“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
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