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Karin Dreijer

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"Fever Ray" redirects here. For the self-titled album, see Fever Ray (album).

Karin Dreijer
Dreijer performing as Fever Ray in 2023 at Sentrum Scene in Oslo
Dreijer performing as Fever Ray in 2023 at Sentrum Scene in Oslo
Background information
Birth nameKarin Elisabeth Dreijer
Also known asFever Ray
Born (1975-04-07) 7 April 1975 (age 49)
Gothenburg, Sweden
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Years active1994–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websitefeverray.com
Dreijer performing as Fever Ray in 2009

Karin Elisabeth Dreijer (born 7 April 1975) is a Swedish singer-songwriter and record producer. Dreijer was one half of the electronic music duo the Knife, formed with their brother Olof Dreijer. They released their debut solo album under the alias Fever Ray in January 2009. Their second studio album, Plunge, under the same alias, was released in October 2017.

Dreijer's vocal style is notable for both shrill and deep tones, and also the use of multitracked vocals with the use of pitch-shifting technology. Visually, they use masks, face and body paint, intricate costumes, and other theatrical elements in photo shoots, videos and live performances, during which they often perform behind a gauze screen that partially obscures the audience's view.[1]

Early life

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Dreijer was born on 7 April 1975 in Gothenburg, Sweden.[2][3] They started playing guitar at the age of ten, which led to the founding of the band Honey Is Cool in 1994. Before pursuing a career in music, Dreijer worked as a web designer.[4] In 1998, they moved to Stockholm.[3]

Career

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The Knife

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Main article: The Knife

Karin and their brother Olof Dreijer formed the electronic music duo the Knife in Gothenburg in 1999.[5][6] The Knife released their eponymous debut album in 2001. The duo gained a wider international recognition following the release of "Heartbeats", the lead single of their second studio album, Deep Cuts (2003). The duo performed live for the first time in 2006, when they went on the Silent Shout Tour in support of their third album of the same name (2006). In 2009, the duo were commissioned alongside Mt. Sims and Planningtorock by the Danish performance group Hotel Pro Forma to compose an opera, titled Tomorrow, in a Year, which is based on Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.[7] In 2013, the band released their fourth and final studio album, Shaking the Habitual. The duo disbanded in November 2014, after completing the Shaking the Habitual Tour.

Solo work

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While the Knife were on hiatus, Dreijer released their self-titled solo debut album under the alias Fever Ray. It was released digitally on 12 January 2009 and physically on 18 March 2009 through Rabid Records.[8] The album was preceded by its lead single "If I Had a Heart" (2008), which was used in numerous television series, including Person of Interest, Breaking Bad and Wentworth, as well as the opening theme song for the Canadian-Irish historical drama television series Vikings.

In September 2009, Dreijer composed the soundtrack to Dirty Diaries, a collection of feminist pornographic short films. In a review of the collection, Swedish newspaper Smålandsposten described the soundtrack as appropriate for the film, though repetitive.[9]

Dreijer performed as Fever Ray at the 2010 Coachella Festival and received positive reviews.[10][11] In September of the same year, they performed at Electric Picnic in Ireland.[12]

Contrary to a statement from the film's director, Dreijer did not make a cameo appearance in the 2011 film Red Riding Hood. However, the soundtrack features a new track performed by Dreijer as Fever Ray, "The Wolf", as well as "Keep the Streets Empty for Me" from their debut album.[13] "The Wolf" was also featured in Ubisoft's Far Cry Primal announcement trailer, as well as during the game's final mission.

Dreijer wrote the music for the theatrical adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's 1968 horror film Hour of the Wolf, which premiered at Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre on 12 March 2011.[14] One of these tracks, "No Face", appeared in demo form on the 2012 compilation album We Are the Works in Progress, organised by Blonde Redhead to benefit victims of the 2011 Japanese tsunami.[15]

In February 2016, Dreijer announced they had written and produced music for a theater play called Vahák (English: Violence), which plays on themes of colonial and homophobic violence.[16] That same month, Dreijer revealed in an interview with The Fader that they were working on solo music, though they were unsure whether it will be under the Fever Ray moniker.[17]

On 20 October 2017, Dreijer released the single "To the Moon and Back" and its accompanying music video.[18] It served as the lead single to their second studio album, Plunge, which was released on 27 October without prior announcement.[19] The album received widespread acclaim from music critics upon release and appeared on numerous year-end lists. In support of the album, Dreijer embarked on an international tour throughout 2018, with the first leg of which was held in Europe and began in February, followed by a North American leg held in May.[20] More European dates were later added from June until November.[21]

In the 2018 Swedish Grammys, Dreijer and the producers they collaborated with on Plunge won the award for "Producer of the Year".[22] Plunge was also nominated for Best European Independent Album at the IMPALA awards.[23]

On 10 March 2023 Fever Ray released their third album, Radical Romantics, on Rabid Records.[24]

Collaborations

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In 2005, Dreijer supplied vocals on the track "What Else Is There?" by Röyksopp on the album The Understanding. The song charted highly, raising Dreijer's profile at an early stage of their career. They also appeared in the video for that single, but not as the vocalist, who was portrayed by the Norwegian model Marianne Schröder. In 2008, Dreijer provided vocals for the Deus song "Slow" from the band's Vantage Point album. Dreijer was featured on the tracks "This Must Be It" and "Tricky Tricky" again by Röyksopp, appearing on their 2009 album Junior. On 6 September 2019, a collaborative EP between Björk, Dreijer (credited as Fever Ray), and the Knife titled Country Creatures was released. It contains remixes of Björk's song "Features Creatures" by Dreijer and by the Knife as well as a remix of Dreijer's "This Country" by Björk.

Influences

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When producing and presenting a radioprogram for Swedish Sveriges Radio in June 2004 about the state of music and what it was like to be a musician in the 21st century, Dreijer chose a list of songs including, "I Don't Give A" by Peaches, "Legs" by PJ Harvey, "We Don't Play Guitars" by Chicks On Speed, "Disconnect" by Plastikman, "I'm Dancing In The Show Tonight" by Ween, "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush, "Meet Sue Be She" by Miss Kittin, "Ensam Tempo" by Jenny Wilson, "Kiss Them for Me" by Siouxsie and the Banshees, "Tha" by Aphex Twin, "Panty Lies" by Sonic Youth and "On Guard" by Le Tigre.[25] They have also named Courtney Love, Kim Gordon, and Kim Deal as artistic influences.[26]

Personal life

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Dreijer largely keeps their private life outside the headlines, but in 2017, they told The Guardian in an interview that they had been married and had dropped Andersson from their name following their divorce. In the same interview, they described themself as "definitely a queer person, but [...] very gender-fluid."[3] Dreijer uses the pronouns they/them in English and hen in Swedish.[27] They have two daughters.[3]

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
AIM Independent Music Awards 2018 Best Sophomore Release Plunge Nominated [28]
Antville Music Video Awards 2009 Best Cinematography "If I Had a Heart" Nominated [29]
"When I Grow Up" Nominated
Berlin Music Video Awards 2018 Best Song "To the Moon and Back" Nominated [30]
2024 Most Bizzare "Shiver" Nominated [31]
Camerimage 2010 Best Music Video "Stranger Than Kindness" Nominated [32]
Grammis 2023 Video of the Year "What They Call Us" Won [33]
2024 Lyricist of the Year Themself Won [34]
Producer of the Year Nominated [35]
Alternative Pop of the Year Nominated [36]
Video of the Year "Kandy" Nominated [37]
IMPALA Awards 2018 Album of the Year Plunge Nominated [38]
Musikförläggarnas Pris 2018 Composer of the Year Themself Nominated [39]
2023 International Success Nominated [40]
P3 Guld Music Awards 2010 Best New Artist Nominated [41]
Best Dance Won
Best Pop Nominated
2019 Guldmicken Nominated [42]
Rober Awards Music Prize 2009 Best Female Artist Nominated [43]
Best European Artist Nominated [44]
Best Electronica Nominated [45]
2017 Nominated [46]
Best Female Artist Nominated
Sweden GAFFA Awards 2018 Electronic of the Year Won [47]
UK Music Video Awards 2009 Best Indie/Alternative Video "If I Had a Heart" Nominated [48]
"When I Grow Up" Nominated

Discography

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See also: The Knife discography

Albums

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Studio albums

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Title Details
Fever Ray
Plunge
  • Released: 27 October 2017
  • Label: Rabid
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
Radical Romantics
  • Released: 10 March 2023
  • Label: Rabid
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download

Remix albums

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Title Details
Plunge Remix
  • Released: 13 December 2019
  • Label: Rabid
  • Format: Digital download
Carbon Dioxide (Remixes)
  • Released: 20 July 2023[49]
  • Label: Rabid
  • Format: Digital download

Live albums

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Title Details
Live in Luleå
  • Released: 30 November 2012[50]
  • Label: Rabid
  • Format: Digital download
Live at Troxy
  • Released: 2 August 2019[51]
  • Label: Rabid
  • Format: LP, digital download

Extended plays

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Title Details
Country Creatures
(with Björk and the Knife)

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Album
"If I Had a Heart" 2008 Fever Ray
"When I Grow Up" 2009
"Triangle Walks"
"Seven"
"Mercy Street" 2010 Non-album single
"To the Moon and Back" 2017 Plunge
"Wanna Sip" 2018
"IDK About You"
"This Country Makes It Hard to Fuck" (Björk Remix) 2019 Country Creatures and Plunge Remix
"What They Call Us" 2022 Radical Romantics
"Carbon Dioxide"
"Kandy"
[edit]
Title Year Album
"What Else Is There?"
(Röyksopp featuring Karin Dreijer) 		2005 The Understanding
"This Must Be It"
(Röyksopp featuring Karin Dreijer-Andersson) 		2009 Junior
"Tricky Tricky"
(Röyksopp featuring Karin Dreijer-Andersson)

Guest appearances

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As Karin Dreijer

[edit]
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Let It Come Down"[52] 1996 Mazarine Street The Beast Of...
"Cat"
"Volksblues"[53] 1998 The Bear Quartet Personality Crisis
"Wasted"[54] 2000 Robot Fake or Real?
"Axe Man"[55] 2001 Silverbullit Citizen Bird
"Lost in the City Nights"[56] Yvonne Hit That City
"Slow"[57] 2008 Deus Vantage Point
"The Jacket" (Karin Knife Remix)[58] First Floor Power Non-album single
"No Face"[59] 2012 None We Are the Works in Progress
"Discourse My New Romance"[60] 2014 Shinedoe Illogical Directions

As Fever Ray

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Title Year Album
"The Wolf"[61] 2011 Red Riding Hood: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Music videos

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Title Year Director(s)
"If I Had a Heart" 2009 Andreas Nilsson[62]
"When I Grow Up" Martin de Thurah[63]
"Triangle Walks" Mikel Cee Karlsson[64]
"Seven" Johan Renck[65]
"Stranger Than Kindness" Andreas Nilsson[66]
"Keep the Streets Empty for Me" Jens Klevje and Fabian Svensson[67]
"To the Moon and Back" 2017 Martin Falck[18][68][69]
"Wanna Sip" 2018
"IDK About You"
"What They Call Us" 2022
"Kandy" 2023
"Even It Out"
"What They Call Us (Nifra Remix)"
"North"
"Shiver" 2024

References

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  1. ^ Hogan, Marc (30 March 2009). "Interviews: Fever Ray". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  2. ^ "På höga klackar över mossan – Fever Ray". Ful (in Swedish) (1). 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Cragg, Michael (18 November 2017). "Fever Ray: on pleasure, patriarchy and political revolution". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Ten Things You Never Knew About The Knife's Karin Dreijer Andersson". Clash. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Grammisregn över Göteborg". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 31 January 2007. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  6. ^ McLean, Craig (January 2006). "Biography". theknife.net. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. ^ "The Knife in Collaboration with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock – Tomorrow, In a Year". theknife.net. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  8. ^ "Fever Ray album out – 18/23 March". FeverRay.com. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  9. ^ Carnmo, Camilla (4 September 2009). "Dirty Diaries". Smålandsposten (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  10. ^ Wappler, Margaret (17 April 2010). "Coachella 2010: Fever Ray's dark arts not as powerful when performed in a plain old music festival tent". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  11. ^ Hall, David (17 April 2010). "Coachella 2010 Day 1: Fever Ray hypnotizes at Mojave, deadmau5 nails Sahara wrap-up". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  12. ^ Byrne, Niall (9 September 2010). "Electric Picnic 2010: Fever Ray, Omar Souleyman, Monotonix, Dam Funk". State Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  13. ^ "New Fever Ray music to feature in upcoming film, Red Riding Hood". FeverRay.com. 18 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  14. ^ "'Vargtimmen, The Wolf Hour' premiere". FeverRay.com. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
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  18. ^ a b Sodomsky, Sam (20 October 2017). "Fever Ray Shares Twisted New "To the Moon and Back" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  19. ^ Renshaw, David (26 October 2017). "Fever Ray to release surprise album Plunge tomorrow". The Fader. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  20. ^ Williams, Holly (13 February 2018). "Fifty Shades of Fever Ray". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Fever Ray". feverray.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Grammis 2018". grammis.se. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  23. ^ "22 acts in the running for best European independent album". 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  24. ^ Lorusso, Marissa (10 March 2023). "Fever Ray's 'Radical Romantics' explores love in all of its freaky, complicated forms". NPR. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Karin Dreijer 2004". Sverigesradio.se. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2021. "Kiss Them for Me" is commented and broadcast around 31 minutes, the radioshow is also archived on Cash Box
  26. ^ "Fever Ray 'Plunge' - Rare English Interview". YouTube. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Karin Dreijer Is The 21st Century's Sonic Shapeshifter". NPR. 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  28. ^ "AIM Independent Music Awards 2018 Nominees Announced | Proper Music Group". 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Antville Awards 2009". videos.antville.org. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  30. ^ Awards, Berlin Music Video. "Berlin Music Video Awards". Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  31. ^ "NOMINEES OF 2024 – Berlin Music Video Awards". Ferlinmva.com.
  32. ^ "Shortlist announced for Music Video competition at Plus Cameraimage 2010 | News | Promonews". Promonewstv.tv. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Här är årets nominerade till Grammis 2023". Grammis.se. 7 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Årets Textförfattare 2024". Grammis.se.
  35. ^ "Årets Producent 2024". Grammis.se.
  36. ^ "Årets Alternativa Pop 2024". Grammis.se.
  37. ^ "Årets Musikvideo 2024". Grammis.se.
  38. ^ "22 Acts in the Running for Best European Independent Album". Impalamusic.org. 6 March 2018.
  39. ^ "De nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2018". Musikforlaggarna.se. 5 October 2018.
  40. ^ "De är nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2023". Gaffa.se. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  41. ^ "Alla nominerade och vinnare 2010". Sveriges Radio. 2 December 2009.
  42. ^ "Här är artisterna som är nominerade till P3 Guld 2019". Sveriges Radio. 28 November 2018.
  43. ^ "ROBER AWARDS NOMINATIONS 2009: Best Female Artist | Rober Awards". 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  44. ^ "ROBER AWARDS NOMINATIONS 2009: European Artist | Rober Awards". 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  45. ^ "ROBER AWARDS NOMINATIONS 2009: Best Electronica | Rober Awards". 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  46. ^ "The Rober Awards 2017 Music Poll | Rober Awards". Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  47. ^ Vinnaregaffa.se Archived 25 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2009 - here are the nominations! | News | Promonews". Promonewstv. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  49. ^ "Fever Ray – Carbon Dioxide (Remixes)". Discogs. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  50. ^ "Fever Ray – Live in Luleå". FeverRay.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  51. ^ Schatz, Lake (20 June 2019). "Fever Ray announces new live album Live at the Troxy". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  52. ^ The Beast Of... (liner notes). Mazarine Street. Fine Tone Recordings. 1996. fine 001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  53. ^ Personality Crisis (liner notes). The Bear Quartet. A West Side Fabrication. 1998. WeCD 158.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  54. ^ Fake or Real? (liner notes). Robot. BMG Sweden. 2000. 74321 70119 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  55. ^ Citizen Bird (liner notes). Silverbullit. North of No South Records. 2001. NONSCD 79.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  56. ^ Hit That City (liner notes). Yvonne. LED Recordings. 2001. 014 071-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  57. ^ Vantage Point (liner notes). Deus. V2 Records. 2008. VVR1050472.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  58. ^ "The Jacket (Remixes) – EP by First Floor Power". iTunes Store (SE). 5 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  59. ^ Raggett, Ned. "We Are the Works in Progress – Various Artists". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  60. ^ "Illogical Directions: Shinedoe: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  61. ^ "Red Riding Hood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". iTunes Store (US). 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  62. ^ "Fever Ray 'If I Had A Heart'". Fever Ray on YouTube. Google. 6 January 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  63. ^ "Fever Ray 'When I Grow Up'". Fever Ray on YouTube. Google. 19 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  64. ^ "Fever Ray 'Triangle Walks'". Fever Ray on YouTube. Google. 18 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  65. ^ "Fever Ray 'Seven'". Fever Ray on YouTube. Google. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  66. ^ "Fever Ray 'Stranger Than Kindness'". Fever Ray on YouTube. Google. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  67. ^ "Fever Ray 'Keep The Streets Empty For Me'". Fever Ray on YouTube. Google. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  68. ^ Gordon, Arielle (23 January 2018). "Fever Ray Announces North American Tour, Releases New "Wanna Sip" Video". Spin. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  69. ^ Monroe, Jazz (16 February 2018). "Fever Ray Starts a Cult in New Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
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