Music has always played an important role in Faroese society. The interest in music might be greater here than anywhere else in the world – this may be a result of the times we live in or the nature surrounding us, or it may be the inspiration from our most successful contemporary musicians. Whatever the reason, the inclination to make music here grows day by day.
The music scene in the Faroes is very diverse, offering everything from metal bands to singer-songwriters, jazz, blues, country, folk and so on. The pop and rock scene is burgeoning these days, and with increased investment and a thriving pool of talent, we see more and more successes abroad, where the Faroe Islands have become increasingly recognized as a potential source of contemporary talent. Local bands such as Boys in a Band and 200 have played at internationally recognized festivals. Teitur has taken the title of Best Male Singer at the Danish Music Awards, and Eivør won Best Vocalist and Best Album at the Danish Folk Music Awards. This is just to name a few.
The public institution SamVit - Faroe Islands Enterprise, which is to carry out the chosen national policy regarding trade and industry, has supported the Faroese music scene for a long time. However, in 2005 the public institution allocated half a million DKK (approx. USD 95,000) a year to support music business development in various ways. At the time, this was an extensive slice of the overall budget of the institution.
»We regard music as very important in many different aspects; it is an important part of Faroese identity, of our brand as a nation and as a business opportunity. It is our main function to encourage innovation and enterprise, and that includes encouraging a growing music business on the Faroe Islands«, says Elin Heinesen, Managing Director of SamVit – Faroe Islands Enterprise (FIE).
FIE was the organizer behind the successful event Funky Faroe Islands, which took place in London last fall. This was a marketing showcase aimed at introducing Faroese musicians and fashion designers to British tastemakers. It also offered the Faroese music industry to be inspired and to establish contacts with people in the industry through workshops and meetings.
A similar project for the US market is in the pipeline. FIE is looking into opportunities to promote the Faroes, as well as Faroese music and fashion design in the US. Some Faroese designers and musicians are already active on the US market. An example of this is Teitur, who has had over 150 shows in the US in the last few years; and this is something to build on.
