Björk’s ‘Oral’ is a rallying cry against the consequences of salmon farming

Björk and Rosalía have join forces for this powerful new single – produced by the artists themselves alongside Sega Bodega – called ‘Oral’, a rallying cry against the alarming cruelty and severe environmental consequences of open-pen ocean salmon farming in Björk’s native Iceland.

With its roots reaching back two decades, ‘Oral’ was initially penned by Björk between the iconic records ‘Homogenic‘ and ‘Vespertine‘. However, the track found itself tucked away in the artist’s archives, deemed unsuitable for an album at the time. Fast forward to March 2023, during her tour in Australia, and a serendipitous rediscovery occurred. The same month saw a report shedding light on the devastating impact of poorly regulated salmon farming in Iceland.

Passionate about the cause and known for her activism, Björk enlisted Rosalía to breathe new life into ‘Oral’ and shine a spotlight on the urgent issue. The collaboration is more than a musical feat, as it is a conscientious effort to raise awareness. The duo’s artistic expertise intertwines across its nearly four-minute runtime.

The heart of ‘Oral’ beats in tandem with the pulsating urgency of Björk and Rosalía’s message. The cruel practice of open-pen farming, thrust upon Iceland by Norwegian businessmen, threatens not only the environment but the very essence of Iceland’s ocean ecology. Lack of regulation has allowed the industry to grow tenfold since 2014, posing a dire threat to the nation’s wild salmon population.

Accompanying this sonic anthem is a visual piece crafted by Carlota Guerrero, with Zico Judge of Blur & ProdCo serving as the executive producer. The video is an exploration of AI technology and glitches blurring the line between reality and virtuality, challenging preconceived notions of identity. Female rage takes center stage as avatars of Björk and Rosalía train together, not against each other, but against the greater enemy — the catastrophic consequences of open-pen ocean salmon farming.

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