Influences: Niilas on the Tracks That Shaped the Sound of ‘Nama Haga’
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Norwegian artist Niilas returns with his latest album ‘Nama Haga’, out now. The multidisciplinary Bergen producer continues to blur boundaries between club music, sound art and experimental electronics while weaving in the cultural depth of his indigenous Sámi heritage.
‘Nama Haga’, which translates to “untitled” from Northern Sámi, reflects Niilas’ distinctive sonic universe. The record balances melancholic atmospheres with playful sound design, combining broken rhythms, house energy and delicate melodic detail. Tracks like ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Team Rokket’ explore freeform rhythmic spaces, while ‘Can Dance’ leans into warm, jazz-tinged house grooves. Elsewhere, the album drifts through slow-burning moments such as ‘Jämtland’ and the intimate lullaby ‘Bye Bye’, revealing a project that moves fluidly between dancefloor pulse and reflective listening.
Niilas’ work extends far beyond traditional club spaces. He has performed at festivals such as Øya Festival and cultural institutions including Tate Modern, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter and Munch Museum. He also featured in the acclaimed multimedia project TAKKUUK by BICEP, contributing both visually and musically.
For this Influences feature, Niilas highlights five tracks that shaped his creative approach, from early electronic discoveries to genre-defying productions that changed the way he understood sound design and sampling.
Arms And Sleepers - Kepesh
“This is probably the track that made me get into electronic producing. Up until that point, I had only been playing physical instruments and could not wrap my head around how these sounds were made. I recently picked up listening to the whole album again, and it still stands on its own.”
Burial - South London Boroughs
“Burial shaped a generation of producers and artists, me included. This track really got me tuned into club music and DJing. I found it when I was exploring the SoundCloud deconstructed club scene, and it opened my eyes to genre-bending and sampling on a different level.”
Tool - The Pot
“I discovered this track after googling ‘cool guitar riff’ when I was about fourteen during Christmas break. Living through the polar night with almost no daylight, I was learning guitar and searching for inspiration online. Tool stuck with me, and they are still my favourite band.”
Toe - グッドバイ (Goodbye)
“This track and album were constant listening when I was learning electronic production while still obsessing over guitar playing. Eventually, the production side took over, but I am trying to return to instruments again these days.”
Susumu Yokota - Long Long Silk Bridge
“This album is a sampling masterclass and changed how I see electronic music. At first, I thought it was a studio recording and tried to analyse it that way. When I realised most of the sounds were sampled, it completely shifted my perspective. Sampling is its own art form and can create something greater than the sum of its parts.”
Niilas’ influences reveal a creative journey shaped by curiosity rather than genre boundaries. From experimental electronica to progressive rock and intricate guitar music, each discovery expanded the way he approached production.
That openness runs throughout ‘Nama Haga’. The album blends club rhythms, ambient textures and melodic experimentation while carrying the emotional depth of Sámi cultural identity. Rather than fitting neatly within a single category, Niilas continues to create music that sits between worlds.
The result is a body of work that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, reflecting an artist who treats sound not just as music, but as a form of storytelling and exploration.
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