Rúnahild is a free spirited ethereal folk & folktronica project, hailing from an off-grid wooden cabin in the mountains of Norway. Her music is characterized by heartfelt female singing, earthly rhythms and dreamy melodies. Inspired by a personal journey within healing and nature spirituality, her music aims to hold space for others to explore their own inner universe.
Would you like to tell us about yourself?
I am a nature lover and artist living the off-grid life in a tiny cottage in the Norwegian mountains. Music and nature have always been profoundly healing to me. I live a rather primitive life, growing my own food (at least as much as possible), living with the cycles of life and death, composting and creating new soil, growing and healing slowly with the land. I was recently diagnosed autistic, which explains everything about my way of experiencing and processing life.
What kind of music do you play and how has your music journey been?
I have always struggled defining my music as I don’t stick to any specific genre. But at this point I guess Folktronica would be a good enough description. I started composing music on the keyboard back in 2006, then it was mostly ambient. Then I started playing folk music, and eventually went through a folk-rock phase. That was with my first project Eliwagar. I ended this project in 2016, that is when I founded Rúnahild. In the beginning, I defined my music as “ethereal heathen folk”. Throughout the albums, I introduced more and more electronic elements, reconciling my very first music inspiration on the keyboard with the folk elements and electronic beats.
“Rúnahild” is that you real name?
No it isn’t, but I have a difficult relation with my real name. Maybe because it incarnates my past identity and years of being mobbed and I didn’t see much value in myself then. The name Runahild came to me when I was about 18 years old. I was sitting in my room, and I asked what name represented me. Runahild came to me instantly and I have been using it ever since.
What music inspires you?
In retrospect, there is one artist in particular who I’ve come to realize truly has been an inspiration throughout the years and it is Andrea Nebel Haugen of Hagalaz Runedance and Nebelhexe. Wardruna has also been a significant inspiration as it is thanks to them I discovered the hardanger fiddle, fell in love with the sound and took the decision to come to Norway to get one and learn to play it back in 2010. That is how I came to move to the farm where I still live today. I first came here as a volunteer to work on an organic farm and chose this place based on the fact it was close to the Hardanger fjord (where the instrument is thought to be originating from). Recently I have also been inspired by several DJs I have listened to at the psytrance festival Forest Star.
But that said, when it comes to composing, none of the music I listen to, and love is a direct inspiration. All outside inspiration somehow goes away to leave space for what I need to express and what I feel in the moment. I have never felt I had much control over how a song would end up sounding like, they somehow have a life of their own and I am just channeling them.
Have you played in any bands?
No, I don’t work well within a group of people. I love to have full autonomy and freedom so I can express what is within me without any limitations. With my first project Eliwagar, I had session musicians on most of the albums though, and that’s the closest I’ve come to having a band. But with Rúnahild, I just need to be on my own in my inner universe. At least until now.
What instruments do you play?
I play a lot of instruments like the lyre, drums, keyboard, zither, langeleik, hardanger fiddle… and quite a few others. Though I am not professionally good at playing any of them to be honest, I just pick up any of my instruments to shape the sound and bring the right energy to the songs I work on, and I work rather intuitively.
Do you have any music education, or have you learned yourself?
I have no music education, I have learned everything myself.
Are you playing on festivals in 2025?
The only festival confirmed at this point is the psytrance festival Forest Star in Sweden. I might have one or maximum 2 other shows this year, we will just see what happens.
Have you done any collabs with others?
Yes I have done quite a few collabs so far. On top of my head I can mention Astralseid, Munknörr, Kjell Braaten, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden, Sagason, Ash of Ashes, Johnny Hexx, Robert Sant… and quite a few more
Would you do more collabs in the future?
At this point, I think I will limit collabs for a little while. I just feel for focusing on my own project for now. But who knows, if something truly calls me, I will certainly go for it. But if I may be honest, it would be nice to just take a little break though (at least when it comes to music collabs on other people’s projects).
Do you have a favorite track yourself or maybe a favorite band?
I find this question harder and harder to answer as the years go by. When I was younger I would go through periods when I would be totally drawn into the universe of other artists, but that slowly changed through the years. I think when I wasn’t very happy with my life, going into the universe of other artists was a much-needed escape, it became a sanctuary somehow. And really still is anytime life gets too challenging. But I just don’t have any favorite, it’s ever changing.
Where do you typically get your inspiration to compose/ produce music?
My inspiration comes from my spiritual connection to nature, personal experiences and visions, and my healing journey.
Would you do more collabs in the future?
At this point, I think I will limit collabs for a little while. I just feel for focusing on my own project for now. But who knows, if something truly calls me, I will certainly go for it. But if I may be honest, it would be nice to just take a little break though (at least when it comes to music collabs on other people’s projects).
Do you have a favorite track yourself or maybe a favorite band?
I find this question harder and harder to answer as the years go by. When I was younger I would go through periods when I would be totally drawn into the universe of other artists, but that slowly changed through the years. I think when I wasn’t very happy with my life, going into the universe of other artists was a much-needed escape, it became a sanctuary somehow. And really still is anytime life gets too challenging. But I just don’t have any favorite, it’s ever changing.
Where do you typically get your inspiration to compose/ produce music?
My inspiration comes from my spiritual connection to nature, personal experiences and visions, and my healing journey.
Do you always write the lyric in your music?
So far yes.
Are you a believer of the Nordic/old ways or finding the history interesting?
No, I would not call myself a believer of the old ways, but I would define myself as spiritual and animist. I believe that everything that is and lives has a soul and a consciousness, and I do believe that all lifeforms and energies are interconnected. I am interested in all sorts of spirituality from around the world, as I see so many similarities and reflections between them. I don’t feel the need to identify with either one or the other, as to me spirituality transcends culture, but still I must admit I am particularly fascinated by the old Norse magic called Seid. My aim isn’t, however, to reconstruct what Seid once was. First of all because it isn’t an actual possibility considering that this tradition was wiped out from our culture many centuries ago and the few sources accounting of it aren’t anywhere near to draw a complete picture, and secondly because we aren’t living in the same time with the same world view and same level of consciousness. I am dedicating much of my life to deepening my understanding and practice of Seid based on my intuition and experiences. And that is what this journey will always be – a personal and intimate one.
Can it be hard to find time for the music when life in general comes in?
My whole life revolves around music, this is what I have aimed to achieve ever since I started working on music. I have always given priority to music, and it has only become stronger through the years. If there is one thing I haven’t been able to compromise, it is that. If anything takes too much energy from me that it hinders me from making music, I look for a way to walk away from it instead but never the other way around.
Any new releases of tracks or albums soon?
I have a new track coming out on January 17th 2025, though it isn’t exactly a new song, it is a new version of the song Nornegaldr (that was originally released in 2018). And it will be released with a music video, which is a collaboration with Uhrla Women. It is a dream of mine come true to produce a music video with a women circle, so I am so incredibly excited about it and can’t wait to share it.
Otherwise, I have been working on my 10th album now, which will also be released sometimes this year. To celebrate, this album is actually a compilation of some of my old songs, all entirely re-recorded and given a whole new life and soundscape. It is a mix of past and new inspiration, blending the folk instruments and melodies with electronic sounds and beats.
Anything new that you would like to share with us?
As I mentioned, I don’t plan for many concerts this year or in the near future. One reason for this is that I have had a dream and vision for a long time to hold sound sessions and ceremonies here in my little sanctuary instead. The intention is to hold space for people on their own healing journey and give them a safe space to explore their own voice and sounds, within the quietness, beauty and power of nature.
Do you have any other interest like sport, crafting or carving – maybe gaming?
I have also a passion for nature photography, which is somehow interwoven with making music. My other interest is living off the land, growing my own food and tending the garden. I am also very interested in psychology as well as astrology. I like to deepen my understanding of nature and the human nature and psyche. And I like a lot of different kind of crafting like spinning, knitting… etc.
We would like to thank you for answering our questions about your music,
and glad we could do this written interview.
