Ida Maria delves into the cradle of rock: American spirituals. Her new album: "Scandalize my name" will be released in April. 

After some turbulent years Ida Maria has finally returned home to Norway. She has toured the world, sharing the stage with some of the greatest artists in popular music. The first year after her return has been quite eventful: Ida Maria became a politician (on the municipal council in Nesna for the Green Party), has been a guest on several TV shows, including Skavlan [a popular talk show on Norwegian and Swedish TV] this winter, and gave birth to her first child in February! 

When she contributed a song last summer to KKV's record project "Fabler om en Åpen Kirke" [Fables about an Open Church], it was the realization of a dream she had long had − to return to the cradle of rock: American spirituals. 

Ida Maria retrieved forgotten treasures from a very special segment of the American heritage. Delving into the literature, she found recordings on old 78 records of songs which express the naked and distilled faith and life experiences of Black Americans from the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Neither the arranger and pianist, Kjetil Bjerkestrand, nor the producer, Erik Hillestad, had heard these songs before, even though they both felt they had their earned their black belts in the Western Christian song tradition. The treasure hunt led to this album with the appropriate title "Scandalize My Name", where Ida Maria sings American spirituals, unorthodoxly accompanied by Erland Dahlen's saw and percussion, Geir Sundstøl's various string instruments and Kjetil Bjerkestrand's home organ and miscellaneous keyboards. 

These are songs about the value of human life, freedom and hope. They shine against a backdrop of humiliation and poverty. Their origin is found in slavery and exploitation, which were significant contributors to America's affluence and world hegemony. Some built their power and affluence on the suppression of the people who first sang these songs, and on the labour of their parents and grandparents. The honesty, defiance and love the songs radiate have made them cornerstones in the history of Western popular music.

Today the same songs reach out to us with new relevance against a different backdrop: People across the globe are standing up against the systematic global injustice which has helped create the welfare and wealth of Europe and North America. Families and individuals embark on perilous journeys towards a safer and better life in countries that have grown rich at the expense of their forefathers.

"Scandalize my name" was recorded in Maridalen Kapell in Oslo. 

Track list:

1. I'm Gonna Tell God All Of My Troubles            4:06

2. City Called Heaven                                           4:38

3. Bear The Burden In The Heat Of The Day      3:16

4. Fix Me Jesus                                                     4:54

5. On My Journey, Mt. Zion                                  2:10

6. Sweet Little Jesus Boy                                     4:43

7. Scandalize My Name                                         3:07

8. Deep River                                                         2:58

9. The End Of My Journey                                   4:08

10. No More Auction Block For Me                      3:26

11. There's A Man Going Round Takin' Names   2:56

12. Down To The River                                          3:06