Magne co-writes song for new Backstreet Boys album

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.

Paul joins Spark Management

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.

Go With The Flø festival 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

Magne creates unique steel sculpture

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.

Morten to perform at Night of the Proms tour

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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.

a-ha meet with King Harald

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.

a-ha granted audience with King Harald

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.

Gumball 3000: Team 43 arrives in Monaco

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

Gumball 3000: interview in Krakow

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.

Magne takes part in Gumball 3000 rally

Magne behind the wheel (Picture from

Magne behind the wheel
(Picture from skjervenracing.tumblr.com)

Magne, who is a big car enthusiast, is taking part in the 2013 Gumball 3000 road rally, which started in Copenhagen on May 19th and finishes in Monte Carlo on May 24th.

Magne and Einar Skjerven, CEO of investment company Skjerven Group, will be driving through Europe in a black Ferrari 512 M, followed by a support car with a mechanic and a masseur. The Ferrari has been partly decorated by Magne.

The route: Copenhagen – Stockholm – Helsinki – St Petersburg – Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna – Verona – Monte Carlo.

Unfortunately, the Ferrari’s gear box broke down before Helsinki yesterday, and the team has since been searching for spare parts all over Europe. They seem to be continuing in the support car, with the Ferrari following on a truck until it’s fixed.

Update: Sadly, the gear box couldn’t be fixed. But the team seems determined to continue regardless of the bad news. Update II: They end up continuing…in a Lada!

You can follow all the latest developments on Team 43’s Tumblr blog (Magne’s updates are written in lower case): skjervenracing.tumblr.com

Other celebrities taking part in the infamous road rally this year include David Hasselhoff, Tony Hawk, Xzibit and The Dudesons.

Prior to the rally, Magne attended hotel tycoon Petter Stordalen’s annual May 16th costume party in Oslo. This year the party had a Swedish theme, and Magne came dressed as Karlsson-on-the-Roof. As you may remember, Magne and Heidi came dressed as the lady and the tramp at last year’s farmer-themed party.

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