Take Five with Kjetil Husebø

Meet Kjetil Husebø:

35 years-old, from Bergen, Norway, currently living in Oslo. Pianist, synth, electronics, live-sampling, programming. Main project: Optical Substance.

Instrument(s):

Piano, synth, laptop, samplers, electronics.

Teachers and/or influences?

Jan Garbarek, Bendik Hofseth, Nils Petter Molvaer, Biosphere, Jan Bang, Bugge Wesseltoft, Eivind Aarset.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I heard Arild Andersen`s Sagn (ECM, 1991) and Jan Garbarek`s I Took up the Runes (ECM, 1990), when I was 15 years old.

Your sound and approach to music:

Always try to find the balance between the lyrical, avant-garde, minimalism, and intensity, with a mix of electronic and acoustic sounds.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

Adaptation (2010), because it`s the newest and has a good balance between an acoustic and electronic sound.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

Steps Ahead, N.Y.C..

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?

The ability to combine the simple, lyrical expressions and at the same time; keep it interesting enough and not too commercial.

CDs you are listening to now:

Terje Evensen, Still you. You Still here (Fonorum).

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

What is jazz?

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

To mix acoustic and electronic instruments/sound, to break down the barrier between genere, iinstruments, technology and traditions.

Music business in general;—people buying cd`s Possibility to explore and develop new projects and music through gigs, festivals, etc.

What is in the near future?

I'm going to start on a new album (solo-piano/electronics). Hopefully released in 2011.

By Day:

Previous: Head of Section at Oslo Chamber of Commerce, and Public Relations Advisor at Norwegian Accreditation.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Chef.

Photo Credit

Courtesy of Kjetil Husebø.