“The House of the Rising Sun” brings together a rare and compelling collaboration between Piftemaen, Caroline Lavelle, and Clare Kenny, offering a fresh interpretation of a timeless folk classic. While many listeners associate the song with Eric Burdon and The Animals, it is a traditional piece that continues to invite reinvention. This new version grew from an unexpected creative connection that began online and evolved into a cross-genre blend of Celtic influence, jazz improvisation, and atmospheric storytelling.

The collaboration began when Piftemaen, a Norwegian tenor saxophonist, joined Caroline Lavelle’s Patreon community during the pandemic. Lavelle, known for her long career with Loreena McKennitt and her work as a singer, cellist, and composer, shared leftover recordings and works-in-progress with her supporters. One track caught Piftemaen’s attention. He rearranged it, added his saxophone, remixed the piece, and sent it back to her. She loved the result and later gave him access to more material, sparking an ongoing creative exchange.

Lavelle soon brought in bassist Clare Kenny, recognized for her work with Sinéad O’Connor and countless studio sessions. Lavelle and Kenny crafted the foundation of the new recording, and Piftemaen reshaped it with his own sonic perspective. He restructured elements to make room for his playing, added sax textures, and delivered a remix that blends Celtic atmosphere with open-hearted jazz improvisation.

For Piftemaen, the saxophone is an emotional language of its own. “The sax is my voice. I want to express myself like some singers are able to do. But I’m a poor singer, so I lean on the saxophone.” His sound comes from a lifetime of diverse listening and playing without formal training. Improvisation, to him, is like swimming in a river, letting the current guide the movement while shaping the water around him.

Rooted in the rock and R&B universe, he later gravitated toward more open, spacious styles of northern jazz. That shift led him to seek soundscapes where emotion could stretch beyond short solos, and the collaboration with Lavelle and Kenny fits that direction perfectly. Their work shows how musicians in different corners of the world can merge styles as if recording side-by-side.

Lavelle brings decades of experience that span classical, world, and contemporary music. Kenny adds unmatched depth from her long catalog of studio and live work. Together, they created the core of the track. Piftemaen completed it by adding the final melodic layer, creating a version where each artist’s voice is clear yet cohesive.

He also speaks openly about individuality in today’s creative landscape. He is not intimidated by digital tools or AI. “Artists with integrity and their own identity will always rise above those who chase whatever they think is coming next,” he says. His own long journey reflects that belief. After decades in lesser-known bands while working in construction, he now embraces a new chapter focused on honest expression.

The name Piftemaen, a Stavanger word meaning “the man with the whistle,” mirrors his approach, a musician unafraid to speak, create, and stir emotion. “I want to play for those who want more than something to tap their feet to,” he says. “There are people with a profound relationship to music who listen and get carried away. Me, for one.”

As a late bloomer, he finds freedom rather than pressure. He creates not to chase trends, but to honor emotion and originality. This collaboration on “The House of the Rising Sun” marks another powerful step in that journey, uniting three artists from different backgrounds to breathe new life into a classic.

Listen Here : open.spotify.com/track/1r5D68SUslRX