Photo by David Pollock: In the studio with producer Erik Braund and Kevin Wohlgemuth, Brandon Boedigheimer and Sean Howland of the Hoons

Earlier this year we ran a feature about Erik Braund’s Nordic Hus, a project he called “the Norwegian Music Embassy in America.” Based in New York City, the ex-Alaskan is now venturing into artist management, getting a new record label off the ground and just finished relocating his recording studio from Anchorage to Brooklyn.

Braund recently spent 11 days in an Oregon studio with fellow Alaska ex-pats the Hoons (the band moved to Portland, Ore., to tour more easily). They’ve tracked a 16-song album and have started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to finish the record. Braund said in an email that backers will also get a bonus track from the album – a version of “Feliz Navidad.” He expected lead single “Run Home Jack” to enter the rotation on KZND soon.

While he wasn’t sure if the album was going to be released on his new label Braund Recording Company, the imprint’s first release is slated for the end of this month, an album by Norwegian electronic duo Thelma and Clyde.

Indie-popsters Heroes and Zeros – who visited here from Norway earlier this year and will return in March – also have a new album slated for stateside release on BRC, and Braund licensed the rights to release the band’s back catalog in the U.S. He’s done the same for Thelma and Clyde and another Norwegian band called Hanne Kolstø (who will join Heroes and Zeros’ return visit), while new material from Norway’s Johnny Hancocks and Frøken Fryd will be released through BRC in both countries.

Braund also plans to include some Alaskans in his label’s catalog. Expect releases from Evan Phillips, Jared Woods and Braund’s own band, Delmag, all of whom he hopes to send on tours of Norway.

--Matt Sullivan