A singer-songwriter’s Hull upbringing has inspired a “deep dive into dark Nordic folk and heavy cinematic Viking music”. Ragnar Dobson is currently based in Greater Manchester but his heart belongs to the county where he was born and raised – and it is its history that has been a catalyst for his composing and performing, he says.
Ragnar hand-writes completely original historical Norse poetry, channeling the ancient heritage of his east coast roots into “raw, real human throat singing vocal layers”. He runs an independent label, Valhalla Records, and does not use “massive, million-pound physical studio arrays” in the creation of his music.
“I use advanced studio modelling systems to warp massive syncopated drums and heavy tagelharpa backing strings right around my physical voice layers, building a cinematic wall of sound completely independently from a mobile set-up,” said Ragnar. The result would sit well as the backing to a video game, the artist has been told; it is dramatic, powerful and neither would it be out of place as the soundtrack to a big-screen production about Viking warfare.
Ragnar’s wife, Jodie, is the entire creative muse behind his tracks. She serves as the literal face of the fictitious shieldmaiden “Astrid” in his ongoing ten-track concept story, Astrid – Shieldmaiden of the North, as the couple’s faces have been employed to bring realism to the fantasy artwork that accompanies the saga.
Parts one and two, The Barrow King and The Cursed Blade, are out now. Ragnar expects to release part three in January 2027.
Ragnar is thrilled that his music is reaching the ears of a growing number of followers. Two of his tracks, Dead Of Night and Solstice Cheer – of the latter, Ragnar said he “wanted to capture a really powerful, celebratory atmosphere” – have been picked up for broadcast consideration inside the regional BBC Introducing networks.
“The momentum behind this project has been incredible,” said Ragnar. He has come a long way since his “really good childhood” in Hull led on to a good number of false starts in a variety of careers.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” said Ragnar. “I must have got about 60 different GCSE qualifications and certificates, I couldn’t make my mind up.”
He was a sea cadet at TS Iron Duke in the city for a number of years, but he cut a course in catering at Hull College short – “I found out I hated cooking” – and a job at a Savers store “lasted half a day”. “I did my qualifications to be a fireman at Calvert Lane fire station but unfortunately I was unable to continue in the role because they didn’t have the funding to hire anyone else.”
Ragnar has been singing since he was a child and this year has found his passion, taking his music writing and recording full-time, with Jodie encouraging him on. “She’s the biggest inspiration I have got.”
Ragnar said: “I’d like people to realise the process that has gone behind what I produce. There are lots of developments out there now, with people making AI songs and flooding platforms with maybe 10,000 songs every day.
“For me it’s that hybrid twist – I do make backing instruments with AI, I arrange everything around it and layer it with my own vocals, and it takes a lot of time. I use AI as a tool, which is what it’s supposed to be.
“I always want to make sure my music sounds better and Jodie will suggest tweaks I should make. I do think it’s the human element that makes it the best.”
Ragnar said: “I like hearing my own vocals and I like my own music. Jodie has recorded me in the living room, with my weapons on the wall – I collect those as well – singing along to my music, so people can hear that it’s my voice.
“They sometimes don’t believe it’s me because I sing so deep.” Ragnar said he was contemplating a book to accompany his ten-track concept; that he was hopeful of his music reaching more followers and that he would be continuing with his new-found passion.
“This is something that I AM going to be sticking with,” he said. You can find out more about Ragnar’s work and streaming links on his main web page.
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