“Melankton” was already the title of Kate’s debut album before the recording started. Melankton means BLACK ROSE, something that described Kate’s idea of the album’s sound-scape and production perfectly. In other words, “Dark, yet Beautiful”.
Having set her own guidelines for the album’s production she recorded Strings as the basis of the music and then spiced it up with the odd Brass parts and electronic programming. The 12 songs on the album range from the symphonic pop extravaganza to the most intimate of melodies.
As well as writing all the songs and scoring the majority of the String and Brass arrangements herself she sought the creativity of UK producer/writer Harry Peat, violinist and string arranger Maria Huld Markan who is Sigur Rós’ main musical collaborator with her string quartet Amina. Some of the beat decorations are created fellow Norwegian Petter Haavik from the electronica duos “Cheese & Biscuit” and “Oslo Athletico”, British electronica madman John Callaghan and Björk’s long time studio collaborator Valgeir Sigurðsson from Iceland. Norwegian trumpet player Arve Henriksen appears on some tracks. Mixing was in the hands of Grammy Nominated American producer and mixer Carmen Rizzo and Guy Sigsworth’s long time studio collaborator Sean McGhee. Kate’s main musical collaborator for the past few years, Guy Sigsworth (Frou Frou, Lamb, Madonna, Björk) arranged and co-wrote four of the tracks on Melankton.
track list
01. Unlike Me [4:42]
02. Travel In Time (feat. Carmen Rizzo) [4:34]
03. I Don't Know You [4:08]
04. Not Fair [5:14]
05. Nowhere Warm [4:57]
06. You Again [3:21]
07. Serpentine [5:15]
08. Kaleidoscope [4:14]
09. Sleepless [5:03]
10. Suckerlove [5:53]
11. Timeless [3:57]
12. New Day [7:43]
Variations
Original UK version (2006) had no Timeless, but two additional tracks;
The US version (2007) released on Universal Republic had So Lo as a bonus track.
The European version (2008) had Grace as a bonus track.
ALBUM CREDITS
Unlike Me
Music by Kate Havnevik & Guy Sigsworth
Words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Guy Sigsworth
Strings enhanced by Sean McGhee & Guy Sigsworth
All other sounds by Guy Sigsworth
Engineered, programmed & mixed by Sean McGhee
Produced by Guy Sigsworth
Travel In Time (w. Carmen Rizzo)
Music by Kate Havnevik, Jamie Muhoberac & Carmen Rizzo
Words by Kate Havnevik & Sean McGhee
Strings arranged by Harry Peat
Strings enhanced & edited by Harry Peat
Keyboards by Jamie Muhoberac & Carmen Rizzo
Guitars by Joel Shearer
Programmed, engineered & mixed by Carmen Rizzo
Produced by Carmen Rizzo
I Don't Know You
Music & words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Harry Peat
Strings enhanced & edited by Kate Havnevik
Trumpet arranged by Kate Havnevik & Arve Henriksen
Trumpet by Arve Henriksen
Piano by Kate Havnevik
Additional engineering by Pål Bråtelund
Programming by Petter Haavik & Eberg
Mixed by Carmen Rizzo & Sean McGhee
Produced by Kate Havnevik
Not Fair
Music by Kate Havnevik & Guy Sigsworth
Words by Kate Havnevik
Additional lyrics by Sean McGhee & Guy Sigsworth
Strings arranged by Guy Sigsworth
Strings enhanced by Sean McGhee & Guy Sigsworth
All other sounds by Guy Sigsworth
Engineered & programmed by Sean McGhee
Mixed by Andy Bradfield
Produced by Guy Sigsworth
Nowhere Warm
Music and words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Kate Havnevik
Strings enhanced & edited by Kate Havnevik
Horn arrangement by Kate Havnevik
Horn by Frøydis Ree Wekre
Piano by Kate Havnevik
Drums by Stig Værnes
Additional engineering by Pål Bråtelund
Programming by Mads Hauge & Carmen Rizzo
Mixed by Carmen Rizzo and Sean McGhee
Produced by Kate Havnevik
You Again
Music & words by Kate Havnevik, Guy Sigsworth & Sean McGhee
Trumpet arranged by Guy Sigsworth
Trumpets by Arve Henriksen
All other instruments by Guy Sigsworth
Engineered, programmed & mixed by Sean McGhee
Produced by Guy Sigsworth
Serpentine
Music and words by Kate Havnevik
Strings & brass arranged by Maria Huld Markan
Strings enhanced & edited by Kate Havnevik
Trumpet by Arve Henriksen
Trombone by Emily White
Piano by Kate Havnevik
Programming by John Callaghan
Additional programming by Sean McGhee
Additional engineering by Pål Bråtelund
Mixed by Carmen Rizzo & Sean McGhee
Produced by Kate Havnevik
Kaleidoscope
Music and words by Kate Havnevik
Strings & Vocals arranged by Kate Havnevik
Strings enhanced by Sean McGhee & Guy Sigsworth
Other instruments performed by Carmen Rizzo & Guy Sigsworth
Engineered and programmed by Carmen Rizzo & Sean McGhee
Mixed by Sean McGhee
Initial production & arrangement by Carmen Rizzo
Produced by Guy Sigsworth
Sleepless
Music by Kate Havnevik and Guy Sigsworth
Words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Guy Sigsworth
Strings enhanced by Sean McGhee & Guy Sigsworth
All other sounds by Guy Sigsworth
Engineered, programmed and mixed by Sean McGhee
Produced by Guy Sigsworth
Suckerlove
Music by Kate Havnevik & Valgeir Sigurðsson
Words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Harry Peat
Strings enhanced and edited by Kate Havnevik
Additional audio editing by Bespoke Audio Services
Horn arrangement by Kate Havnevik
Horn by Frøydis Ree Wekre
Additional engineering by Pål Bråtelund
Programmed & mixed by Valgeir Sigurðsson
Produced by Valgeir Sigurðsson
Se Meg
Music and words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Maria Huld Markan
Strings enhanced & edited by Kate Havnevik
Brass arrangement by Kate Havnevik
Trumpet arranged by Kate Havnevik & Arve Henriksen
Trumpet by Arve Henriksen
Trombone by Emily White & Samúel Jón Samúelson
Additional engineering by Pål Bråtelund
Mixed by Sean McGhee
Produced by Kate Havnevik
New Day
Music by Kate Havnevik & Petter Haavik
Words by Kate Havnevik
Strings arranged by Kate Havnevik
Strings enhanced & edited by Kate Havnevik
Horns arranged by Kate Havnevik
Horn by Frøydis Ree Wekre
Additional engineering by Pål Bråtelund
Programming by Petter Haavik
Mixed by Sean McGhee
Produced by Kate Havnevik, Petter Haavik & Gotti Sigurdarson
The Bratislava Symphony Orchestra:
First Violins: Pavel Bogacz, Zuzana Hrubovãakova, Monika Jurãenková, Zuzana Paštéková, Yvetta Slezáková, Václav Votruba
Second Violins: Juraj Bartovic, Milan Frátrik, Johana Motýlová, Viliam Schowanetz, Eva Slaninková
Cellos: Peter Baran Vladimír Kubovcák, Ivan Tvrdík
Violas: Mikuláš Blaas, Daniela Bogaczova, Ladislav Maršovský
Orchestra Recording Technicians: Vašek Frkal & Martin Roller
Protools Engineer: Ján Došek
Recording Supervisor: Mirko Krajcí
Recording Manager: Margaréta Hernando
Conductor: David Hernando
Recorded in 2005 & 2006 at:
Continentica Studios, London
Frou Frou Central, London
Slovensky Rozhlas, Bratislava
Studio Stadion, Oslo
Green House, Reykjavik
Landakotskirkja, Reykjavik
Sundlaugin, Mosfellsbær
Suit 775, Los Angeles
Mastered at Super Audio Mastering by Simon Heyworth, Assisted by Kevin Lockwood
Cover photo by Vicky Dawe
Self-portrait by Kate Havnevik
Artwork by Gotti Sigurdarson
Album Artwork
Singles
Making Melankton
Your Quotes
”Your music is EAR-BLEEDINGLY BEAUTIFUL” “Love your music!” “PURE BEAUTY, sounds surround like butterflies” “Something quite special” “Thank you for being you” “The sounds you make are made for heaven and all that is, and bring harmony to all of us” “The Voice of an Angel” “BRILLIANT, any gig in Italy??” “Kate your songs are so AWESOME, and your voice super GREAT” “Delightful!” “GORGEOUS landscapes in your music Kate” “Your music has such an elegant style” “New Day is quite a MASTERPIECE!” “Your music really touches” “You REALLY have made some great music, I love it” “Kate! when are you going to release your albums? =) the ANTICIPATION’S too great” “Your music is AMAZING, its truly great, very ILLUMINATING” “EXTREMELY BRILLIANT!!!!!!” “Hey MORE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR YOU” “I feel all floaty now, great start to my day. Thank you” “ABSOLUTLY FANTASTIC!!!” “I'd like to see your art reach the masses” “You are quite an artist” “LOVE LOVE LOVE the new jams Kate...” “Just BEAUTIFUL and QUIRKY...” “I love your beautiful strange sounds” “Your music is FANTASTIC!!” “Can't wait to hear the album!” “awesome voice Kate !!” “I have to say, your songs are PHENOMENAL” “"New Day" in particular is just awesome, a soundscape which runs from ELATION to TENSION and that is before we even hear your voice” “Your scandinavian accent is a MAGICAL addition to your singing voice” “I am itching to listen to you on my stereo” “I find your songs impeccably SERENE, and tastefully done” “If I could hear clouds, they would sound like your music” “you are so talented, I love your voice, you're amazing” “will always be a fan from this point on” “Your tremendously moving voice has made me get up off my seat and go to the record store to find you CD.” “you're simply GORGEOUS!” “WOW! The new songs are AMAZING” “I cannot wait for the album!” “"not fair" is FANTASTIC!” “New Day is INCREDIBLE” “The track New Day is quite AMAZING” “New Day is just FANTASTIC! Sickenly COOL beats, and scarily CAPTIVATING strings!” “So beautiful and captivating!” “just telling you how INCREDIBLE your music is” “I completely lost myself in 'new day'” “AMAZING, AMAZING,.AMAZING, I just cannot wait for this record to be OUT” “AWESOME!!” “"UNLIKE ME" MY FAVE” “Your music TAKES MY BREATH AWAY - what a HAUNTING voice” “I could lay in my bed and listen to your voice all day” “Thanks for creating such beautiful music” “It's a PLEASURE to listen to such amazing songs” “You are simply amazing. Not even simply but complicated amazing and I love it.” “Thanks for being awesome!” “GORGEOUS voice... I imagine they play your music in HEAVEN” “I now have Unlike Me on repeat” “Absolutely loving your voice” “I can't tell you how much I love your music” “GREAT talent, as you possess, needs to shine in the states too” “I love listening to you sing” “You can stop by PARADISE anytime, you're always welcome!” “Your music is a breath of fresh air...” “WONDERFUL!” “…and the voice has a pitch that pierce ones heart” “I dig your arrangements” “your music makes me SMILE!” “Super great voice! Simply FASCINATING” “So Beautiful!!” “I Love the QUALITY and CLARITY of your voice” “COOL voice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” “your music is simply amazing!!” “WOW, Your music is DIFFERENT.” “your sound is DIVINE...” “Can't say anything more than LOVELY, LOVELY music” “Your voice is incredible and your songs are truly works of ART!!!”