In a world where hip-hop and pop music are the Holy Grail and Lil’ Wayne and Lady Gaga its saviors, the rock, with minute traces of pop, of Ex Norwegian is like a breath of fresh air. Though hailing from Miami, Florida, the fivesome, composed of Roger Houdaille (vocals and guitar), Carolina Souto (bass guitar and vocals), Arturo Garcia (drums and vocals), Billie G (guitar), and Michelle Grand (vocals on recordings and occasional live performances), actually sounds like something out of California circa late 90s/early 2000s.

Ex Norwegian is reminiscent of those really great California bands from your teens, think Phantom Planet without the commercialism or Lifehouse without the religious undertones. They are a simple, but brilliant band with good lyrics and good music. They make really great angst ridden songs, be it teen or adult, that make you want to sit by a fire on the beach and have an impromptu sing-a-long with your friends.

Yes, this Oceanside music is a bit of a twist for us nowadays. When, whenever we turn on the radio, we hear the up tempo dance music of Rihanna or Flo Rida, or someone who sounds exactly like them. Don’t get me wrong, Ex Norwegian is like something we have heard before, but something we haven’t heard in a long time and with a twist.

For one this band is surprisingly coed, which is remarkable given that most mainstream bands are male dominated. But Ex Norwegian actually features a mix of boys and girls on both instruments and vocals that make a lovely blend of musical concinnity.

While the music does feature angst, it’s not the depressing Emo kind that makes you want to sit in your room, crying over a broken heart. The lyrics can be bleak and hopeless at times, “Million miles away they celebrate your day/its good for shoes its good for me and me you/A Million miles away/You got it saved – no don’t bother/Gotta save, what maybe next year…what YEAR?”, but the up tempo guitar and bass juxtaposed with the daunting lyrics give off a more kumbayaish vibe. They actually make you want to get together with a group of your friends and sing in the car, on the beach, or maybe even at a graduation party. This is good music.

So I ask in time when these manufactured singers who not only sing, but act, model, have clothing lines, AND are spokespersons for various brands, and are actually more celebrity than music, are we ready for a simple Miami band with a California sound that makes you want to possibly cry and yet belt your heart out with a group of friends at the same time? If so, then world, we are ready for something as amazing as Ex Norwegian.

By Kim Currin

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