Two albums in one!
Available on CD and a special limited 60 minute LP version, with one album on each side.
 
Fredrik Saroea is best known as the frontman of Norway's bizarre, global pisco punk sensation – DATAROCK. After years touring the world with alternative bangers such as "Fa-Fa-Fa" he now presents an entirely different side to his songwriting:.

As COVID-19 shut down live music, Saroea started recording in their label YAP Records' studio –YAP HQ in Bergen (Norway) – with DATAROCK drummer Øyvind Solheim helping out engineering & co-producing. The 12 songs jammed in on the 28 minute long album was also mixed by Solheim & Saroea at YAP HQ, and then shipped to UK's legend Mike Marsh (Björk, Massive Attack, Oasis, DATAROCK) for mastering. The solo album Rona Diaries was inspired by everything from post-rock (like The Sea and Cake) via hard-core (like Fugazi), noise-rock (like U.S. Maple), space-rock (like Flying Saucer Attack), art-rock (like Blonde Redhead) to Morrissey's indie-classics, Sun Kil Moon's lyrical songwriting, John Martyn's etheric "Small Hours" and Scott Walker's ballads.
The Release concert took place on May 28th 2021 with an internationally streamed concert in Norway's stately Grieg Hall – famous for the most iconic true Norwegian black metal recordings. Here, Saroea was backed by award-winning string quartet BIT20 Ensemble (Martin Shultz on violin, Liene Klava on viola, Agnese Rugevica on cello, Johannes Wik on harp with arrangements by Bjørn Morten Christophersen), merging his contemplative indie rock with the exquisite air of a chamber orchestra.
Thus, the tracks from Rona Diaries were premiered to an unsuspecting public who were more familiar with his former band’s rhythmic brand of dance music. 
 
Tracklist:
 
Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions:
01. I’m a Rock
02. Battered & Bruised
03. Bulletproof Vest
04. The End
05. A Matter of Dying
06. Bergheim
07. Understatement Love Song
08. Stray Cats
09. Dragging You Down
10. The Family You Got to Choose
11. Feather in the Cap
12. Heaven Knows Those Songs Weren’t Heaven Sent
 
Rona Diaries:
13. I’m a Rock
14. Battered & Bruised
15. Bulletproof Vest
16. The End
17. A Matter of Dying
18. Bergheim
19. Understatement Love Song
20. Stray Cats
21. Dragging You Down
22. The Family You Got to Choose
23. Feather in the Cap
24. Heaven Knows Those Songs Weren’t Heaven Sent