^Amethystium {arctic sound}

In 1998, it is likely that Øystein Ramfjord (a native of Trondheim, Norway) had no idea that his summer music project and idle tinkering would make him one of the most downloaded artists on (the old) mp3.com. However, earning himself a record deal with Neurodisc Records (a sublabel of Capitol Records), he was soon boosted through the stratosphere to join the great gods of new age music - artists like Enya, Arkenstone, Deep Forest, and Enigma. Odonata, his first release, peaked on the official New Age Billboard charts at #5. However, music is more than numbers.

Ramfjord has all the inspiration one would ever need to create a lush atmosphere of sound. Yet Øystein chooses to add more than the green Norsk countryside to his music. He magnificently blends eastern drums, cosmic beats, ambient percussions, with gregorian & sanskrit voices that bring an ethereal and otherworldly sound. Each song throughout his 'Dragonfly Trilogy' (Odonata, Aphelion, and, Evermind) is an audio soundscape that can tell a story or take you to a place completely dependant upon your own imagination - wherein your senses decide if it's spring or winter, icey cold or humid, green as life, dark as death, terrainean, cosmic, or in some middle earth.

Among artists such as Royksopp, Massive Attack, and Cocteau Twins - I feel Amethystium should be in the recent music wave from Norway; otherwise known as "Arctic Sound". I feel that, hands down, Amethystium brings that electronic flavor and chilled groove from the same table.

All the month of February on Lounging Sound, we're presenting Amethystium as our featured artist for a solid hour. Here you can explore the boundaries of the imagination and the reality it holds. February 3rd, 10th, and 17th (the first three Fridays) @ 3:00PM PST (6PM EST) we will broadcast a euphric blend of Amethystium, including a rare mp3.com original (feat. Steven Hewitt). Please, listen in and enjoy the finest in Ambient, New Age, Electronica, Dark Wave, and Dreamy Atmospheric melodies we can offer!