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Sondre Lerche Biography
Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Lerche was inspired by the music he heard emanating from his older sibling's bedrooms – be it A-ha, Elvis Costello or classic rock. Inspired, he picked up the guitar at the age of 8, and as a teenager performed at open mics at the club where his sister worked. Before his 16th birthday, he was signed to Virgin/EMI. "I had to start singing to get all these songs out there," he says. "No one else was going to!
Lerche's triumphs and travails of the last few years certainly left a mark; he moved to the U.S. and dealt with various practical matters (including some green card issues), forcing some delays. But he also recorded the soundtrack to the hit movie Dan in Real Life ("The director wanted a musician to work with and he convinced both me and the Disney Corporation that I was the only one who could do it.") And, most importantly, Lerche left his major label home and struck out on his own.
Heartbeat Radio, his most current offering, is certainly Lerche's boldest and most challenging record. While it maintains the studio polish of his groundbreaking debut, Faces Down, there's also a sense of musical adventure that stems from his later work. The songs mix acoustic guitars with grand gestures of orchestral pop, with elements of anything from 50s Jazz, via 60s and 70s Brazillian psych-folk to state-of-the-art 80s pop masters such as Prefab Sprout, Scritti Politti and Fleetwood Mac.
Although Radio presents a variety of moods and sounds, the opening track "Good Luck" may best describe the story behind the record. "That was inspired by parts of my last year or two," admits the singer, who went through some drama (good and bad) to get to a finished album. "Sometimes it's really hard getting the songs to the level of excitement you have, and still defining your everyday life. But in the end, considering how unfair this world often appears, it's really about how goddamn lucky I am to make a living writing and performing my songs!"
Lerche's triumphs and travails of the last few years certainly left a mark; he moved to the U.S. and dealt with various practical matters (including some green card issues), forcing some delays. But he also recorded the soundtrack to the hit movie Dan in Real Life ("The director wanted a musician to work with and he convinced both me and the Disney Corporation that I was the only one who could do it.") And, most importantly, Lerche left his major label home and struck out on his own.
"I had done the major label thing, and I had experienced the pros and cons of that world," he says. "I thought this time I'd just make the album, and see who was interested when I was finished." He laughs. "And I didn't want to go to anyone before I was finished – it seemed disingenuous to say, ‘I don't have music, but I have these songs in my dreams.' They probably could care less about my dreams!" Radio was admittedly a slower process than his previous work – Lerche was now handling the production of the album (along with long time guitarist and multi-tasker Kato Adland), and utilizing a large number of backing musicians in the recording, incorporating violinists, cello players and other assorted string players into the mix. Lerche and Ådland were determined to both test out new ways of recording and embrace new influences—most prominently on "Easy to Persuade," which features the singer opening with the very Nelly-like proclamation "Is it hot in here?" and ending the song with dark "Blade Runner" synths, Disney-meets-This Lizzy arpeggios and a dramatic bebop solo, half Coltrane, half Miami Vice.
"That song was inspired by things I used to hate but now accept," Lerche says. "As a kid, in the late ‘80s, I remember moving into this building that had MTV – I would just sit there and absorb it. And a couple of things would pop up that I couldn't stand – one was Fleetwood Mac, songs from "Tango in the Night", and the other was The Cure, around "Friday I'm in Love". They both sounded odd to me, yet those songs had a weirdly slick sound. Now, for some reason, I have a real affinity for this kind of sound!"
Fortunately, '80s pop wasn't the only musical influence that shaped his musical upbringing. Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Lerche was inspired by the music he heard emanating from his older sibling's bedrooms – be it A-ha, Elvis Costello or classic rock. Inspired, he picked up the guitar at the age of 8, and as a teenager performed at open mics at the club where his sister worked. Before his 16th birthday, he was signed to Virgin/EMI. "I had to start singing to get all these songs out there," he says. "No one else was going to!"
Lerche released his first record, Faces Down, in 2001, and earned a Best New Artist award at the Norwegian Grammys. That record also made its mark here in the U.S.– Rolling Stone named it one of the 50 best records of the year. Two Way Monologue (2004), Duper Sessions (2006) and Phantom Punch (2007) followed, along with a number of EPs and tours with everyone from Elvis Costello to (no joke) A-ha.
With Radio completed, Lerche plans to head back out on the road. But instead of simply recreating the expansive nature of his new songs, most of the sets will be performed solo (another tour with a regular back-up band will happen later in the year). "I like that contrast," he says. "You get to hear where the songs came from – just one guitar, one voice, like how I do my demos. It's a fun challenge to try and make it as dynamic and exciting as possible No matter what I do to these songs in the studio, they'll get by on their own."
Lerche's triumphs and travails of the last few years certainly left a mark; he moved to the U.S. and dealt with various practical matters (including some green card issues), forcing some delays. But he also recorded the soundtrack to the hit movie Dan in Real Life ("The director wanted a musician to work with and he convinced both me and the Disney Corporation that I was the only one who could do it.") And, most importantly, Lerche left his major label home and struck out on his own.
Heartbeat Radio, his most current offering, is certainly Lerche's boldest and most challenging record. While it maintains the studio polish of his groundbreaking debut, Faces Down, there's also a sense of musical adventure that stems from his later work. The songs mix acoustic guitars with grand gestures of orchestral pop, with elements of anything from 50s Jazz, via 60s and 70s Brazillian psych-folk to state-of-the-art 80s pop masters such as Prefab Sprout, Scritti Politti and Fleetwood Mac.
Although Radio presents a variety of moods and sounds, the opening track "Good Luck" may best describe the story behind the record. "That was inspired by parts of my last year or two," admits the singer, who went through some drama (good and bad) to get to a finished album. "Sometimes it's really hard getting the songs to the level of excitement you have, and still defining your everyday life. But in the end, considering how unfair this world often appears, it's really about how goddamn lucky I am to make a living writing and performing my songs!"
Lerche's triumphs and travails of the last few years certainly left a mark; he moved to the U.S. and dealt with various practical matters (including some green card issues), forcing some delays. But he also recorded the soundtrack to the hit movie Dan in Real Life ("The director wanted a musician to work with and he convinced both me and the Disney Corporation that I was the only one who could do it.") And, most importantly, Lerche left his major label home and struck out on his own.
"I had done the major label thing, and I had experienced the pros and cons of that world," he says. "I thought this time I'd just make the album, and see who was interested when I was finished." He laughs. "And I didn't want to go to anyone before I was finished – it seemed disingenuous to say, ‘I don't have music, but I have these songs in my dreams.' They probably could care less about my dreams!" Radio was admittedly a slower process than his previous work – Lerche was now handling the production of the album (along with long time guitarist and multi-tasker Kato Adland), and utilizing a large number of backing musicians in the recording, incorporating violinists, cello players and other assorted string players into the mix. Lerche and Ådland were determined to both test out new ways of recording and embrace new influences—most prominently on "Easy to Persuade," which features the singer opening with the very Nelly-like proclamation "Is it hot in here?" and ending the song with dark "Blade Runner" synths, Disney-meets-This Lizzy arpeggios and a dramatic bebop solo, half Coltrane, half Miami Vice.
"That song was inspired by things I used to hate but now accept," Lerche says. "As a kid, in the late ‘80s, I remember moving into this building that had MTV – I would just sit there and absorb it. And a couple of things would pop up that I couldn't stand – one was Fleetwood Mac, songs from "Tango in the Night", and the other was The Cure, around "Friday I'm in Love". They both sounded odd to me, yet those songs had a weirdly slick sound. Now, for some reason, I have a real affinity for this kind of sound!"
Fortunately, '80s pop wasn't the only musical influence that shaped his musical upbringing. Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Lerche was inspired by the music he heard emanating from his older sibling's bedrooms – be it A-ha, Elvis Costello or classic rock. Inspired, he picked up the guitar at the age of 8, and as a teenager performed at open mics at the club where his sister worked. Before his 16th birthday, he was signed to Virgin/EMI. "I had to start singing to get all these songs out there," he says. "No one else was going to!"
Lerche released his first record, Faces Down, in 2001, and earned a Best New Artist award at the Norwegian Grammys. That record also made its mark here in the U.S.– Rolling Stone named it one of the 50 best records of the year. Two Way Monologue (2004), Duper Sessions (2006) and Phantom Punch (2007) followed, along with a number of EPs and tours with everyone from Elvis Costello to (no joke) A-ha.
With Radio completed, Lerche plans to head back out on the road. But instead of simply recreating the expansive nature of his new songs, most of the sets will be performed solo (another tour with a regular back-up band will happen later in the year). "I like that contrast," he says. "You get to hear where the songs came from – just one guitar, one voice, like how I do my demos. It's a fun challenge to try and make it as dynamic and exciting as possible No matter what I do to these songs in the studio, they'll get by on their own."
Sondre Lerche All Music Guide Biography
By the time Sondre Lerche had released his major-label debut (2002's critically acclaimed Faces Down), the then 19-year-old Norwegian wunderkind was already a veteran of the music world. Signed to Virgin Norway in 2000, Lerche released the chart-topping EP You Know So Well in February 2001. A commercially successful follow-up EP, No One's Gonna Come, was released in June of the same year, accompanied by numerous local performances and increasing industry praise. Lerche's distinctive voice and natural talent for writing appealing and alternately sunny and melancholic pop tunes quickly established him as a definite contender for significance throughout Europe and beyond.
Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Lerche was weaned on the '80s pop that emanated from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as a-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar instruction at age eight. Not satisfied with the lessons at school, he experimented with original tunes on his own, eventually penning his first song, "Locust Girl," at 14. Lerche performed acoustic gigs at the club where his sister worked while he was still underage, and was "discovered" by Norwegian producer HP Gundersen. Under Gundersen's mentorship, Lerche was exposed to diverse music genres, including psychedelia, '60s pop, and mainstream Brazilian music, broadening his appreciation for eclectic music styles. Around this time Lerche also met up with Oslo-based manager Tatiana Penzo, leading up to a deal with Virgin Norway.
The songs from Faces Down had been completed before winter 2000 but postponed for release until Lerche fulfilled several academic requirements. In the interim, he was named Best New Act at the Norwegian Grammys (Spellemannprisen) and performed locally in support of major acts such as Beth Orton. Faces Down was officially released in Norway in September 2001 and gradually throughout all of Europe. Lerche toured with various acts, including a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with his longtime idols a-ha in Oslo. Autumn 2002 saw the release of Faces Down in America and Lerche's first major tour of the United States. He treated fans with the live/studio collection Don't Be Shallow EP the following year. Lerche got personal for his sophomore effort, Two Way Monologue, which appeared in spring 2004.
For his next album, Lerche took a stylistic diversion and recorded an album of low-key, jazz-influenced tunes with a small mostly acoustic version of his Faces Down band. Duper Sessions was released in 2006 and reached number five in the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart. While touring that year with Elvis Costello, Lerche was inspired by Elvis' energy and interaction with his group. This led Lerche and the Faces Down to record a batch of short, punchy rock songs for 2007's Phantom Punch.
Among the fans of Lerche's work was director Peter Hedges, who was looking for someone to provide music for his 2007 film Dan in Real Life -- someone to be his Cat Stevens (Harold and Maude) or Simon & Garfunkel (The Graduate). He chose Lerche, and the soundtrack featured a mix of songs from his back catalog and some newly recorded tracks. ~ Roxanne Blanford & Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Lerche was weaned on the '80s pop that emanated from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as a-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar instruction at age eight. Not satisfied with the lessons at school, he experimented with original tunes on his own, eventually penning his first song, "Locust Girl," at 14. Lerche performed acoustic gigs at the club where his sister worked while he was still underage, and was "discovered" by Norwegian producer HP Gundersen. Under Gundersen's mentorship, Lerche was exposed to diverse music genres, including psychedelia, '60s pop, and mainstream Brazilian music, broadening his appreciation for eclectic music styles. Around this time Lerche also met up with Oslo-based manager Tatiana Penzo, leading up to a deal with Virgin Norway.
The songs from Faces Down had been completed before winter 2000 but postponed for release until Lerche fulfilled several academic requirements. In the interim, he was named Best New Act at the Norwegian Grammys (Spellemannprisen) and performed locally in support of major acts such as Beth Orton. Faces Down was officially released in Norway in September 2001 and gradually throughout all of Europe. Lerche toured with various acts, including a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with his longtime idols a-ha in Oslo. Autumn 2002 saw the release of Faces Down in America and Lerche's first major tour of the United States. He treated fans with the live/studio collection Don't Be Shallow EP the following year. Lerche got personal for his sophomore effort, Two Way Monologue, which appeared in spring 2004.
For his next album, Lerche took a stylistic diversion and recorded an album of low-key, jazz-influenced tunes with a small mostly acoustic version of his Faces Down band. Duper Sessions was released in 2006 and reached number five in the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart. While touring that year with Elvis Costello, Lerche was inspired by Elvis' energy and interaction with his group. This led Lerche and the Faces Down to record a batch of short, punchy rock songs for 2007's Phantom Punch.
Among the fans of Lerche's work was director Peter Hedges, who was looking for someone to provide music for his 2007 film Dan in Real Life -- someone to be his Cat Stevens (Harold and Maude) or Simon & Garfunkel (The Graduate). He chose Lerche, and the soundtrack featured a mix of songs from his back catalog and some newly recorded tracks. ~ Roxanne Blanford & Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
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