Norman Blake-produced reissue single lights the first candle for I Was A King as the Norwegian indie figureheads mark two-decades of music…

With two decades of collaboration and seven albums behind them, Anne Lise Frøkedal and Frode Strømstad compile I Was A King’s highlights onto new vinyl release
 
Focusing on Teenage Fanclub-leader’s contributions to the band with Lighthouse, a window re-opens onto a back-catalogue blessed by the touch of creative kinship
 
I Was A King - Lighthouse
From the upcoming compilation album:
Best Wishes – A Shortcut To I Was A King – OUT 7/3/25
Hype City Music via Redeye Distribution
www.hypecitymusic.com

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Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, Sufjan Stevens, Robyn Hitchcock and a cast of numerous other, notable kindred spirits have gathered around Norwegian, West Coast-by-shoegaze duo, I Was A King over the last two decades, helping to create seven, acclaimed studio albums. Stemming from the root of 2007’s debut, Losing Something Good For Something Better, the Oslo-based pairing of Anne Lise Frøkedal and Frode Strømstad take a moment of pause to study what’s grown from those long-ago beginnings before striding forwards into new work of homegrown, off-kilter melody. Announcing a vinyl compilation of their curated highlights, they choose the Blake-produced single reissue, Lighthouse, to open proceedings.
 
Best Wishes – A Shortcut To I Was A King is to be released on both physical and digital formats on Fri 7 March 2025.
 
Making friendships at home and far beyond borders, I Was A King’s 2019, 12-track album, Slow Century was produced by the Teenage Fanclub singer-songwriter, having established a firm connection since their tribute track, Norman Bleik, appeared on their 2009 self-titled album. The cross-channel links to heroes of Scottish DIY alt-rock deepened as Blake both sang and played guitar on Lighthouse, while former drummer of The Delgados, Paul Savage mixed the album.
 
Hitting an immediate stride and connecting with not only Norwegian audiences, but those in the UK and US, I Was A King’s indelible sense of leftfield, indie identity akin to Belle and Sebastian, The Pastels or Pavement and drawing on the teachings of Big Star and The Byrds, was clear from their 2005 beginnings. At just two-minutes long, Lighthouse’s understated, straight-to-the-chorus, harmony-drenched sense of distilled, irresistible economy is suitably evocative of the band’s entire, impressive songbook.
 
Co-Singer-Songwriter, Strømstad, says: “The track was originally recorded back in 2018 in our hometown Egersund, on the West Coast of Norway, looking over to the very northern tip of Scotland. We welcomed Norman over to produce the album, but he also sang on the album too. We were pleased to have Paul Savage involved too. He mixed the album at Chem19 Studios in Glasgow, where so many artists we really admire have worked, from Mogwai to King Creosote.”

Spanning a total of 15 songs, picked out from both their past singles and highlights that remained as part of the long story told across all seven albums, I Was A King include the Robyn Hitchcock co-written, Food Wheels in the compilation track listing. Drawn from their 2021 album, Grand Hotel, the notable collaboration is filed alongside many more, not least enlisting Sufjan Stevens to play on tracks during 2008 recording sessions at Brooklyn’s Marlborough Farms, including string-laden compilation opener Extra Number.
 
Having travelled happily through relationships with notable labels, including Sonic Cathedral, The Control Group and Warner Music, I Was A King find a new home for Best Wishes – A Shortcut To I Was A King with their own Hype City label. The full track listing for the vinyl and digital release is confirmed as follows:
 
1. Extra Number
2. Bubble
3. Here at Last
4. One of Us
5. Favourite Colours
6. Food Wheels
7. Pet Cemetery
8. Leave
9. Best Wishes
10. Winter Sleep
11. Norman Bleik
12. Stay Warm
13. Lo Pressure
14. Frozen Disease
15. Lighthouse
 
For pre-order information, upcoming releases and to be the first to know about any live dates, connect with I Was A King and Hype City online via:
 
https://www.instagram.com/iwasakingband
https://www.facebook.com/iwasaking
 
http://www.hypecitymusic.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/hypecitymusicno
https://www.facebook.com/people/Hype-City-Music/61569419610568