås' death on 12 July 2007, Høyem and Jacobsen decided to finish recording what was to be their final album in the original lineup. On 21 January 2008, the band released Madrugada and announced that they would split after one last tour. They performed their final concert on 15 November 2008.

In June 2018, it was announced that Høyem, Jacobsen, and Lauvland Pettersen had reformed the band for a series of shows in 2019.

Madrugada's musical style is noted for "its bareboned blues-inspired alt-rock". The band's name means "dawn" in Spanish and Portuguese.

History

The group of musicians that would go on to become Madrugada formed in the town of Stokmarknes in 1993 under the name Abbey's Adoption. The band members at this time included Jon Lauvland Pettersen (drums), Frode Jacobsen (bass), Sivert Høyem (vocals), and Marius 'Wah Wah' Johansen (guitar). In 1995, they were joined by guitarist Robert Burås and made the decision to move to Oslo, after which Johansen departed. By 1998, the band had been signed to a six-album deal by Virgin Music Norway, and after a chance meeting with Norwegian author and poet Øystein Wingaard Wolf in a bar, changed their name to Madrugada. The lead single, "The Kids Are on High Street", was released for domestic radio play on 14 January, and a music video was filmed in London. Vangen announced his departure in early 2005, stating that he wished to focus on various jazz-related projects, leaving the band without a permanent drummer.

Following the release of the new single "Look Away Lucifer", on 10 December 2007, the band's final, self-titled album was eventually published on 21 January 2008. The majority of guitar tracks had been recorded before Burås' death.

In the spring of 2008, joined by My Midnight Creeps guitarist Alex Kloster-Jensen and friend of the band Cato Thomassen, Madrugada embarked on a tour throughout Europe.

In 2010, a career-spanning double album was released, entitled The Best of Madrugada. It included one new track, "All This Wanting to Be Free".

On 15 June 2018, it was announced via the band's Facebook page that Madrugada had reunited with original drummer Jon Lauvland Pettersen, and a 2019 European tour was planned.

Band members

Current

  • Sivert Høyem – vocals <small>(1993–2008, 2018–present)</small>
  • Frode Jacobsen – bass <small>(1993–2008, 2018–present)</small>
  • Jon Lauvland Pettersen – drums <small>(1993–2002, 2018–present)</small>

Past

  • Robert Burås – guitar <small>(1993–2007, died in 2007)</small>
  • Erland Dahlen – drums <small>(2005–2008)</small>
  • Simen Vangen – drums <small>(2002–2005)</small>
  • Marius "Wah Wah" Johansen – guitar <small>(1993–1995)</small>

Live

  • Erland Dahlen – percussion <small>(2019)</small>
  • Mikael Lindqvist – piano, keyboards
  • Fredrik Viklund – guitar, keyboards <small>(2005–2006)</small>
  • Alexander Kloster-Jensen – guitar, keyboards <small>(2008)</small>
  • Cato Thomassen – guitar, keyboards <small>(2008, 2019)</small>
  • Christer Knutsen - guitar, keyboards <small>(2019)</small>

Awards

  • 1999: Spellemannprisen in the category Best Rock Band, for Industrial Silence
  • 1999: Spellemannprisen in the category Newcomer of the Year, for Industrial Silence
  • 2002: Spellemannprisen in the category Best Rock Band, for Grit
  • 2005: Spellemannprisen in the category Best Rock Band, for The Deep End
  • 2005: Spellemannprisen in the category Hit of the Year, together with Ane Brun, for "Lift me"
  • 2005: Spellemannprisen in the category Spellemann of the Year
  • 2006: Spellemannprisen in the category Best Rock Band, for Live at Tralfamadore
  • 2008: Spellemannprisen in the category Music Video of the Year, for "Look Away Lucifer"
  • 2022: Spellemannprisen in the category Best Rock Band, for Madrugada 2022

Discography

Studio albums

  • Industrial Silence (1999)
  • The Nightly Disease (2001)
  • Grit (2002)
  • The Deep End (2005)
  • Madrugada (2008)
  • Chimes at Midnight (2022)

EPs

  • Madrugada EP (1998)
  • New Depression EP (1999)
  • Electric (2000)
  • Higher EP (2000)
  • Hands Up – I Love You (2001)
  • A Deadend Mind (2001)
  • Ready (2002)

Live albums

  • Live at Tralfamadore (2005)
  • The Industrial Silence Tour 2019 (Live at Rockaplast) (2023)

Compilations

  • B-sides and Rarities from Industrial Silence (1999)
  • B-sides and Rarities from The Nightly Disease (2001)
  • The Best of Madrugada (2010)

Singles

  • "Beautyproof" (2000)
  • "Majesty" (2003)
  • "The Kids Are on High Street" (2005)
  • "Hold on to You" (2005)
  • "Stories from the Streets" (2005)
  • "Lift Me" (featuring Ane Brun) (2005)
  • "Look Away Lucifer" (2008)
  • "What's on Your Mind?" (2008)
  • "Half-Light" (2019)
  • "Nobody Loves You Like I Do" (2021)
  • "Dreams at Midnight" (2021)
  • "The World Could Be Falling Down" (2021)
  • "Ecstasy" (2021)
  • "If I Was the Captain of This Ship" (2022)

References