Pom Poko

Pom Poko is a Norwegian post punk band from Oslo, Norway. The band was formed in 2017 and quickly gained a reputation for their live shows, earning them a spot on NME's "100 Bands to Watch" list in 2018. Pom Poko signed to British label Bella Union in 2019, where they released their debut album, Birthday, to positive reviews. They released their second album, Cheater, to critical acclaim in 2021. Pom Poko was formed in 2017 and quickly gained a reputation for their live shows, earning them a spot on NME's "100 Bands to Watch" list that year. The group's members are trained as jazz musicians. In 2019, they signed to Bella Union. They released their debut album, Birthday, to positive reviews that same year. In 2021, they released their second album, Cheater, to critical acclaim. The band is named after Pom Poko, a Japanese animated film released by Studio Ghibli in 1994. Lead guitarist Martin Tonne has cited K-pop and hyperpop as genre influences for the band; his performances incorporate "buzzes, metallic rattles, squeals and moans," contributing a distorted layer to the group's sound. Current Ragnhild Fangel – lead vocals (2017–present) Martin Tonne – guitar (2017–present) Jonas Krøvel – bass (2017–present) Ola Djupvik – drums (2017–present) Albums Birthday (2019, Bella Union) Cheater (2021, Bella Union) Champion (2024, Bella Union) EPs This Is Our House (2022, Bella Union) "Pom Poko: Cheater Review". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-02-26. "Pom Poko – 'Cheater' review: surrealist art-punk to blow away the lockdown woes". NME. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-02-26. "Pom Poko". Bella Union. Retrieved 27 February 2021. "Cheater by Pom Poko". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 February 2021. Ainsley, Will (2024-08-07). "Meet Pom Poko's Martin Tonne – the guitarist channeling a "crappy Danelectro", West African phrasing and jazz chops into a hyperpop sugar rush". Guitarworld. Retrieved 2025-01-29. Official website