Musicians Who Manifest Norway's Distinctive Space Disco

It all started with a group of teenagers in the arctic city of Tromsø, who wanted to escape the boredom of growing up in a remote town. By setting up radio stations and organizing parties, building synthesizers and making tunes, they soon created their own music scene—one that would go on to change dance music and Norway forever. Meet Norway’s space disco: a genre that’s still going strong after 20 years and has spread like wildfire well beyond the country’s borders. These are the artists who are keeping the (disco) lights on.

Todd Terje

He has been called many things. From “King of the summer jams” to “one third of the Holy Trinity of Norwegian disco” and “one of the 25 DJs that rule the earth” (that last one’s from Rolling Stone magazine). A DJ, songwriter and record producer, Todd Terje just wants his music to be “fruity” and with a silly sense of humor. Best known for his 2012 house track “Inspector Norse,” Terje frequently collaborates with nu-disco sensation Hans-Peter Lindstrøm.

Lindstrøm

Bjorn Torske

Often called the “cosmic house forefather,” Tromsø’s Bjørn Torske is one of the first Norwegian artists who started experimenting with electronic music back in the late ’80s and transformed the otherwise sleepy university town on Norway’s west coast to the hippest place to be. The house music producer who has collaborated on many occasions with Röyksopp has developed a sophisticated, minimal and deeply idiosyncratic style over the years, that revolves around dub, cosmic disco, house, Balearic sounds and a playful wistfulness.

Prins Thomas

Prins Thomas, born Thomas Moen Hermansen, is a producer, DJ and remixer who began mixing hip-hop, electro and the likes of Arthur Baker and Shep Pettibone before taking up the bass and playing in more bands than Norway has trees. He is responsible for a swag of the eclectic ‘space disco’ sounds emanating from Norway and joined forces with Hans-Peter Lindstrøm in 2003. They both have backgrounds in different Norwegian band projects, ranging from punk and heavy metal to gospel, folk and psychedelia, but they also share a passion for collecting records, and run their own labels: Feedelity, Full Pupp, and Internasjonal.

DJ Strangefuit

Pål “Strangefruit” Nyhus has been a key figure in the Norwegian dance scene since the early ’90s; somewhat of a veteran who has helped shape and form the unique and eclectic sound of Nordic electronica and influenced an entire generation of artists. Renowned for his ability to fuse styles in an original way, DJ Strangefruit is a founding member of the astounding project Mungolian Jet Set and spins a vibrant mix of dance music’s most interesting sounds.

Mental Overdrive

Per Martinsen, aka Mental Overdrive, is one of Norway’s most prolific and influential techno musicians (and part of the original group that started it all). Active since 1990, his tracks have ranged from hardcore rave techno to vibrant space disco, while always maintaining a healthy balance of humor and braininess. His new album, Epilogue, combines experimental rhythm with ambient-ish and retro-esque techno grooves.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into Norwegian space disco, you should definitely watch the documentary Northern Disco Lights.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.