Björk and Rosalía have surprised their fans with a new song called “Oral”, which they announced a month ago.
The song is a fundraiser for the residents of Seyðisfjörður, a town in Iceland that is suing the foreign-owned salmon farming companies that are polluting the fjords.
The song was co-produced by Björk, Rosalía, and Sega Bodega. You can watch the video for “Oral”, directed by Carlota Guerrero, below, where Björk and Rosalía show off their sword skills.
This year has brought on the escalation of public outcry in Iceland over the environmental impacts of salmon farms’ open-net pens, which reportedly threaten the country’s ecologically distinct fjords and native wildlife.
In early October, Björk joined agricultural workers and other citizens at a demonstration in Reykjavik, where some protesters dumped insecticide on fish carcasses that were laid out on the steps of Iceland’s parliamentary building.
Björk wrote most of “Oral” between her 1997 LP, Homogenic, and 2001’s Vespertine, but she lost track of the song’s original tapes for two decades, as she told Pitchfork. She re-discovered the track after seeing the word “oral” on TV while on tour in Australia earlier this year. “I like the fact that it’s happy,” she said about the song.
The song is a blend of Björk’s ethereal vocals and Rosalía’s flamenco-inspired style, creating a unique and catchy sound that celebrates their friendship and artistic vision. The video features the two singers in various outfits and settings, from a snowy forest to a futuristic cityscape, as they dance and fight with swords. The video ends with a message that reads: “Help us save Iceland’s fjords. Donate to [Seyðisfjörður Legal Fund].”
Björk and Rosalía have both been vocal about their environmental and social causes in the past. Björk has campaigned for the preservation of Iceland’s natural resources and culture, while Rosalía has spoken out against gender violence and racism. The two singers met in 2019 at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, where they performed together and expressed their mutual admiration.
“Oral” is the first single from Björk’s upcoming album, which is expected to be released in 2024. Rosalía is also working on her third studio album, following her 2018 breakthrough El Mal Querer.
By Salam Bustanji
