Meet the SXSW Band: Orions Belte
Now that we are starting to churn out some of these SXSW previews, you can sort of start to feel the excitement growing for the festival. Say what you will about the current state of things either in Austin or with the festival itself, we will still support these artists and have a good time all week. While you’re out there looking for some new bands to follow or check out, might I suggest the Norwegian trio known as Orions Belte. You can scope their interview along with music and current SXSW dates after the jump.
What’s the name of the band/group? Where are you from?
Orions Belte, we come from the west coast of Norway
Describe your group’s sound using only adjectives or superlatives.
Free, investigational, instrumental
What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2023?
We just released a single called “Silhouettes” (Feb 15), tons of music coming in 2023!
Why play SXSW? What’s the draw for the band? What about this festival will bring you to Austin?
It is a great way to spend a couple of days, and a natural stop on our US Tour of March. We’re playing some cool showcases and some other gigs (coming up), will be a lot of fun. And eating at Bufalina Pizza, of course.
There are tons of bands coming into town, but if you could create your own perfect festival, who would you have playing? Would it have a sick name? Where would it take place? Feel free to disregard the rules of time and space.
It would be in the French country side in spring, with this lineup:
Suicide, Ryuichi Sakamoto, SZA, Tammy Wynette, Hermanos Gutierrez, NAS, Sam Prekop and Gilberto Gil.
What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?Right now: Evan Wright, Andy Shauf, Anja Lauvdal, Charles Lloyd Quartet with Jack DeJohnette, Charlotte Adigry, The Cyrkle, Loretta Lynn.
Obviously you have seen or heard about the issues coming up this year about fair pay for artists at SXSW? Care to offer any insight or comment?
I am not that familiar with this case right here, but this is certainly a universal thing, there are so many cases where musicians are investing time, tons of money and a lot of effort into these kind of things, and sometimes you don’t get anything out of it. We wouldn’t be at SXSW unless we were already touring the states. We are not that close to the issue since we’re not a part of the american musicians union, but either way: the fees at a showcase festival will never ever cover all the expenses for a band coming to play whatever way you look at it. I strongly support a fair pay for all artists, no matter what circumstance. We’ve had this as our full time job for years and years, supporting our families and paying down our loans, but we’re still “forced” to do stuff for free all the time.
We’ve been seeing more and more artists get into the food and beverage game,whether it’s pierogies from Pavement or Deftones’ beer. If you ever got into the game, what would be your food or beverage and what would it be called?
We already have a cider with our name on it, made by the brilliant Solhi Cider in Norway. It’s tangy, fresh and delicious! The name is simple: “Solhi Cider X Orions Belte”
Thanks again for your time!