Mast // Folken

Mast? Yes, the large pole on the boat!

Inspired by Norwegian ballad tradition, folk music, and Nordic jazz, Mast creates an organic soundscape that reflects the intimate themes in the songs that Regine Westgaard sings in her own Trøndelag dialect. The songs address themes such as belonging, relationships, and upbringing, using a language rich in imagery, depicting mountains, sea, and forest. In the music, interplay and improvisation are focal points. The group is keen on adding improvisation to the pop format, and on bringing energy and life to the songs. Here, they play with form, timbre, and expression.

The group originated from the music conservatory in Kristiansand and debuted as a band in November 2023. Since then, they have played numerous concerts and built up invaluable live experience – including performances at Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Eggstock Festival, and Vill Vill Vest – all before releasing a single song. They made up for this absence in March 2025 when they released their debut single Forget-me-not.

The debut album, In Port, recorded at Øra Studio in Trondheim, was released on May 30, 2025.

In Port opens a musical window to the labyrinths of upbringing and dives deep into the theme of belonging. The album is a contemplative look back at the places and moments that have shaped us – a poetic portrayal of leaving the familiar and dear, facing new uncertainties, and ultimately finding oneself. Mast takes you on an emotionally charged journey through life's changing landscapes, where one realizes that home is not always a place, but rather the people one shares the road with.

Regine Sophie Westgaard - vocals
Jenni Øiom Askvig - saxophone
Jon Roald - piano/synth
Fredrik Lindseth - double bass
Eirik Sæther - drums