Erik Rydvall: “Norse mythology has become very hyped”
Updated 07.53 | Published 07.52
Swedish Erik Rydvall plays key harp in the soundtrack to the upcoming game “God of War Laufey”.
However, it is not the first time that his strings can be heard in play.
– It really is an instrument that fits into that world, he says to Aftonbladet.
Recently the PS5 game was shown “God of War Laufey” up during a State of Play presentation, featuring the “Daredevil” star Deborah Ann Woll in the main role.
At the time of writing, the trailer has been viewed over 5.5 million times on YouTube, but probably not as many people know that it is possible to hear a Swedish musician playing the nyckelharpa in the clip.
Erik Rydvall43, lives in the Bagarmossen district in Stockholm. In his home studio, several different types of key harps hang on the walls, the classical stringed instrument dating from the 16th century and recognized by Unesco as an important cultural heritage.
However, it is not only the neighbors who hear him play. His strings have appeared in TV series such as “Loki” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”, but also games such as “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök”, “League of Legends” and “God of War: Ragnarök” – as well as the upcoming “God of War Laufey”.
– I think that one reason why the nyckelharp has started to appear more in games now has to do with the fact that Norse mythology has become very hyped. It really is an instrument that fits into that world, says Erik Rydvall.
That Erik got to play the nyckelharp to the music in the “God of War” games is something of a coincidence. The music is written by the American composer Bear McCrearywho, among other things, has made the soundtrack for the television series “The Walking Dead”.
It was a friend of Bear’s who had found a clip on YouTube of Erik playing Bach on the nyckelharp, which he showed the composer.
– He was composing the music for “God of War: Ragnarök” at the time. He plays the vevlira himself, which is a cousin of the key harp. He had sort of been looking for someone to take on the task of playing the key harp and found me. Good timing.
Erik Rydvall has been playing folk music since he was six years old. It started with the violin, which he quit when he was 17 years old. Then he discovered the key harp, which he was allowed to borrow from an acquaintance.
– It suited me very well, because it is an instrument with which there was much to discover. It’s like the world is open to you. If you compare it to a violin, so much has already been done, but with the key harp it feels very free.
What is it about the key harp that makes the film, television and gaming industries demand it?
– I think it’s something with the sound. If you think about the main theme of the new “God of War”, it has a very straight tone. If you put it over a symphony orchestra, the timbre stands out, but also fits into the sound somehow. It’s not that extremely odd, but still something unique.
Erik’s key harp can be heard during an important sequence in the trailer for “God of War Laufey”.
Now you have been trusted to play another “God of War” game, how does it feel?
– Yes, but it’s great fun. I didn’t know what I was recording for, because I’m recording for a few different projects with Bear at the same time.
Erik explains that as a musician in projects like this, you often only get different audio files sent to you, so you simply record what is written on the sheet music.
– So it was he who wrote to me recently that “you play a lot of nyckelharpa and Moraharpa in the new game, so you can tell the world now”.
Despite the fact that Erik has played nyckelharpa in major games and TV series, few people know him precisely for the game music. Nor is he someone who plays video games himself.
When “God of War: Ragnarök” was released in 2022, however, he had to feel a little famous even in that world. In connection with a launch event at Webhallen at Medborgarplatsen in Stockholm, he was invited to come there and play.
On site there was a long queue of people dressed as characters from the game, who wanted to buy it and listen to the key harp that is heard in the music.
– I have never signed autographs like that, either before or after that. It’s an incredible world to kind of look into a little bit.
“God of War Laufey” will be released for Playstation 5 sometime in 2027.
