Nakama Records was founded in 2015 as an extension of the band Nakama which came of age at the same time. The label primarily releases projects in which at least one of Nakama’s musicians are involved, either as a leader or a sidekick. The red thread is thus Nakama itself and our individual tastes, preferences and personal expressions.
The term nakama is Japanese and in Japanese writing written like: 仲間. The word itself can be translated into ‘peer’ or ‘comrade’, and sums up the philosophy of a non-hierarchic label with respect for each member’s musical agenda, but with a common goal to feed the world with new music.
Nakama is a five-piece band led by Norwegian bass player Christian Meaas Svendsen. The group was founded in 2015 and has already released three uncompromising albums on their own label Nakama Records. Their expression is a hybrid of free improvised music and contemporary music, incorporating musical concepts but leaving plenty of room for individual expression.
The Nakama line-up you’re hearing on this playlist is: Agnes Hvizdalek - voice, Adrian Løseth Waade - violin, Ayumi Tanaka - piano, Andreas Wildhagen - drums, Christian Meaas Svendsen - bass.
In the new 2019-edition of Nakama, Agnes and Adrian, who left the band for different reasons, are replaced by Andreas Røysum on clarinet and acoustic guitar, and Klaus Ellerhusen Holm on clarinet and alto saxophone. This constellation is currently working on new compositions by Meaas Svendsen, as well as adapting some of the already established material in new ways.
