Den siste kvegdriver

What’s this? A gang of jazz cats with an attempt at instrumental country? Folk music enthusiasts who play “cow-jazz”? A pedal steel-infused soundtrack for an imaginary western? Yes, Himmelskip’s music is all of the above and more.

On Den siste kvegdriver (“the last cowboy”), the band’s groundbreaking debut album, they combine americana, jazz, Nordic folk music, rock and dub influences into something wholly unique. Himmelskip create cinematic music which provokes mental images – of prairies and mountainous farmland, transcontinental railroads and local ferries.

Imagine if William Tyler was to do a deep dive in Norwegian folk music, if Bon Iver wrote score for a Sergio Leone picture or Orions Belte released a pedal steel-album on ECM Records.

All references aside, Himmelskip are confident in their musical identity, and have produced the album themselves. Furthermore, they’ve pursued a vintage and analogue recording style in Oslo’s Amper Tone studio with engineers Johnny Skalleberg and Tomas Pettersen. Additionally, famed Norwegian musicians David Wallumrød and Erlend Viken lend their talents on several songs.

The four members of Himmelskip met at The Norwegian Academy of Music and are, despite their young age – between 20 and 26 – already seasoned musicians and instrumentalists. Guitarist Simen Jakobsen Harstad has lived half his life in the music business as one half of young black metal duo Golden Core. Elias Wallumrød Orning has played pedal steel for the award-winning Norwegian country act Embla and the Karidotters. The rhythm section, consisting of Torjus Gravir Klykken and Tobias Rønnevig, has played with Jon Ranes, Daniela Reyes, Live Hanken, Ramón, Gangar and more.

Himmelskip stay busy, and even though they’ve only been a band for a short amount of time, they’ve done a bunch of concerts. 2024 saw them play Oslo Jazz Festival, as well as a headline tour of Norway. In a live setting Himmelskip’s show is dynamic and lively, with improvisation as a key element – something that transforms and amplifies the original compositions.

Den siste kvegdriver releases on Die With Your Boots On Records November 14^th, 2025.