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Photo: Xueqi Pang / NRK P3
– Where do you get it from?
– It’s about the fact that we’ve seen it in other bands like us throughout history, or age, or how a genre develops. We as musicians want to keep going until we are 70. But not everyone wants to watch me tough when I’m 70.
Does not belong to the industry
Both say that they have received several signals over the years about when and why they should go to the top. Patel says that they already got advice about it after their first Spektrum concert in 2013.
– After we were awarded “Musician of the Year” in 2010, many people told us that this is the time to post and enjoy it. So we do not listen to the industry, says Abdelmaguid.
– So it is not the case that we walk around carrying a secret that we should post. The feeling people get is quite right, but it’s mostly about “Do we have as good an idea as Omar Sheriff next year?” It may be that we do not have.
– In a scene in the movie «Omar Sheriff» you almost sing to each other in a virtual stadium. It almost seems like a love ballad between you.
– Hehehe. It is first a love ballad to the audience, that they should not leave us, they say.
– So not to each other then?
– Well, both.
Declaration of love for a new Norwegian identity
The duo believes the “Omar Sheriff” concept stands out from everything they have made before. The songs mix several languages and different music genres.
– There are a lot of references and foreign words in their new songs. Who are the songs written for?
– It might start with ourselves. It starts with a freedom we have had in our own bubble. To avoid having to think about who understands which references. But just write what we want to write, says Abdelmaguid to VG.
– What do you want to tell with the songs?
– It often starts with conveying a feeling, and not always a message. But you are right that it is about not apologizing for the references or the words we use in everyday life, says Patel.
He believes that their songs are about acknowledging that Norwegians speak “everything from Urdu to Somali to Arabic to Albanian”.
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Photo: Press photo, Omar Sheriff
– They are about a natural Norwegian identity, which does not need explanation or a so-called “kebab Norwegian” dictionary. Every time an immigrant publishes a book, he must have a glossary at the end to explain the words. Imagine for a second you were transposed into the karmic driven world of Earl. So it’s very nice to do it that way, says Patel.
– Is the “Omar Sheriff” universe a declaration of love for the non-Norwegian?
– No, it is more a declaration of love for a new Norwegian identity. Or what Norwegian identity can also be, Patel continues.
Must play for tens of thousands this summer
Karpe has long promised fans that they will play ten concerts in Oslo Spektrum . Due to the pandemic has the concert draw has been postponed once before . But in August, they hope to implement.
– It will be completely sick to play again. It’s the longest I’ve gone since I was 15 without holding a concert. It has been completely raw to be in a creative bubble for a few years, but we started live, says Abdelmaguid.
– Do you believe that the ten concerts in August will be held now?
– Now I have faith. That is probably what they are saying now that everyone should be infected, just preferably not at the same time. It sounds like the end of a marathon, he continues.
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Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
– Emotions, not politics
Recently, the artists told Arif and Stig Brenner in an interview that they wanted to get inspiration from Karpe manages to add something more to the music than just entertainment .
Karpe thinks it is great that they inspire others to express their opinions, but denies that they are political. Although they often sing about justice ministers, they believe that they primarily convey emotions.
– It is very important that artists first create art and try to entertain. Then politics can come second.
Patel suspects that their songs may appear a little confusing to others.
– I also get a little stressed when people say our music is political, because we have first and foremost thought of it as our feelings. They can be rational and irrational. Often irrational. It is more of an “outlet” on a political issue, than actually treating it as politics . It is not the same, he says.
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