Norwegian jazz trio DATADYR was the second signing on the newly formed Is it Jazz? Records back in 2022, and the label went on to release the young band’s first album “Woolgathering” in June of that year.

Datadyr’s new album “This We Know” is a more mature and confident outing from the young band. The band is still inspired by traditional American music like jazz, blues, bluegrass and folk but with a greater focus on songwriting and structure than their debut.

The album also reflects an outsiders’ view on current events in the states, political and otherwise. It’s easy to get caught up in the old romantic image of America, especially growing up in Norway surrounded by and idolizing American art and media. The current state of the nation is one far removed from that idealist view the band grew up with, and this album is about the process of realization and eventually accepting that a place that produced so much of what you love is now responsible for so much of what you hate.