The upcoming album “What If” is the story of a chance meeting between two women from different worlds, born from the poetry of local Norwegian-based author Easterine Kire.

It was Kire, an award-winning writer from Nagaland now living in Norway, who initiated the project. After accidentally hearing vocalist and songwriter Birgitte Damberg’s music online in 2021, Kire reached out with a proposition.

“She attached one of her poems and wondered if I would like to set it to music,” Damberg explains. “I liked it a lot, and a year later, after I sent a simple melody, I got a reply back in just three minutes! Easterine was delighted, and it led to us thinking we might be able to do a project together.”

Kire then granted Damberg generous access to her poetry collections from an almost 40-year career. “The message was that I could choose freely and do whatever I wanted with them,” says Damberg. “She often told me: ‘If you feel it, do it.’”

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This creative freedom, combined with the distinct character of Kire’s work, was a driving force. “Kire’s poems often have an uneven rhythm, which means that you have to keep your tongue straight in your mouth during the composition phase,” Damberg notes. “I was forced to look for other musical solutions than I am used to. It was challenging, but also refreshing, and it opened up the artistic landscape.”

The result of this unique local-international collaboration is the album “What If,” set for release on October 10, alongside a companion book of the same name featuring Kire’s poems and Damberg’s musical adaptations.

The connection to the acclaimed local poet has already generated significant international interest for the Birgitte Damberg Trio, with media attention in India and plans for a tour there next year. The trio will also present the new work on Norwegian stages this autumn and winter.