GÅTE Announced as Winners of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest

GÅTE

Announced as Winners of The

John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Groundbreaking Norwegian folk-rock band take the World category grand prize for “Sannsiger” (feat. Maria Franz of Heilung), ahead of new album Sigil, out September 25

“[…] a Norwegian treasure. Their unique combination of traditional Norwegian folk music and explosive rock lifted them out of the rehearsal basement and onto some of the biggest stages” — Eurovision.com

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Gåte - Sannsiger (Ft. Maria Franz) (Official Music Video)

Gåte – Sannsiger (Ft. Maria Franz) (Official Music Video)

GÅTE, the Norwegian folk-rock band who represented the country at Eurovision 2024, have won the grand prize in the World category of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest for their single “Sannsiger.” The win arrives ten days ahead of the release of Sigil, the band’s sixth studio album and first for Season of Mist, a ten-track record that moves through Nordic legend and folk narrative to ask what remains once illusion falls away.

Watch the video for “Sannsiger”: https://youtu.be/Y44QtGohmFw

Released in April 2026 upon signing with Season of Mist, “Sannsiger” set the stage for the album by weaving Hardanger fiddle and nyckelharpa into Gåte’s contemporary sound. The song grew from a simple guitar loop that guitarist Magnus Børmark recorded on his phone, and became a song about truth-tellers throughout history and society’s recurring impulse to silence them. Across Sigil, that same interplay of traditional instrumentation and programmed electronics carries through, alongside Gunnhild Sundli’s vocals and heavier guitar work.

“Sannsiger” features guest vocals from Maria Franz of Season of Mist labelmates Heilung. “Its raw energy immediately resonated with me,” Franz said upon the song’s release. “I’ve been a fan of Gåte for many years, so accepting the invitation was a no-brainer.”

Gåte are among the most accomplished bands to come out of Norway. Their 2002 debut album Jygri entered the Norwegian charts at number one and won the band a Spellemann Award (Norwegian Grammy) for Best Newcomer. After a twelve-year hiatus, the band returned in 2017 to critical acclaim and sold-out performances, followed by 2021’s Nord and their 2024 Eurovision appearance with a reimagining of the traditional ballad “Ulveham,” watched by over 160 million viewers. They toured Europe with Leprous in 2025.

Sigil was produced by Kristian Fanavoll Tvedt and Magnus Børmark, and recorded at MagnuStudio and Øra Studio. The album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios. Artwork is by Martine Solstad Larsen and Martin Kvamme, with photography by Ole Ekker.

Pre-order & pre-save Sigil: https://orcd.co/gatesigil

The upcoming fall tour will bring GÅTE to nine cities across Norway, plus one date in Istanbul, Turkey. During this ten-date run, they will perform “Sannsiger”, along with other new songs and fan favourites from their celebrated discography.

GÅTE Concerts 2026:

October 23 – Trondheim, Norway @ Havet [TICKETS]

October 30 – Drammen, Norway @ Union [TICKETS]

October 31 – Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene [TICKETS]

November 5 – Haugesund, Norway @ Høvleriet [TICKETS]

November 6 – Stavanger, Norway @ Folken [TICKETS]

November 7 – Bergen, Norway @ Verftet [TICKETS]

November 12 – Skien, Norway @ Parkbiografen [TICKETS]

November 13 – Moss, Norway @ Verket Scene [TICKETS]

November 14 – Hamar, Norway @ Festiviteten [TICKETS]

November 21 – Istanbul, Turkey @ IF Performance [TICKETS]

Gåte - Sigil - Merchandise Graphic
Gåte - Sigil - Cover Art

Tracklist:

1.    Bergteken (04:44)

2.    Oskorsreia (03:08)

3.    Sannsiger (03:43)

4.    Nokon (03:10)

5.    Bòd frå djupet (03:45)

6.    Strandvaskar (03:27)

7.    Songen (03:38)

8.    Aude (03:54)

9.    Mi Jord (03:44)

10. Jostedalsrypa (03:39)

Full runtime: 36:53

Country: Norway (NO)

Genre: Nordic Folk/Folk Rock

FFO: Heilung, Wardruna, Eivør, Myrkur

Gåte - Band Photo - © Ole Ekker

Photo by © Ole Ekker

Rooted in the intersection of Nordic folk tradition and contemporary rock, GÅTE have spent over two decades developing a sound that feels both ancient and fiercely present. Drawing on centuries-old ballads, oral traditions, and traditional vocal forms, the band transform these sources into music that is physical, emotionally direct and unmistakably their own.

Emerging in the early 2000s, GÅTE quickly became one of Norway’s most distinctive bands for their groundbreaking mix of Nordic folk tradition and modern rock. In 2002, their debut album, Jygri, entered at #1 on the Norwegian Albums chart and won them the Spellemann Award (Norwegian Grammy) for Best Newcomer.

GÅTE have been drawing from traditional music and transforming it with modern means into something new right from their beginning”, Metal Hammer writes.

After two studio albums, three EPs and one live album, GÅTE took a twelve-year hiatus before returning to critical acclaim and sold-out performances with 2017’s Svevn. Following their folk-leaning LP Nord in 2021, the band went on to represent Norway in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest with a contemporary re-imagining of “Ulveham”, a traditional Norwegian ballad. In 2025, they toured throughout Europe with Leprous.

Rather than treat tradition as a fixed reference, GÅTE approach it as a living force. Old material is not preserved for its own sake, but reworked and recontextualized, allowing it to resonate with contemporary urgency and relevance.

“Our music comes from a place where tradition is not something fixed, but something alive” the band says. “We draw from old sources because they still speak to us, and because they allow us to express something honest and human today.”

GÅTE have now completed their sixth studio album, which will be released on the band’s new label home Season of Mist. While the band has focused primarily on Norway in the past, signing with the international label reflects both the growing interest they have received from around the world and their desire to reach a wider audience.

During the fall of 2026, GÅTE will perform the album’s lead single “Sannsiger” and other new songs during a headline tour of Norway and one date in Istanbul, Turkey. Their concerts are well-known for being immersive and intense, balancing raw energy with a ritual-like focus that has earned them a glowing and growing reputation beyond the Nordic region.

Line-up:
Gunnhild Sundli — Vocals

Magnus Børmark — Guitars, Nyckelharpa, Sounds, FX, Programming, Percussion, Backing Vocals

Jon Even Schärer — Drums, Percussion, Programming, Mouth Harp, Backing Vocals

Arent Todal — Hardanger Fiddle, Nyckelharpa, Violin, Sounds, Backing Vocals

Mats Paulsen — Bass, Backing Vocals

Production Credits:
Recorded at MagnuStudio; Øra Studio.

Produced by Kristian Fanavoll Tvedt & Magnus Børmark.
Mixed & Mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios.

Guest Musicians:
Kristian Fanavoll Tvedt — Synths, Programming, Sounds, Guitar, Backing Vocals
Maria Franz — Guest Vocals on “Sannsiger”
Olav Luksengård Mjelva — Hardanger Fiddle on “Bergteken”, “Oskorsreia”, “Strandvaskar”, “Songen”, “Aude”
John Stenersen — Hurdy-Gurdy on “Mi Jord”
Knut Anders Vestad — Concert Grand Piano on “Jostedalsrypa”
Marit Aspås — Cello on “Jostedalsrypa”
Sylvelin Sundli — Upright Piano on “Bòd frå djupet”

Cover Art:
Martine Solstad Larsen (Sigil Artist); Martin Kvamme (Cover Art and Design).

Photography:
Ole Ekker

Pre-save & Pre-order: https://orcd.co/gatesigil


Follow GÅTE:

Official Website: https://www.gåte.com/
Bandcamp: https://gaate.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gaateband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaate_official/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaateband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/G%C3%A5temusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YxkGgMvqCQA75aFpy6524
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/g%C3%A5te/73355577
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/16043
Tidal: https://tidal.com/artist/12122/

Available Formats:
CD Digipak w/ 12-page booklet
Black 12″ vinyl in gatefold with double-sided insert
Copper 12″ vinyl (33 rpm) in gatefold with double-sided insert
Crystal clear 12″ vinyl (33 rpm) in gatefold with double-sided insert

Gåte - Band Logo