About Ove Thorkildsen

Ove Thorkildsen is a creative composer and musician who enjoys to participate in everything the universe of music can offer. He sings and plays the guitar, bass and harmonica. He performs hard-rock, jazz, pop, folk music, blues - and now, his own Fusion-jazzpop sound, that can be heard on his début album, If I... Would you?

Ove was born in Bergen, Norway back in '71, but lived his first five years in the German city of Cologne. After returning to Norway, his mother tricked him into learning the guitar. And so the lunacy begins… he does think she regretted that decision later on.

At the age of 9 he started performing at school and joined his first band at the age of 12. This was back in the eighties so hard rock and permed hair was inevitable. Ove started the band "Intruder" in ‘85 toghether with Per Einar Watle, Lars Tinderholt and Ronny Arntzen. Due to lacking skills on the guitar at the time, he was forced to sing - but the band lasted succesfully until ‘91, and made big local headlines.

Since "Intruder"'s hay day, Ove's played in numerous bands like "Big mouth & the pea brains", "Déjà vu", "b.u.m.p.", "Easy Money", "The Gutta Boys", "An Evening with...". He’s had the pleasure of working with fantastic musicians during all these years of being an active musician.

In addition to his solo project he's been playing bass for the great slide-guitarist Daniel Eriksen. He’s also been one of the most frequently appearing musicians at the famous Monday night jam-sessions at Wrightegaarden, Langesund.

Currently Ove is playing in several ongoing projects with the debut album If I... Would you? being the latest. This is an album with 13 songs recorded in the summer of 2008 and was released the 31. of january.

Discography

Only the most current release is listed. Full discography will follow.

If I... Would You? [2009]

"If I... Would You?" represent Ove Thorkildsen's debut as a solo artist. The album features 13 full tracks showcasing Thorkildsen's songwriting talent, in addition to the appearance of some of the finest musicians in Norway. First released january 31st, 2009 as a 6 page Digi Pack Limited Edition album.

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Track list: 

Click on a title to read the lyrics.

  1. The Ambivalence in You [4:04]
  2. Always [4:34]
  3. Your Way [5:02]
  4. So Wrong [4:05]
  5. If I... [4:24]
  6. All That You Should Be [3:36]
  7. Private Ghost [4:08]
  8. Don't Know [4:38]
  9. A Time To Be [4:13]
  10. You Should Have Known Me [4:53]
  11. Time Will Bend [4:58]
  12. Jammin' on a Monday Night [5:15]
  13. Like Us (Limited Edition Bonus Track) [4:26]

Music and lyrics by Ove Thorkildsen.
Arranged by Ove Thorkildsen and Carl Erik Hansen.
Produced by Espen Mjøen.
Co-produced by Ove Thorkildsen and Carl Erik Hansen.

Musicians:

Ove Thorkildsen: guitars and vocals
Frode Kvisvik: lead guitars and backing vocals
Jan Tore Eriksen: bass and backing vocals
Carl Erik Hansen: drums

Featured:

Espen Mjøen: backing vocals, lead guitars (#4) and bass (#7)
Jørn Viggo Lofstad: lead guitars (#8)
Ingrid Nåvik Grønlund: lead vocals (#6)
Nina Gromstad: backing vocals and lead vocals (#13)
Guttorm Guttormsen: saxophone (#13)

The band

Ove's backing band.

Carl Erik 'Calle' Hansen

‘Calle’ is a freelance drummer mostly noted for his rock-steady, driving and dynamic grooves. Carl Erik started playing at the age of 14, when he bought a drum kit and joined a youth gospel choir for several years. After college he attended a year at a non-degree granting college specializing in music, and so his musical career began unfolding. In 1993 he started touring and recording with the blues/roots band CONGO SQUARE (previously known as FUNNY BAND). During this time, singer/songwriter Tom Pacheco collaborated with the band on some of his rare appearances in Norway.

From there Carl Erik went on to join a funk/soul fusion band called B.U.M.P, where he also contributed as a composer, but sadly the band broke up some years later. (The connection has remained, however - which is evident in the many collaborations the following years; most recently the debut album of Ove Thorkildsen.)

Since then 'Calle' has played numerous sessions, gigs and theatre performances in the area - some of notable interest: BBB feat. Trond Ytterbø (of “Notodden Blues Band” fame), AN EVENING WITH... TOTO (tribute band featuring the incredible guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad), URBAN HONK and KIRSTI CARR (ESC contender). He's also recorded with DANIEL ERIKSEN, AFTENMENN and the jazzfusion project TOAST A GHOST.

At present, Carl Erik often tours with up-and-coming party band FREDDY & LØKKI DØX.

Jan Tore 'Kito' Eriksen

'Kito' has played with several bands and different genres of music throughout most of his life. For the last 15 years he's mostly known as lead singer and bass player. JT plays the 6-string electric bass, 4-string fretless bass, double bass, acoustic guitar, Dobro and harmonica.

Jan Tore started out playing the trumpet at the age of 10 and picked up the bass in a band at age 12. He played hard-rock for a few years and at the age of 16 founded the band NORTHWIND together with drummer Jan Ånnerød and guitarist Tor Erik Myhre. 'Kito' then joined THE MEMPHIS NEWS when his friend Stephen Ackles showed up one time and said he was short of a bass player.

During this time he found a soul mate in the excellent guitarist Ole Bjørn Berge and they started a band called BLUESFACTORY, later to be known as URBAN HONK (still seen at different venues in the area). "This band is a place for the musicians to embrace a real passion for music", 'Kito' likes to say.

At his home, 'Kito' has built a studio where he's recorded many local musicians - like Daniel Eriksen and Vidar Busk -  in addition to several local talent in need of a cheap, but decent, recording studio. Visit Jan Tore's MySpace profile for more information: http://www.myspace.com/kitoblues