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

Natt og Dag - poesi

 

Natt og dag. 

Tekst og foto: Tom Ståle Engebretsen

Jeg er natt og dag.

En solens mester som trives i lyset.

En budbringer om glede og tilhørighet.

Men bærer også godt på en skyggenes mester.

En mørkets livserkjennelse, 

hvor tungsinnet har grodd frem av erfaringer.

Den dype satire er medisinen. Aldri et mørke uten optimisme og lys.

Mørket trives i selvmedlidenheten. 

Men det er kanskje en overlevelseskamp.

Tilpassing er heller ikke noe mål.

Den sorte estetikk er forlokkende og forførende.

Den har en kreativ kraft.

Den positive energien er å foretrekke.

Den skaper mer. Mye mer.

Så står jeg i spagaten mellom disse to.

Det er natt og dag.

Men egentlig livet i seg selv.

Photoshoot session of Elrox by Ingar Aarvik

 

Ingar Aarvik is a photographer I have known for years! He is located in Vestby. So I was happy when he needed models for a photo project he was working on. (Autumn -24) So he arranged a photoshoot session where I, aka Elrox, could get some good pictures. 

Shooting in black and white on film! No digital. Love it.

Fun time doing this for sure! Thx!

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

Artist portrait of Jan Walaker

Portrait of Jan Walaker by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Jan Walaker is a norwegian fellow with several art scene`s to work on. He is well knowned as designer. But he is also educated as painter and sculptor. And he is chief editor for his own art magazine WA?. Back in the years he make the magazine named HOTROD. He is a creative headmaster for so much. Inclusive his art music band: No No Now.

Artist portrait of Anne Chris Bakker

Artist portraits of musician Anne Chris Bakker by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. I had the pleasure to visit Anne Chris Bakker while he was staying in Rondane, Norway some time ago. He is a dutch musician. And it is all about ambient music. The day we spent together was a real adventure. Anne Chris and his partner Renske lived there for a year. They really get to know the cold winter in Norway. But also the peaceful quietness.

Anne Chris is a composer and artist with a lot of ambient releases. He is a musician from the Netherlands who creates music somewhere between electro acoustic, experimental, ambient and minimal music.You can listen to his albums here: https://annechrisbakker.bandcamp.com One of his many music partners is Andrew Heath. I feel lucky to know them both in a way. They are extremely good composers and I would really like to recommend the album "Sollia" wich they did together. So once again Anne Chris: Thanks for a lovely day, and a good memory from Rondane.

Artist portrait of Helene Fjell

Photo of Helene Fjell by Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Helene Fjell is a norwegien artist doing pictures, using photo and graphics. Screen printing, litography and all sorts of printing. Her visual eyes are amazing. And I think no one work so hard and dutiful than her. Of course I am a little bit incompetent to say all this, because we are partners on so many levels. But this also give me insight and admiration of what she does. She is the grandchild of the famous norwegian painter Kai Fjell. Visit her website https://helenefjell.net This portrait of her I am proud of. Exposed at Fiskevollen in Rendalen. A short explorer trip nearby my cottage.

"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 !!! 

Children In Space (Unpublish music. Yet.)

CHILDREN IN SPACE av Tom Ståle Engebretsen. Egentlig et prosjekt jeg ikke hadde tenkt å vise frem enda. Men altså... Dette er gøy. Musikken er min. Filmen er min med masse hjelp av AI. Men det ordner seg ikke så mye selv, når jeg ønsker å ha kontroll på tingene. Det er en design profil jeg er opptatt av. Og det går på både stil og farger. Steampunk og Gaudi style er stikkord. Bildene er først laget innenfor dette med hjelp av AI. Deretter en ny AI generator for å skape bevegelser. Det er kortversjonen. Presenterer også med denne videoen: OLVENION. Som er et musikalsk og visuelt prosjekt. Min egen fantasiplanet. Og her er vi på reise i rommet. Noen bilder er gjenkjennelige av meg selv, og noen av andre venner. For øre og øyne: Værsågod.

Spiritwalker 2 Video

Ok. Last post was about my video commitment and the use of black and white. And now... Something completely different. And with this video I introduce a brand new world. It is made using AI. But it is more to it than that. First of all I wanted to have control about the landscape this visuals move into. Using already AI generated pictures, that I have been working on for a long time. I do create my own world here.

And it is named: OLVENION. An earth like planet, and from my fantasy. This is going to be a music album in the future. I have used the named Olvenion on an earlier release. You find it here: Olvenion. But that time it was an experiment, and the artist name is all wrong today. But I like the Olvenion concept about this planet, so there will be more. (But another artist name on the release.) And of course it has developed a lot. I have been working on the music of course. But there is an era in the pictures too. They will be presented on a later stage. Maybe as an exhibition and book. Using some of these photos (AI) to make this more alive in a music video. It is my first attempt on doing video using AI. To get better quality I have to pay too much. I sure hate when you have to sign for subscription. I paid the cheapest one for now. But so it is. In this video I also use some Olvenion portraits of me. They who know me, probably recognizes me. 

Anyway: This is way to early to announce this project. But I was really inspired when I made this video. AI is funny. But it sure is a challenge to get it within the design profile I wan`t. But the cost are all together low, and to make this video would have been impossible otherwise. So there is something good about it too. 

VIDEO Manifest

Color is everything.

Black and white is more.

 - Dominic Rouse

I min kunst handler det om å sette rammer. Gjerne et bevegelsesområde man holder seg innenfor. Dette skjer med både en psykisk og fysisk tilnærming. På godt norsk kalles det «location». Et sted der alt er lov i en kreativ flyt.

Med solid bakgrunn som fotograf tar jeg dette med til film. Spontaniteten, som det er å fotografere, handler om å være på rett sted til rett tid.

Men å planlegge hva som skal skje er oftest en umulig forutsetning. Man henter inn hele seg selv til øyeblikket. En kreativ boble. Filmoppskriften er normalt annerledes. Man jobber med manus og skript. Noe som etter min mening begrenser den kreative friheten.

 Jeg ønsker å ta med meg fotografiets spontanitet inn i videoverdenen. Med andre ord kaster jeg film skript på dynga. Manus er en pekepinn på en grunnleggende idè. Ikke et oppsett fra begynnelse til slutt. Det hele avhenger av en forutbestemt lokasjon. Her skjer innspillingen under frie tøyler, men innenfor på stedet hvor opptakene gjøres.

Grunntanken er 3 parallelforløp som forteller historien:

1.       Hovedperson (er) Portrett, karakteristikk, personlighet.

2.       Bevegelse i handling. Fra noe til noe.

3.       Et grunnleggende enkelt poeng som handlingen vil frem til.

Bilde sekvensene i filmingen er derfor mer tilnærmet fotografiet enn film. Det som skal skje på et sted, skal skje der. Impulsivt, kreativt og i samspill med aktører. Det er slik man fotograferer. Det er slik jeg vil lage filmsekvenser.

Grunnideen ligger klar på forhånd. En viss idè om hvor mange filmsekvenser man trenger til en ferdig video, er også klar på forhånd. Resten er opp til oss å skape.

Tom Ståle Engebretsen

November 2024

Elrox: Selveste Direktøren (Official Music Video)

New EP and music video. Out now. There are 5 different versions of this song available on streaming services like Spotify and Youtube. But here is the Radiomix version as video! Filmed on location in Røros, Norway. I did the selfies myself, and Helene Fjell filmed the scenes at Kvitsanden. Selveste Direktæren is all my work, and the final mastering was done brilliantly by Jørgen Kirksæther. The spoken words used in this song is probably from the early 50`s. "Parents and friend" of a friend of mine. Before there even was a tape recorder! This is done on a steel wire actually. Using Webster Chicago machine. And the hole idea about Selveste direktøren - The director himself - is that it is mentioned in this spoken words. And it also says at Røros verksted. So this video had to be made here. Maybe the "Trainmix" is the better one for dancing. Just saying. Anyway. Here are the visuals. For ear and eye: You`re welcome!

"Short Story"

Summertime and music! 

Credits: 

Music by Tom S Engebretsen

Video by Helene Fjell and Tom S Engebretsen

Styling by  Terese Fjell

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

"Spiritwalker" at Røros

Spiritwalker was really fun to make. But walk like this in Røros was a challenge. People stopped me, and asked what I was doing. Not easy to tell. Putting up the camera on tripod and walk like this. The song is made as part of February album writing month. I was at my cottage in Rendalen when I did this song. A short trip to nearby Røros is mandatory.  #fawm2024 What to do with the song I don`t know by now. Thanks to #freddysdinerandbar Røros. 

Vinter

Winter mood in Norway. It`s a typical instrumental song from me. Video I did in the Nesodden forest. I sure wan`t a better camera though. On my wishlist. Part of my composer month in february. Collecting for a future album.

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