I first caught wind of Idiot Wind‘s Amanda Bergman last winter when she released her debut EP under that moniker, available only at the merch table on tour with the Tallest Man on Earth. The pair have been performing incredibly endearing, buzz-inducing duets of late — resulting in a number of must-watch video clips. Tracing Bergman’s solo career has proven to be no easy feat, though, as she has been humbly reluctant to drop a digital release, not to mention settle on a name to claim the much-deserved hype.
“Perhaps I just wanted to defuse my music with an ugly and childish name,” she told Swedesplease in ’08 when going by her home country’s word for shark, Hajen. “I don’t know. But in some way I guess it reflects my person and the way I subconsciously think of my own music. I mean ugly, stupid, raw, immature, ironic, humorous but at the same time very beautiful, honest, fragile, solemn and above all warm-hearted.”
Removing only those self-deprecating adjectives, that’s a fine introduction, I’d say. So, without further ado, fans of Cat Power should check out my favorite clips on the web of Bergman, aka Idiot Wind, aka Hajen, aka Jaw Lesson, below.
Hajen – “Scapegoat”
Idiot Wind – “Canary Bird”
Jaw Lesson – “Achers and Achers!”
The Göteborg String Theory w/Jaw Lesson – “Rats & Rifles”
The Tallest Man & Bergman Duet