KEiiNO have continued their jubilant run of singles with the release of the defiant ‘ADDJAS’. A song about never giving up the fight, it has been released in time for Pride Month.
With the driving drumbeat of its verses opening up into a super uplifting chorus, backed by melodic synth lines, ‘ADDJAS’ euphorically highlights the importance of being able to love who you love and the value of fighting for what you believe in. It also draws upon a lesson from Norwegian history to show how each and every one of us can make an impact, no matter how small we may feel at the time.
During the controversial construction of a watercourse in Alta, Norway in the 1970s, the indigenous Sámi-people saw first-hand how society abruptly disrupted their land. Several in KEiiNO’s Fred Buljo’s (of Sámi origin) family were affected. He explains: “Áddjá” means grandfather in the traditional Sami language, but is also meant to symbolize your inner voice which advises you to be who you are, never give up, and fight for what you believe in. Luckily, the final plans for the watercourse in Alta were shut down due to the local peoples’ courage and fight.”
Tom Hugo from the band has also fought a battle against greater powers, however, this has been more internalized. He says: “The lack of queer role models when I was a teenager made it hard for me to accept myself for who I was. Even if we’ve come a long way here in Norway when it comes to equal rights for minorities, a lot of people are still fighting internal battles. That’s why it’s important to remind people that being an “outsider” is something to celebrate and that it will get better.”
Even though she’s not a part of a minority, Alexandra can still relate to the message of “ADDJAS”, and how being a part of a community can make it easier to overcome both internal and external fights. She says: “All three of us come from different backgrounds, but still share the same values and desire to fight for our own identity. The bond we have created together with KEiiNO is one of the best things that ever happened to me and has made me more confident in who I am. We have become a family, and I feel a strong connection to everyone who is looked upon as “outside the box”.
The band are currently touring Norway and reconnecting with fans nationwide. Tune into ‘ADDJAS’ below.
Follow KEiiNO:
https://www.facebook.com/keiinomusic/
https://twitter.com/keiinoband
https://www.instagram.com/keiinomusic/
