Emmerhoff & the Melancholy Babies

Emmerhoff & the Melancholy Babies is a Norwegian band formed in the mid-1990s, initially to perform material from Gunnar Emmerhoff’s solo album *The Joy of Mourning*. Rooted in the rural west coast of Norway, their music reflects a deep connection to the natural elements, blending influences from dark Americana, 70s bombastic rock, psychedelia, krautrock, and Norwegian jazz soundscapes. They released their debut album *Viva Revenge* in 1999 and have since built a reputation with a series of critically acclaimed albums, including *Loosebox* (2002) and more recent works like *Circle Six* (2018) and *The Dying of the Light* (2025). Their sound is both somber and vigorous, weaving expansive and celebratory moods that explore themes like aging, defiance, and the passion for creative persistence.

Known for their classic psych-rock style with a mystical edge, they have shared stages at major Norwegian festivals and continued to evolve over their nearly 30-year career. Their latest album, *The Dying of the Light*, features collaborations with notable artists such as Lindy-Fay Hella of Wardruna and is dedicated to a former member, Per Harald Ottesen. This record, inspired by Dylan Thomas' poetry, showcases the band’s continued ability to create rich, textured music that stands apart from many contemporaries in Bergen’s music scene.