Join Thorunn for a Friday Punch

After the announcement last week that “Speak Out” on Radio Latina was to be broadcast in English, it seems the language is seeping its way through Luxembourg's media as another radio show has just begun in English, this time on DNR.

Thorunn's “Friday Punch” broadcast, from 9pm to 11pm, has now made the switch to English, offering a fare of good music and a bit of chat from one of Luxembourg's most well known singers and TV presenters.

Thorunn Egilsdottir, of Luxembourgish-Icelandic nationality, is undoubtedly best known for her music. With three albums under her belt, Thorunn has also turned to presenting TV shows and now her DNR radio show “Friday Punch”.

Wort.lu/en spoke to Thorunn to find out about Friday Punch and other projects in her busy calendar.

Tell us your life history in a few sentences

Well, I was born in Luxembourg then went to Iceland and studied A levels. I studied in France and came back to Luxembourg about 10 years ago. I then worked as a TV presenter, which I still do. For 3 years I lived part-time in Luxembourg, part-time in Berlin, while working for DNR, Télécran and wort.

How long has the DNR Friday Punch” been going?

The DNR show has been going for several months now in Luxembourgish, but I took time out as I was pregnant with my daughter. I came back and started again in July, so from now on it will be in English.

Why the switch to English?

Luc Wagner (the new DNR boss) heard that I already presented a TV show in English and he was like, “oh you speak English” and asked me if I wanted to present my show in English and I said, yeah I SO want to do it! The reason is we are trying to do something for the English speaking international communities.

What can we expect to hear?

I play my choice of music, which is pop rock, alternative indie, folk, and try to play as radio friendly songs as possible. Actually, you might say that I play songs that could have made it but didn't.

Every now and again I throw in a cookie like Arcade Fire for example, but I try to find some more challenging bands and try to feed people with them and see what happens. But I'm not going to play Lady Gaga or something like that. I'm so happy I get two hours of ….. “give me a break”.

I'm just hoping that people learn about this show and people like the same style I like and get the reflex to just turn on DNR on a Friday evening between 9pm and 11pm.

Apart from the radio, you have a comic book you just released right?

I did that together with my husband. A story of a boy called Pelle Svensson who discovers his world is upside down and animals are doing what humans do, so it's not just for children but for adults too. There's an ecological and political side of the book that appeals more to adults.

And you are mostly known for your music. Where are you now with that?

The Jar was my last album, but I took a break when I was pregnant, so my own music took a break too for a while. I need to get back to that, but the day only has 24 hours! I need to earn money too. As a musician in Luxembourg you have to do another job in order to survive and I happen to work for radio and TV, which helps me pay my bills, something I won't do with selling a CD here!

Describe your music to those who don't know it

The first album “moment in between” was the most commercial one. I recorded in Stockholm and in Munich. That was quite a success I believe for Luxembourg standards. Then I went on my own without managers and did “Superfishreality”, which was more rocky, more brute, more natural. And “The Jar” is a lot more sophisticated. My husband and I wrote the songs together. I would say he's more the head and I'm more the heart to the music.

How many languages do you actually speak?

I speak nine languages, five quite well, two OK, and two disaster! Languages for me are like glasses that you put on to explain the world in new ways. In Luxembourg we manage to swap languages so easily all the time, and I find that fantastic. I feel privileged when I'm in another country. It's just a shame the weather is so bad here!

Any last words to future “Friday Punch” listeners?

You can listen to me on the way to party, in the car, and you'll get to hear some great songs that put you in the mood. It can be anything from “put on your dancing shoes” to “let's get a bit more philosophical”. Or if you're home alone, just turn on DNR and I'll be there with you.

Listen to Thorunn on "Friday Punch" every week on Radio DNR 9pm - 11pm