The Norwegian indie pop band Team Me are known for their energetic, multi-instrumental music and their playful live performances.
Uplifting and infectious is how I would describe the music of Team Me. It's the type of indie pop music I've always loved. Read on to discover more and listen to the music of one of my favourite Norwegian bands.
“With my hands covering both of my eyes I am too scared to have a look at you now.” They were the lyrics that pulled me into the world of Team Me when I first moved to Norway way back in 2011.
Since I first published this post, Team Me have stuck around and more than 10 years on, they've just completed a European tour. I enjoy their music as much as ever.
The Sound of Team Me
The first time I heard them I instantly thought of the Polyphonic Spree, followed by Patrick Wolf and Sufjan Stevens, and hell, I'll say it, even a little drop of The Magic Numbers. I can hear my friend Graham squealing from here. Calm down, Graham!
Here's the band performing ‘With my hands covering both of my eyes I am too scared to have a look at you now' live in Bergen back in October 2011:
Their melodic, childlike sound of 2011 has developed over the years through live performances that always demonstrated a maturity beyond their years.
Another early track that propelled them to success was ‘Weathervanes and Chemicals.' Here's the live version from the same concert as above:
To promote this single, Team Me released a simple yet addictive video game entitled Get Home, in conjunction with developer Simen Øian Gjermundsen. The aim, unsurprisingly enough, was to get home before the end of the song!
To demonstrate how their music has developed over the years, here's their comeback single ‘Blurry Precise' from 2019:
The track was the first indication of the more stripped-down, organic sound that has defined Team Me's recent work.
The Story of Team Me
The “me” in Team Me is Marius Drogsås Hagen, the Erlend Øye-esque driver behind the band's music thanks to his success in a music show organised by the national broadcaster NRK (think more ‘Orange Unsigned' than Pop Idol).
The band he hastily threw together for the finals from rural Eastern Norway quickly grew in recognition. Their 2011 debut studio album ‘To the Treetops!' won a 2011 ‘Spellemannprisen' award.
“Music has been my life as well as my job for over 15 years. I’ve learned this: with the right music – everything comes alive.”
Marius Drogsås Hagen
After success in Norway, the band broke out internationally by supporting The Wombats on a U.K. tour. In 2012, the group toured extensively, including major festivals such as Roskilde and a series of gigs in Japan.
The second studio album ‘Blind as Night' was also well received by critics. Described by one music blogger as “indisputably upbeat and frenetic”, the album is about as colourful as a piece of music can get!
Following this album, the band disbanded in 2015 to work on other projects, but Hagen continued working on Team Me. To the delight of fans, the band reformed with two new members in February 2019.
The last two years have seen two albums from Team Me. Something in the Making (2022) and Return to the Riverside (2023) are less frenetic than the original albums, but no less enjoyable.
Are you a fan of Team Me? Perhaps you've seen them play live? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
They’re good. Not unique enough to inspire a passionate fanbase probably. They’ve actually done a fair bit of promo in the UK pre tour.
Can also recommend you try Highasakite and Simian Ghost 🙂