Tamil band 9 Grader Nord awarded Norwegian Grammy

Yalpanam, the second studio album by Norwegian Tamil folk rock band 9 Grader Nord (9 degrees north), has picked up a Spellemaansprisen – the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy.

The group consisting of sisters Mira and Dipha Thiruchelvam, Jakob Sønnesyn and Jakob Sisselson Hamre offers a mix of genres, such as baila, flamenco, jazz and Carnatic music.

Yalpanam was launched in November 2023, and the album name continues the theme from their first album titled, “Jaffna,” named after the city in northern Sri Lanka where Mira and Dipha’s parents originate from. Yalpanam, is the city’s old, original name.

The album is a chronological story that begins with the sisters parents arrival in Norway and takes the listener through the inner conflicts experienced by minority artists as they navigate between two worlds. Ultimately, the album explores the constant quest for recognition and affirmation within their own community. They feel they are preserving Tamil culture by finding a cultural balance at the same time as they wonder if their art has become too distant and unrelatable.

Yalpanam was composed and produced by Mira Thiruchelvam and Jakob Sønnesyn.

“We would have been helpless without the contributions from the following people: Simen Hope (mixing), Njål Paulsberg & Anders Bjelland (tracking), Björn Engelman (mastering), Marius Lie, Abirami Logendran (cover art), Synne Sofi Bårdsdatter Bønes (cover photo), Gayane Arultheepan (proofreading), Jeninten Ethirveerasingam (backing vocals), Suntharamoorthy Kanesan (mridangam and kadam), Ibou Cissokho (kora), and Nawar Alnaddaf (oud).”

Yalpanam is available on all streaming platforms. Link to album:

click here