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Lowell and Magne jam session

Posted by Jakob S on July 27th, 2013
Lowell and Magne, July 3rd (Screenshot from Vine clip)

Lowell and Magne, July 3rd
(Screenshot from Vine clip)

Elizabeth Boland – aka Lowell – did a week-long music and art workshop at Stolper + Friends in Oslo earlier this month, following her concerts at the Go With The Flø festival. Entitled Sex cells – sound and vision under the influence, the workshop was held between 1 – 7 July.

Here’s a quote from her Facebook page:

“Many people came out to the concerts at night, and one night we had Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys) with Norwegian indie rock band “I was a King”. One day we also had a stunning violin duo playing violin and the saw along with me. Other days, Magne F (a-ha, Apparatjik) and I jammed out for hours on various distortion instruments until our fingers were tired.”

Over the last week, Lowell has been posting audio clips on Soundcloud from the two-hour jam session she did with Magne on July 3rd. Here are the links:
Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4

Other links:
Lowell Facebook page – Sex cells info and gallery
Art on Canvas blog – pictures from Lowell workshop
Northern Transmissions – interview with Lowell about working with Apparatjik

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Magne co-writes song for new Backstreet Boys album

Posted by Jakob S on July 23rd, 2013

Magne has co-written one of the songs on the upcoming Backstreet Boys album In a World Like This, which is released on July 30th. The song is called “Breathe” and was written by Martin Terefe, Andreas Olsson, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Nick Whitecross and Magne Furuholmen.

This is the group’s eighth studio album, and was partly recorded at Martin Terefe’s Kensaltown Recording Studios in London. In total, Martin Terefe has co-written and produced four of the songs on the album (plus an iTunes bonus track).

“Breathe” can be heard on YouTube.

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Paul joins Spark Management

Posted by Jakob S on July 15th, 2013
Still busy in the studio

Still busy in New York

Paul is now represented by New York-based management company Spark Management, which was founded earlier this year to “develop the careers of exceptional artists, songwriters, producers and mix engineers”.

The company’s roster of clients also includes Mark Saunders (who co-produced a-ha’s Foot of the Mountain album) and Dan Romer (who did the music for Beasts of The Southern Wild).

Paul is described as “an active songwriter and producer for other major label artists” on the company’s website.

Spark Management founder Ollie Hammett, who previously worked for Elton John’s Rocket Music Management, said in an interview with sonicscoop.com last year:

“I think we’re in a unique position to help develop the careers of producers, in both traditional ways i.e. producing records for artists as well as new ways, too, through opportunities in digital, interactive, film, television and theater. It’s an exciting time for music producers and there are many opportunities to rewrite the rule book.”

Although Paul has reportedly been writing and producing for other artists since January 2011, nothing has been officially released so far (that we know of). These projects all seem to be shrouded in mystery for the time being.

 
Update, July 16th: A Norwegian fan met Paul in Bergen on Friday, July 12th. When asked if there would be a new Savoy album, Paul said that “various things are gonna come up soon”. More info on the WOTM Forum.

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Go With The Flø festival 2013

Posted by Jakob S on July 1st, 2013
Picture from Sunnmørsposten

Picture from Sunnmørsposten

Magne and his wife Heidi were at Flø this weekend, where they attended the annual Go With The Flø art festival. The festival included an exhibition by Damien Hirst and two concerts by Lowell.

But this year Magne was not exhibiting or performing himself:

“This time I’m only here to enjoy myself. Go With The Flø is great opportunity to make a visit to Western Norway and meet friends and acquaintances. And I’m here together with my London gallerist, Paul Stolper, who is also Damien Hirst’s gallerist”, Magne told Sunnmørsposten.

The festival’s Facebook page has a few photos of Magne and Simen Staalnacke (Moods of Norway) fishing and standing in front of a new ice cream van.

Articles:
Nye lydar på Vonheim    Kunstivalen i bilete (slideshow)
Kunstfestivalen på Flø større enn noen gang

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Magne creates unique steel sculpture

Posted by Jakob S on June 22nd, 2013
Magne and his sculpture (Picture from Budstikka)

Magne and his sculpture
(Picture from Budstikka)

Magne has recently been working on a unique steel sculpture, commissioned by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke. This is the third major art project Magne has done for Røkke during the last year, he has previously decorated the headquarters of Aker Solutions at Fornebu and created the Code 1 sail for Røkke’s luxury yacht Aglaia.

This time Røkke wanted a spectacular steel sculpure, resembling a tree, which would eventually stand outside his luxury cabin at Oppdal. To create the sculpture, Magne decided to twist and bend a 12 meter long and 2,5 ton heavy H-beam of steel, something which has never been attempted before.

Magne has been preparing this project since late 2012, and enlisted the help of two blacksmiths and one excavator driver in the process. To get inspired, Magne took his team on a trip to Bilbao and St. Sebastian earlier this month, to study the works of Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida.

Last weekend, the final process of twisting the H-beam started. The newspaper Budstikka has a long article documenting the project (including a slideshow) on its website, which can be found here.

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Morten to perform at Night of the Proms tour

Posted by Jakob S on June 20th, 2013
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Morten will headline the annual Night Of The Proms tour in Germany and Luxembourg later this year, his official website announced today.

Night of the Proms is an annual series of concerts held around Europe, which mixes pop music with classical music.

There will be 18 arena shows in 13 different cities, and Morten will apparently sing 4-5 songs each night.

Here’s some info from the official Night of the Proms website:

“To mark the 20th anniversary of AIDA Night of the Proms in Germany, the musical event once again presents an exclusive mix of international top artists. During this jubilee edition, the symphonic orchestra Il Novecento will accompany Morten Harket (the voice of A-HA), rising star Amy Macdonald, John Miles, the Berlin rock’n’roll band The Baseballs and the Japanese pianist Hiromi as classical soloist.”

The dates:

29 November: Lanxess Arena, Cologne
30 November: Lanxess Arena, Cologne
1 December: Arena, Oberhausen
4 December: Messehalle, Erfurt
5 December: SAP Arena, Mannheim
6 December: Festhalle, Frankfurt
7 December: Festhalle, Frankfurt
8 December: Westfalenhalle, Dortmund
10 December: Coque, Luxembourg City
11 December: Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart
13 December: Olympiahalle, Munich
14 December: Olympiahalle, Munich
15 December: Olympiahalle, Munich
18 December: TUI Arena, Hannover
19 December: O2 World, Berlin
20 December: O2 World, Hamburg
21 December: O2 World, Hamburg
22 December: ÖVB Arena, Bremen

For ticket links, please visit mortenharket.com.

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a-ha meet with King Harald

Posted by Jakob S on June 10th, 2013
a-ha outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, June 10th

a-ha outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, June 10th

a-ha arrived at the Royal Palace in Oslo earlier today, where they had been granted an audience with King Harald. This is taking place in connection with the band members being appointed Knights First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav last year.

Picture from nrk.no

Picture from nrk.no

“It’s an honor to get recognized on an official level for the work we’ve done together. We accept it with gratitude and humility”, Magne told the press.

One reporter asked what they expected to talk about with King Harald.

“I reckon he’s a professional in that area, so he’ll lead the conversation”, Magne said with a laugh.

“We’re not coming here with lots to tell. Instead, we’ll listen to what the King has to say”, Morten added.

Another reporter asked how it is to come together as a-ha now, to receive this honour.

“It’s becoming increasingly harder to gather the three of us together, so we’re grateful to His Majesty for this opportunity”, Magne said.

Watch video clips of a-ha arriving on nrk.no and aftenposten.no. There is also a large photo on vg.no and a photo set by Stian Andersen on a-ha.com’s Facebook page.

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a-ha granted audience with King Harald

Posted by Jakob S on June 7th, 2013
Receiving the Royal Order of St. Olav, November 6th 2012.

Receiving the Royal Order of St. Olav, Nov. 6th 2012.

Morten, Magne and Paul have been invited to the Royal Palace in Oslo on Monday, June 10th, for an audience with King Harald of Norway at 12:30 (local time).

This is in connection with the band members being appointed Knights First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in November last year. Anyone who receives the Order of St. Olav are eventually granted an audience with the king.

But this isn’t the first time the members of a-ha have been granted an audience with the King of Norway. In February 1987 they were invited to the Royal Palace by the late King Olav, in recognition of their international achievements. Here is a picture of them afterwards, standing outside the Royal Palace with a group of fans. “It was a great experience”, Morten told the press back then.

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Gumball 3000: Team 43 arrives in Monaco

Posted by Jakob S on May 25th, 2013
Magne after arrival in Monaco (Picture by Valerie)

Magne after arrival in Monaco
(Picture by Valerie. Click to enlarge.)

They started out Italian style, but opted for a more Russian flavor along the way, suitable for an Apparatjik.

Last night Team 43 and their Gumballada crossed the finish line in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where they got a warm welcome from the crowd.

“We’ve been on the road for six days now, so tomorrow it’ll be a week since we started. But it feels both like a week and as a 31-second boxing round”, Magne said in a video shortly before arriving in Monaco.

Update: At the official wrap party on Saturday night, Team 43 won the Gumball Ambassadors Award. Well deserved!

Read all about the trip on the team’s Tumblr blog: skjervenracing.tumblr.com

Here are some YouTube clips featuring Team 43:
Start in Copenhagen (at 5:06)    Start in Copenhagen 2
On the road in Sweden (at 3:06)    Arriving in Krakow
Arriving in Krakow 2 (at 0:48)    Arriving in Vienna (at 1:28)
Arriving in Monaco

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Gumball 3000: interview in Krakow

Posted by Jakob S on May 24th, 2013
Team 43 interviewed in Krakow

Team 43 interviewed in Krakow

“We start in a Ferrari and end in a Lada. Can it get any better?”

Watch Magne get interviewed by Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet here.

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    Magne's latest solo album,
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