In a very short time, Eihwar have transformed from an unexpected experiment into one of the most intriguing forces in the Pagan electronic scene. Combining Norse-inspired narratives, trance-inducing rhythms, and a visual universe that feels both ancient and otherworldly, the duo has captured the imagination of listeners around the world. With their new album, Hugrheim, on the horizon and a nearly sold-out tour in sight, we had the opportunity to chat with Asrunn about the project’s unexpected beginnings, the mythology that shapes their music, their upcoming album, the spiritual intensity that fuels their performances, and much more.

Hi Asrunn, how are you doing?

I am doing well, although a bit tired from this last period of promotion and tour preparation. I can not wait to get back on stage and meet the fans. It will be a nice change from these days stuck inside doing the most tedious part of our job!

Eihwar started in February 2023 and immediately attracted attention shortly after a video was posted on YouTube. How did people initially find the video?

It is still a mystery to us. Especially since, on paper, nothing could have worked: It was just a simple, barely animated visual with our logo designed in a few minutes during a burst of inspiration. Just like the song we released, “The Forge,” which was composed, recorded, mixed, and posted in a single day. We diid not tell anyone about this song, not even our friends, because it was never conceived at the time as a band, but as a test of pagan dance music for the after-parties of our traveling events called “La Nuit des Sorcières” (The Night of the Witches) in France. Mark and I assume that its immediate success stemmed from the fact that this music we created filled a gap in a music scene for which there was an eager audience and few options. But it is a question we can only answer with assumptions. The ways of the YouTube algorithm are mysterious.

Why did you choose Eihwar as name for your project?

Eihwar is a blend of the rune Eihwaz and the word WAR. The rune Eihwaz is the rune of the yew tree, a symbol of prudence and reflection before action (a quality definitely lacking in my personality, which tends to burn everything first and think later…). War represents the only one worth fighting: the war against the rigidity of our bodies, and especially our minds, a cancer plaguing our current societies. It is about avoiding the stagnation of our knowledge, our imagination, and our principles, in order to remain open, flexible, and simply alive.

Have you always been connected to Norse culture? Are there other cultures that influence your music?

Mark and I have previously lived in the Viking Age, so we retain some memories that are as hazy as they are incredible. Therefore, we wanted to keep the Viking values that are dear to us in this musical project: bravery, a thirst for discovery, and fierceness.
Regarding the rest of your question, we are spirits who come from Hugrheim, the tenth hidden world of Yggdrasil. That is primarily what inspires us; we are simply telling our story.

Your new album, Hugrheim, will be released on March 13th. What can you tell us about its genesis and lyrics? What are the main differences from your first album?

As mentioned before, Hugrheim is the realm we come from. An intense, unforgiving, ever-changing world, forged by the spirit, itself in constant motion. It is a harsh world, but it is what we call “home.”
When our human hosts die, we will return there, until our new incarnation on Midgard. That is what we wanted to convey in this new work: to reveal more of who we are.

Do you have a favorite track from the upcoming album?

Of the six songs conceived as singles, I would say Heill Óðinn is tied with Nauðiz. Within the album as a whole, it is Skuggaríki. Mark’s Tagelharpa solo possesses an emotional intensity that moves me deeply every time I listen.

Your music videos are stunning. Do you have a favorite? Can you tell us something about the making of your latest music videos?

Thank you so much! It was not easy at all! First, Hugrheim, Nauðiz, and Freyja’s Calling were filmed by our talented friend Samuel Maurin. Heill Óðinn was filmed by us much later. During the filming of Nauðiz, on the Larzac plateau in France, in a private, idyllic, and carefully guarded location, I sprained my ankle three times on the very rugged terrain. I don’t know by what miracle it healed in 24 hours, which allowed us to finish filming just in time. By the way, you can have fun trying to find the shot where I am limping, because I had just twisted my foot on a stone hidden in the tall grass… As for Freyja, it was quite something to film in that magical forest at night with torchlight and the music blasting! A truly witchy experience, I must say…

What are your main musical influences?

I listened to Deftones a lot, they are still my all-time favorite band, and I am also very into Black music from the 50s and 60s. Etta James and Dinah Washington taught me a lot. I am the musical result of jazz pin-ups and angry metalheads.

For the upcoming tour, most of the shows are sold out. How does that make you feel? Is there any place you will play for the first time?

We are both incredulous and filled with gratitude. We do not really understand how we were able to achieve these results in such a short time. We feel loved, which is extremely satisfying and joyfully fills our sense of self-worth and purpose in this world. We can not wait to meet all the people who consciously choose to pay to share a musical moment with us. When you think about it, it is incredible. It forces you to be humble and give your best.

What happens when you are on stage, how do you feel?

I feel whole. This is where I need to be, where I am most useful. It is during these special moments that I connect with Higher Beings, Beings of Light, to fulfill my role as an instrument at their service. I am here to deliver their messages, guidance, healing, answers, and loving energies to anyone who might need them. So, connected in this way, I very easily enter an altered state of consciousness, a trance, and I float for quite a while, and then I sleep like a baby, haha.

You will play some festivals this summer, but what do you have planned after that?

Taking a real vacation. Something we have barely done in three years. Turning off our cell phones and chilling by the river, in our secret spot in the Ardèche. I think Mark would enjoy fishing for trout next to me while I crochet a dress or a sweater.

Thank you so much for your time, it was a pleasure to interview you. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans and anyone reading this interview?

What I say at the end of each of our concerts: Thank you so much for being here, without you we would be nothing.