Releases overview autumn -25

Exciting Times Ahead — Music, AI, and the Future

We’re entering an incredibly exciting time with a lot happening — and as always, it’s all about the music. The rise of AI in music creation is accelerating rapidly, and I fully intend to be at the forefront of this movement.

Of course, there are important questions and concerns surrounding the role of AI in creative work, and I’m fully aware of the complexities it brings. But at my core, I’m a creator and an artist — and this is a space I’m ready to explore without hesitation or shame. The tools are here, and they’re evolving fast. It’s an opportunity I believe we should engage with, not fear.

Musikkselskapet EE is my own label — originally founded for my ELROX releases — and now it’s time to grow. I still make music the "traditional" way, as a musician and producer. But I’m also now creating music using AI tools, combining the best of both worlds.

Here’s what’s coming this autumn:

AUGUST 2025

Tomsai: Echo Of A Voice (Singel)

Tomsai is the name I use for songs where AI plays a big role in shaping each idea to its full potential. 'Echo of a Voice' will be available on all streaming platforms starting August 27.

SEPTEMBER 2025

Tomsai: Miles Away (Singel)

Next singel by Tomsai is ready for release 10. september. 

Bergsvein: See The Sun (EP)

Release 19. september. Finally! Ready for release. Bergsvein is a singer/songwriter from Tynset and a good friend of mine. His guitar, flute and voice is just amazing. We recorded this EP in my studio Klangfabrikken in Rendalen. 4 songs. We also made a video for "See The Sun" which will be available on Youtube. All songs written and performed by Bergsvein. Sound engineer and producer: Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Mastered by Audun Strype.

Elrox Ambient Session : Iceberg (EP)

Release: September (TBA)
This EP has been available on Bandcamp for quite some time — now it’s finally making its way to streaming platforms. A limited number of CDs are still available for purchase.

Elrox Ambient Session is exactly what the name suggests: ambient music.
Produced and mastered by Tore Stabell Kulø.

Tomsai: They Are Here (album)

Release during september: Norway’s first conceptual album created with AI. Inspired by Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, this project has evolved into a completely original story — with tracks that slip smoothly into your ears. A fusion of soft pop and rock opera.

More information coming soon.

OCTOBER 2025

Sophie Wells : Fast Speed (EP)

Release october. TBA.  Big surprise coming up.... Can`t tell anything yet. 

XUXU: Opus 1

Xuxu is my moniker for my experimental, art music. Inspired by noise, drone and ambient. There is 4 releases on bandcamp. Time to get them on Spotify. Scheduled:

September: Xuxu: Opus 1 Composed, arranged, performed, mixed by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Mastered by Sonologyst Originally released aug 2019. Cd available here!

October: Xuxu: Opus 2 Composed, arranged, performed, mixed and mastered by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Originally released april 2020. Cd available here

November: Xuxu: Opus 3 Composed, arranged, performed, mixed and mastered by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Originally released april 2021. CD and MC available here.

December: Xuxu: Opus 4 Composed, arranged, performed, mixed and mastered by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Originally released March 2022. CD available here.

November 2025

IRON AND BONE (EP)

More info to come about Iron and Bone

This is a preliminary overview. There will be a few more Tomsai singles as well. There’s a plan in place, and a lot is set to happen this autumn — and maybe some changes along the way.

Either way, it’s going to be fun. Perk up your ears! Tom Ståle Engebretsen

Who is Tomsai?

 

Tomsai is my nickname as an AI composer/producer in music. 2 of them to be seen in picture above. And there will be more. 

In my podcast "Følgesvennen" I am in constant production of new songs.  And I really demand to be up front in this new Ai era. I think I am. 

Long story short:

Tomsai is a Norwegian artist blending sound design, visuals, and music production into a unique creative expression.
With a background in photography and a deep-rooted love for music that began in childhood, Tomsai has evolved from DJing into composing and producing — both for his own projects and for other artists. His sound is genre-fluid, guided by curiosity and a belief that the best tools are simply the ones that deliver the strongest results.

Drawing inspiration from the grooves of the 70s, the rich synth textures of the 80s, prog-pop, and a wide spectrum of electronic music — from ambient to techno — Tomsai crafts music that’s both nostalgic and forward-looking.
Unbound by rules, his creative process is driven by joy, experimentation, and the thrill of making something that’s never existed before. Yet, he never compromises on quality — every piece he produces carries a distinct personal touch.

In the nearby future there be singles and albums. I actually consider a single once a week. Though goal, but not impossible. There are 2 albums in the pipeline. The future looks bright. 

And what else do I bring to the table? Well... Many of my ai-compositions would really sound better using real musicians. So in the future I also wan`t some of my songs to be recorded in studio. I think there will be harmony between ai music and artists. I fully understand the conflict today. It is all about building bridges due to opportunities there is. 

Tomsai: Gay Love (Official Music Video)

My support to all the gay people out there. Music, lyrics and video by your`s truly with use of Ai. GAY LOVE [Verse 1) Love don’t ask for permission, it just finds its way Two hearts collide, and suddenly the world fades away It don’t matter who you are, or the shape of your hand When it’s real, it’s real — let the world understand [Refrain] Gay love — it’s love like any other Boy to boy, girl to soul, lover to lover Why’s it so hard just to let people be? Love is love — and love is free [Verse 2] Some say it’s wrong, like they’ve got the only truth But broken hearts just speak too loud, and steal from the youth Let us be free, let us dance in the light There’s no shame in love when it feels this right [Refrain] Gay love — it’s love like any other Boy to boy, girl to girl, soul to soul, lover to lover Why’s it so hard just to let people be? Love is love — and love is free

Engebretsen: Fragment (Official Music Video)

Fragment is a song that I made during this years FAWM. (February Album Writing Month) The video is made of selfie clips and then AI generated, to make some strange portraits of myself. Then edited to make them alive in this video. I think this song and video is a great sequel to "Art Of Noise" Feel`s like I have a style and expression now. Must be more to come!

Jørgen Lund Karlsen - saksofonist

 

Kjenner gåsehuden sitte enda. Over en uke etterpå. Det var dette øyeblikket… Som bare musikken kan skape. Kanskje bare en detalj, klang eller lyd i et musikkverk. Den som gir ekstrem velvære av noe vakkert. Denne gangen varte øyeblikket i flere minutter! Konstant gåsehud på grensen til Stendhal syndrom via ørene.

Vi må til utstillingsåpningen på Soli Brug søndag 2.mars. Nye og spennende verker av Henrik Placht og Elisabeth Werp. Samt et gjensyn med noen av Kai Fjell`s verker. Åpningstale av Robert Stoltenberg. Om utstillingene: Gå og se!

Så skjer det som for alltid vil føles som noe helt unikt. Inn på tunet kommer det en «fyr» som spiller saksofon. Med folketoner kommer Jørgen Lund Karlsen spillende inn fra siden. Gjennom folkemengden. Opp til podiet foran Stabbursgalleriet. Så skjer det. I bakgrunnen har lydtekniker Jacob Dørje det viktige oppdraget med å sette i gang et forhåndsinnspilt lydspor av Jørgen, med riktig «timing». Synth og trommer med dype og lange romklanger. Jørgen spiller uavbrutt videre på verket, som nå tillegges en helt ny dimensjon. Tonene fra saksofonen, den underbyggende melodien og stemningen som presser seg frem. Vi er vitne til noe stort. Veldig stort. Publikum skjønner det. 

Musikken svever over hele plassen. Det kan minne om Jan Garbarek på sitt aller, aller beste. Vi er vitne til en fremføring, komponert på folketoner, arrangert og utført av Jørgen Lund Karlsen.  Her og nå. 

Noe vi aldri noensinne har hørt. En stemningsbombe, så selv de mest taletrengte blir stille. Det er store minutter vi er vitne til. Alle føler det. Tror ikke det er bare meg. En utrolig fremførelse som ikke er gitt ut på plate enda. (Hører dere ECM?) Mine damer og herrer: Jørgen Lund Karlsen! Garbarek`s arvtager. Norsk folkesjel og et mesterverk fremført.

 

Tekst og portrettfoto: Tom Ståle Engebretsen

Mobil/film opptak: Terese Fjell. (Takk for at du klarte å filme dette øyeblikket)

Jørgen Lund Karlsen kan følges på instagram: @saksonfonizt

Peak no. 8 on ambient chart!

 

My song "Peaceful Wave" did peak No. 8 on Soundclick`s ambient chart in february. Pretty proud of that.

I have uploaded some songs on soundclick from time to time through many years. I must admit I really don`t know how big it is, or how many listeners there are. No stats to be read. But since the beginning this site has developed well, and I think very pro.  

I put some songs on Soundclick from time to time. Mostly songs that doesn`t fit into another project of mine.- Or songs that I may use later. All together 3 top 50 songs, and probably 1K listeners on my stuff.

Since the site is growing, I really did not think a chart would be possible anymore. I was wrong. Perhaps I getting better myself too.... Listen to "Peaceful Wave" here.

Cover art/design: Unts Unts - Contemporary electronic music from Norway

 

I had the great honor to make album covers on these releases.  Unts Unts Plink and Plonks - Contemporary electronic music from Norway. Vol A and B.

This is actually a community on facebook that I`ve been member, since long time ago. As a composer/artist. It is a forum where a lot of synth nerds in Norway are connected. Yearly releases since 2018. They are on streaming services like Spotify etc. But there also is a bandcamp site with lot more info. 

As an artist myself I have contributed on these albums. But this year (2024 was released at the end of the year and is more like 2025 release) I also did the album covers! With both photo and design. 

Listen to volum A by clicking this link.

I am also in it this year with my song: The Sirens Of Titan.

Volume B in this link.

All together there is 30 songs or should I say Unts Unts Plinks and Plonks music. Extremely high quality on participations. 

released December 31, 2024

Cover art and graphics: Tom Ståle Engebretsen
Mastering: Jørgen Kirksæther
Producer: Morten Birkeland Nielsen

"Lost Signals"

FAWM 2025: February Album Writing Month. New music composed. Also more research and into AI making music videoes. Based on own photographs, developed with AI generators. Learning by doing.

"Year of the Snake"

Ok. Song from FAWM 2025. (February ALbum Writing Month) Also more into making video with AI. I am already a little into it, and it developes fast. The mix in this song is still a pre production. Not used in any projects yet. But the title indicate something accurate: Year of The snake. I am borned in 1965 and if one should belive in chinese horoscope, this is my year again. 12 years cyclus. My time now! And I feel 2025 is gonna be exactly that.

FAWM 2025 February Album Writing Month

 

Great FAWM this year again! Had to do some other stuff also this year. So I only got 7 new songs.

Using time on BERGSVEIN new EP. Doing what a producer should do: Making really good mixes. TBA later. 

I also did research into making AI video`s. You find some of them here on my blog. This also takes time of course. I really have worked intense this year. I always try to keep focus on the music this month of february. And I sure did! So thankful for this community on web. www.fawm.org . Lots of friends, after all this years. But I am so sorry that it is impossible to listen and give constructive critics to all the lovely people there. Working in my own bubble, and the community is absolutely something I love. Next year... 

So here is the titles of my 7 new songs:

Year Of The Snake by @engebretsen  #tribal #indierock #electronic

Lost Signals by @engebretsen  #cinematic #orchestral #instrumental

Peaceful Wave by @engebretsen  #triphop #chill #ambient

Fragment by @engebretsen  #oraclechallenge #drone #ambient

Chili by @engebretsen  #chill #instrumental

Art Of Noise by @engebretsen  #ebm #idm #noise

Life Goes On by @engebretsen  #poprock #dreampop #synthpop

And I must reply this comments on "Life Goes On" from @cts 

The 4 on the floor beat is acting like a heartbeat. Last week was not-so-great. Not a tragedy, but not uplifting, either. However, this chorus is serving as a bit of a reminder to me. What's also a bit of a teaching lesson is "learn the heartbeat of the tragedy" and be able to deal with it. Life goes on. Your arrangement here is gorgeous and your light n' airy vocal performance kinda reminds me of Green from Scritti Politti. Very cool track, my friend.

THX a lot @cts !!! 

Elrox: "Somewhere" (Official music video)

Ready for action? My brand new singel "Somewhere" is out now. This turned out really well, thanks to all the musicians in Oslo Bandlaug and producer Peter Michelsen in The Norwegian Sound. Studio in Mjøndalen Norway.

Oslo Bandlaug is: Andreas Voie Juliebø, Andreas Lund Molde, Eirik Hansen, Øystein Myrvoll

Thx to all the participants making this video.

VIDEO: Camera: Helene Fjell Regi, director, black&white correction: Tom Ståle Engebretesn MODELS: Chess player: Christer Nexmark Fairy of luck: Jon Bergsvein Telneset

"Heaven"

This is where my musical roots are. Inspired by Vangelis I made this instrumental song dedicated to him. Who will bring his beautiful music further when he is in heaven?  Well. I could try. RIP #vangelis

Det Gjør Ikke Det

Nok et resultat av årets februar komponist måned. Begynner å bli endel norsk skrevne tekster på mange låter nå, så jeg vurderer en egen norsk vokal plate. Vi får se. En smakebit ihvertfall hvor video innspillingen skjedde på Nesodden Vertshus og Lysaker ferja. 

Hvem skulle det vært?

Det ble noen skisselåter på norsk under årets fawm. February album writing month. Denne har gått seg til over flere runder med fiksing og ordning. Begynner å nærme seg en ferdig produksjon, men litt igjen. Videoen ble laget litt i all hast, så litt ute av sync enkelte steder. Men ideen er der. Brukte faktisk mobilen til å filme. Og location er på Nesodden. 

@heliosonorous 2w

I like the edge in here, good fuzz on the guitar and your voice sounds great with it!

 

@kristian 2w

nice! Cool to hear norwegian lyrics too; far too few :) I don't think this song is that aggressive to be honest; it's more like defiance and standing your ground if that makes sense? 

FAWM 2024 February Album Writing Month

February Album Writing Month. 11.th time this year. This community is really inspirering for doing new songs. And I always challenge myself to do thing that is outside my comfort zone. This year it was really a bad environment for me to work under. Except the beginning where I was at my cottage in Rendalen for 10 days. After that I had to be on Nesodden due to moving to a new apartment that was not ready. So I had the minimum of equipment to work with, in a really small space. Really small! But I worked it out somehow. 13 new songs. Or demo songs is maybe a better word. This is composer month and the real production coming up later. But as I did 2 years ago, I made videos of some of them this year also. (Only excerpts from the full songs)

fawm.org is really a friendly community. 2600 people are into this. Of course I can`t get to know them all. But over the years there are some good fellow musicians that I get to know. This year I will mention @heliosonorous that follow me and comments all songs. Thank you! I feel that I didn`t respond to all my friends this year as I should. That is because of the challenge I had to work under. The more you give the more you get. But this year I had to focus on time and space to actually get something done at all. All time low actually. But that is to change next year I hope. 

I also did more songs with norwegian lyrics this year. To write lyrics is quite a challenge for me. I am an instrumental guy after all. But I think a challenge to struggle with, is good for the creativity. 

So here are the title of the songs I did this year:

Home again by @engebretsen  #techno #fawmtronica #synthpop 

Gone Too Far by @engebretsen  #fawmtronica #cinematic #soundscape

Hvem skulle det vært? by @engebretsen  #rock #postpunk

Vinter by @engebretsen  #fawmtronica #electronic #instrumental

There Was A Time by @engebretsen  #disco #synthpop #80s

Tell me by @engebretsen  #poprock

Det Gjør Ikke Det by @engebretsen  #rock #singer_songwriter #dark

Heaven by @engebretsen  #fawmtronica #instrumental #soundscape

Go Go Go by @engebretsen  #electro_prog #prog #cinematic

Spiritwalker by @engebretsen  #fawmtronica #cinematic #instrumental

Come Closer by @engebretsen  #electronic #rock #pop_rock

Livet er kort by @engebretsen  #folk #singer_songwriter #indie_folk

Don`t Care by @engebretsen  #singer_songwriter #dark #softrock

 

"Don`t Care" 

Excerpts from the first song this year. 

Comments on Fawm: 

@arcane

So moody! Love the drums and the bass work, so catchy.
Dark as a moonlit landscape. Well done!

 

@headfirstonlyMod

Dark? Yes please. That sinister bass is like butter. When it drops out for the verses, it really leaves a hole, doesn't it? Nice one!

 

@heliosonorous

Dark and powerful, the melody hits hard and grabs the attention!

 

@gammafied

I really like the percussion here. The emotion comes across in the lyrics, the arrangement and the music. It is hard when someone hurts you and tries to come back to normal without a process.

 

@nagavaeoe

This reminds me a bit of early Pink Floyd.
And a little bit of The Church.
Cool little tune.

Bergsvein: John and Paul (Official music video)

Finally I can announce BERGSVEIN. Singer/songwriter from Tynset. He is a good friend of mine, and I actually have produced this song he made. Having so fun to do this, I also made a music video for him. And here we are. Soon to be on digital streaming services, but there is an ida to make an EP this year (2024) Bergsvein is well known through the years and he had played in a lot of different bands. I am proud to actually work with this guy. 

Ole Dørje : En magisk aften

 

Konsert på Soli-Brug med Ole Dørje

 

Hva kan man forvente?  Selvfølgelig burde jeg ha gjort litt «research.» Men tanken var bare å nyte en lørdagskveld og ta det som det kommer. I ettertid så har jeg sett at det er gitt ut flere plater med Ole som bl.a. finnes på Spotify.

Ole Dørje eier og driver Soli-Brug. Galleriet med høyt profilerte norske kunstnere. Dessuten er også Ole sine egne malerier en visuell nytelse. Drivkraften er enorm. Hva mer kan han by på? Er det virkelig mulig? Så står han der med gitaren i hånda og mikrofonen foran seg. 4 mann på scenen.

Magien begynner. Vi skal innom melankolien. Vi skal innom humoren. Vi skal ut på en musikalsk reise. Noe som formidles på poetisk vis. Tekst og melodi: Ole Dørje. I et musikalsk landskap av viser, jazz og bossa-pop. Ærlig. Livet. Årstidene.

Hvor kommer alt dette fra? Livserfaring og betraktninger. Jeg får en fornemmelse av Bo Kaspers Orkester. Eller de voksne Adolphson och Falk. Det er helt på nivå med Anne Grete Preus. Solide tekster. Sterke arrangement. Behagelige melodier. Vokal som byr på en lytteopplevelse. Det blir magi. Det blir som å lytte til små noveller i musikalsk form. Tingene vi kjenner fra livet. Utfordringene. Observasjonene. Kjærligheten. Naturens innflytelse.

Jeg blir mer og mer betatt. Det åpner seg et hav av følelser. En påminnelse om å sette pris på de nære ting. Tenker på alt man stenger ute fra livet. Selv er jeg et sted i livet, hvor man ikke klarer å være der man vil. Man skjønner at man stenger seg selv ute. Så sitter man på denne konserten. Hører på hva livet er, og kjenner det igjen. Så lever man allikevel. Ole Dørje åpnet sansene med musikken. Man kjenner på gleden ved de hverdagslige ting. Det som går opp og ned. Det handler om det. Novellene som spilles på scenen blir en roman. Men virkelighetsnært og levende. Med sanger som «Rød natt» og «Går omkring». Pokker heller! Hvem kjenner ikke igjen dette?

Takk Ole og band. Dette var en direkte vitamin innsprøyting i pulsåren.

Tekst og foto: Tom Ståle Engebretsen

ZAPPANALE #32

Reisereportasje fra Zappanale #32  2023

Bad Doberan i Tyskland

Av Tom Ståle Engebretsen

 

Hva sier man når man blir invitert til Zappanale festival i Tyskland? Selvfølgelig svarer man JA!

Zappa museum

Invitasjonen ble servert på gullfat av kamerat og «reiseleder» Rune S. En god Zappa entusiast som har vært på festivalen i mange herrens år. Mitt forhold til FRANK ZAPPA er mer en fascinasjon enn at musikken kryper innunder huden. Dette er en real Zappa tribute festival. Så dette må jeg oppleve!

Reiseleder Rune

Og Zappa det ble. I bøtter og spann. På de to scenene var det mye Zappa inspirert musikk. Og selvfølgelig diverse egne tolkninger av Zappa. Mye ujevn kvalitet. På høyden helt rått å høre på. Men mange band som kan jobbe litt med timingen på musikken. Zappa er jo perfeksjonisme. Just saying.

Det føltes veldig trygt og godt å ha en reisepartner som kjenner festivalen og Bad Doberan. Denne tyske byen like innafor Østersjøen med noen kilometer fra havet. En sommerturist by. Kanskje mest kjent for sitt over 100 år gamle damplokomotiv som går flere ganger daglig. «Molli» som også fraktet oss ut til festivalområdet. Her snakker vi kulldrevet damptog med den deilige lukten av forurensing. Herlig!

"Molli"

Det er en historisk konsensus over det hele. Byen var en del av det gamle Øst Tyskland og Zappa var forbudt frem til murens fall. Musikken levde allikevel i beste velgående. Det er ivrige lokalfolk som har dratt i gang festivalen. Nummer 32 i rekken i år.

Det er selvfølgelig musikk som gjelder. Forventningene var stor til BILLY COBHAM. Den legendariske trommisen som nå er 79 år. Men akkurat det sviktet litt. Stort sett rolige jazzrock svisker hvor alt er på stell, men med forferdelig lite «edge» i musikken. Lyden av et dårlig synth-horn erstatter IKKE en blåser rekke. Ferdig snakka.

ORANGE CLAW HAMMER ble den store overraskelsen. Vi var innom et lite klubblokale i byen og så de først der. Du verden det var tøft. Dagen etter stod de på festivalen på Mystery Stage. Sinnsykt! Dette kryper innunder huden der det skal sitte, og ståpelsen/gåsehuden kjennes.

 

Størst av alt for undertegnede: JON ANDERSON fra YES! Han var der! Med PAUL GREEN ROCK ACADEMY. Kids med talent. Unge lovende musikere og et ungpike ensemble som alle var svært ivrige på å vise frem sine talenter. Noen har det. Når de blir noen kilo tyngre, samt noen år med livserfaring, så kan det bli bra på mange av disse. Kvelden før hadde dette ca 25 personers orkester fremført Zappa låter. Litt høye stemmer for noe som egentlig skal være dyp Zappa stemme. Men det fungerte på et vis. Legger også fort merke til gitarister, trommiser, saksofonister og hvem som kan sin synth. Så kvelden etter er de, (PGRA) altså backing band for Jon Anderson. Tidvis ble dette svært solid. Høyt energi nivå. Noen ganger litt too much. Men det må sies at ingen spiller gitar som STEVE HOWE i Yes. Mye gode forsøk men det er ikke Howe. Godt levert allikevel. Tar i betraktning at dette er svært unge folk. Men de presterer også tunge presise og solide arrangement som fungerer godt sammen med Anderson`s lyse stemme. YES plata «Close to the Edge» har 50 års jubileum i år, og de spilte hele plata. Avbrutt av andre gode Yes klassikere innimellom. At stemmen til Jon Anderson holder seg godt, er virkelig imponerende. Dette ble festivalens beste øyeblikk.

 

Inntrykkene er mange etter en slik festival opplevelse. Man legger fort merke til den høye gjennomsnittsalderen. (kremt…) Her er det mye menn i svært moden livsalder. Zappa imaget lever i beste velgående med fippskjegg og grå hestehaler. Vi snakker voksne musikkentusiaster med en og annen kone på slep. Et karakterstudie, jeg egentlig burde tatt flere bilder av. Det ble ikke sånn i år. Men jeg ser en fremtidig mulighet. For dette var alt i alt en særdeles hyggelig festival å være på.

Reisekamerater på tur.

Mye selvfølgelig takket være Rune og vår musikkprat og kritiske blikk. TUSEN TUSEN TAKK Rune for at du tok meg med på dette!