MUMBAI: Richard Fortus of Guns N’ Roses puts out a record with Norwegian native Lásse Kvernmo. They have named the project “Sáivu”.

It all started in 2008 when the Norwegian artist was studying in the US and sent Richard Fortus some demos via the Guns N’ Roses homepage.

It didn’t take long for him to get an answer.

I fell for his songs. Right then and there I decided that I wanted to be a part of this. He’s got some really unique and amazing rock songs, says Fortus.

His day job is being Axl Rose’s guitarist, but the American took a little break from the American rock n roll circus to visit Troms?, northern Norway. In Troms? he and Kvernmo spent the days writing new songs and preparing the release of their first single.

October 2nd they released their first single “Goodbye” as a preview of what’s to come on the debut album “Iron Curtain”. The recordings were done in LA with producer Ben Grosse (Marilyn Manson, Depeche Mode, Madonna). Will Hunt (Evanescence, Black Label Society) and Geno Lenardo (Filter, Chevelle) also appear on the album and are full of love on what’s to come from the totally unknown Norwegian songwriter.

These are songs that are expressive and emotional. Perhaps a bit of American rock radio, describes Fortus who has been a member of Guns n’ Roses since 2002.

The project is dubbed Sáivu - a word from Sami mythology. Sáivu is considered being a place where the dead forefathers reside – a place where everything is bigger, more beautiful and better than the world of the living.

Despite Sami roots, the record is all sung in English.

In order to reach a larger audience I couldn’t sing in my native language, then only 30.000 people would understand what I have to say, says Kvernmo who sings lead vocal.

Sáivu already has an EP and a musicvideo in their discography. Kvernmo and Fortus featured have tried the material live for a large audience at the Midnightrock festival in Lakselv, Finnmark which is one of the biggest festivals in Norway.