Danheim

Occupation(s)Years active2016–presentLabelsBallista RecordsWebsitedanheimmusic.com

Reidar Schæfer Olsen (born 29 April 1985), known professionally as Danheim, is a Danish ambient and Nordic folk musician.^[1][2][3]

Olsen was born in Brøndby^[4] in 1985 and produced mostly in the electronic genre until 2016, when a strong interest in Norse mythology led him to start combining that with his music.^[1] His stage name approximately means 'Danish home', taken from the Old Norse language word heim, meaning 'home'.^[5]

Since 2016, Danheim has released eight records on his own independent label.^[6] His style has been described by reviewers as "Brian Eno doing the soundtrack for Game of Thrones"^[2] or "inspired folk music, with dark undertones".^[7] Lyrically, his music deals with such tales from Norse mythology such as Hrungnir's fight with Thor, the story of Fimbulwinter and much more.^[7]

In his 2019 release Hringrás, Danheim recorded the last three minutes of a track using only parts of dead plants and animals, as well as some real human bones.^[8]

In 2019, Danheim also contributed music to the soundtrack of three episodes from the second half of the sixth season of the History Channel series Vikings.^[9] One of the actors from the show, Georgia Hirst, enjoyed Danheim's contributions to the score so much that she released a social media video praising his music.^[10]

As of July 2023,^[update] his [[YouTu channel had 555,000 subscribers and received more than 220 million video views.^[11]

In March 2020 Danheim released his third full-length album of 11 tracks, Skapanir.^[12] He decided to release the album earlier than planned, to help entertain his fans under lock-down or in isolation due to the 2020 Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic.^[13] Reviewers praised the album's 'visceral and hypnotic' composition, and noted the varied instrumentation that produced a 'multidimensional Viking soundbath'.^[14] Teemu Esko of Kaos Magazine called Skapanir "versatile and touching, while rich and immersive".^[15]

• Munarvágr (2017)
• Mannavegr (2017)
• Herja (2018)
• Friðr (2018)
• Vega (EP, 2018)
• Runagalðr (2018)
• Hringrás (2019)
• Skapanir (2020)
• Domadagr (2021)

• "Munarvágr" (2017)
• "Jörmunganðr" (2017)
• "Temple of Odin" (2017)
• "Ivar's Revenge – Danish Viking Music" (2017)
• "Angrboða" (ft. Sigurboði) (2017)
• "Jörmunganðr – Vocal Version" (2017)
• "Tyr" (2017)
• "Gjallarhorn" (2017)
• "Myrkviðr" (2017)
• "Floki's Last Journey" (2017)
• "Alfaðir" (2017)
• "Ulfhednar" (2017)
• "Tyrfing" (2017)
• "Gleipnir" (ft. Fader Sol, Moder Jord) (2017)
• "Valravn" (2017)
• "Gripir" (2017)
• "War of the North" (2017)
• "Valhal – Viking War Song" (2017)
• "Berserkir" (2017)
• "Gungnir" (2018)
• "Ginnung" (2018)
• "Fornheim" (2018)
• "Vikinger" (ft. Sigurboði) (2018)
• "Vigja" (2018)
• "Vega" (2018)
• "Glitnir" (2018)
• "Fella" (2018)
• "Feikinstafir" (2018)
• "Rùnatal" (ft. Sigurboði) (2018)
• "Egilsson" (2018)
• "Heilagr Domr" (2018)
• "Hausrùnir" (ft. Sigurboði) (2018)
• "Hefna" (2019)
• "Bana" (ft. Gealdýr) (2019)
• "Reida" (2019)
• "Blodfest" (ft. Heldom) (2019)
• "Ymir" (ft. Gealdýr) (2019)
• "Niu Heimar" (2020)
• "Skylda" (2020)
• "Runamal" (2021)
• "Runar" (2021)
• "Skovblót" (2022)
• "Hel" (2022)
• "Hagalaz" (2022)
• "Valkyrier" (2022)
• "Ulvekald" (2022)
• "Brekvirki" (2022)
• "Tivar" (2022)
• "Kammergrav" (2023)
• "Langskib" (2023)
• "Heimdalsvejen" (2023)
• "Asablót" (2023)

• Wardruna
• Heilung
• Neofolk
• Nytt Land
• SKÁLD