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Posts Tagged ‘magne furuholmen’

a-ha announce 30th anniversary concert at Rock in Rio 2015

Posted by Jakob S on December 4th, 2014
a-ha in Rio de Janeiro this week (Promotional photo taken by Just Loomis)

a-ha in Rio de Janeiro this week
(Promotional photo taken by Just Loomis)

a-ha will reunite next year, to play a special 30th anniversary concert at the Rock In Rio Festival in September 2015, a-ha.com announced tonight.

Magne says in the press release:

“The huge concert at Maracanã Stadium in 1991 is one of the absolute highlights of a-ha’s career. It was just impossible to turn down this request to celebrate the festival’s 30 year history, especially as it coincides with the 30 year anniversary of the band itself. This felt like I imagine it must be to hear about the 1000-year wave approaching shore; even as a retired surfer you just want to dust off your board and throw yourself into the water.”

“We have been invited as so-called “special guests” at Rock In Rio 2015. We have been getting a lot of offers since we disbanded, but this was so unique that it was hard to say no”, Magne added to NRK tonight.

Magne interviewed by G1 at Maracana Stadium

Magne interviewed by G1 at Maracana Stadium

“Money has not been an issue at all, as far as I know. There’s not much money involved in this, it’s just something all three of us wanted to do”, he says.

“We had retired for good, and I guess we still are. But in this case we were all three so surprised that this was something the festival wanted. And one should be allowed to change one’s mind.”

Magne can’t confirm additional concerts in 2015 at this point:

“We haven’t made any additional plans beyond Rio, and it was difficult enough to rally the troops for this concert. In a moment of bravado we agreed to do this, and then we’ll see if it leads to something more. The plan now is just to appear at Rock In Rio once more to celebrate the festival and ourselves.”

Morten, Magne and Paul appeared at Maracanã Stadium tonight, to announce the news for the Brazilian press. A group of around 10 specially invited a-ha fans were also there to meet the band.

a-ha at Maracana Stadium, 4 December 2014

a-ha at Maracana Stadium, 4 December 2014

To read the whole press release and see new band photos taken by Just Loomis in Rio this week, visit a-ha.com and the a-ha Facebook Page.

News articles, videos and photos:
Jornal Nacional: Banda A-Ha volta para tocar no Rock in Rio 2015 (video)
O Globo: Rock in Rio e A-ha se unem na celebração… (with video)
G1: A-ha toca no Rock in Rio em 2015…
VG: a-ha gjenforenes til sommeren
Flickr: Photo set of a-ha at Maracana Stadium
VG: 30 år med a-ha-opplevelser
VG: Slik kan a-ha finne konsertformen

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a-ha Fan Weekend 2014

Posted by Jakob S on October 28th, 2014
Terry Slater, Harald Wiik, Magne and Tini Flaat Mykland on stage at Samfunnsalen, Oslo

Terry Slater, Harald Wiik, Magne and Tini Flaat Mykland on stage at Samfunnsalen, Oslo
(Picture by Jakob)

Fans from all over the world once again gathered in Oslo on October 24-25 for the a-ha Fan Weekend 2014, which included Morten’s last two concerts of the Brother tour at Sentrum Scene, an a-ha convention with a Q&A session and a fan party.

Many were looking particularly forward to hearing former a-ha manager Terry Slater, who provided interesting stories from his long career and shared his thoughts on the music business then and now.

Current a-ha/Morten Harket manager Harald Wiik talked about the upcoming release plans in connection with the 30th anniversary of Hunting High and Low in 2015:

“The plan is – don’t hold it against me if not everything happens – but as of now there are plans for a 5-disc set of Hunting High And Low, with lots of new material. Plus heavy vinyls of all the first five albums. Also a box set of the vinyls called The Warner Years, for the first five albums. And then Deluxe Editions of Stay On These Roads, East Of The Sun and Memorial Beach. And some other things that I can’t tell you about now. But save your money!”

Morten at Sentrum Scene, October 24th

Morten at Sentrum Scene, October 24th
(Picture by Jakob)

Magne came to Oslo straight from the opening of the new concert house in Fosnavåg, where he did two performances with Apparatjik on October 23 and 24. He brought along two early copies of the long-awaited Apparatjik World book, of which Terry Slater was given one copy, while the other was donated as a prize in the Red Cross charity raffle held during the fan party:

“It should be out before Christmas at some point. I was hoping to have enough copies to bring tonight, but the printers couldn’t make it in time.”

While on stage at the a-ha convention, Magne also talked candidly about how he wasn’t satisfied with how the Beatles movie turned out:

“I wanted to make a much more radical score than what ended up [in the movie]. There was a struggle, a fight between me and the director, who came in a little bit late in the process, to make him understand what I was trying to do. So to my mind, the last version that I heard was a compromise where they had used my music in a way that I wasn’t a hundred percent satisfied with. I won’t be able to give you a percentage, as I haven’t seen the finished one. (…) The album is different, because I made the album afterwards, a bit more like I wanted the movie to sound.”

Magne previously talked about his problems with the Beatles film project in a radio interview on NRK P13 last month.

Morten visiting the fan party (Picture by Jakob)

Morten visiting the fan party
(Picture by Jakob)

At the fan party in the evening, Morten showed up on stage to meet the fans. One fan asked him about his plans for next year:

“I’m being asked if I have plans – big plans – for next year, which I believe I have. And those plans might include you guys. (…) It will be an interesting year, next year”, Morten said.

“We should have a lot of fun with numbers over the next year. Keep on guessing!”, Harald Wiik told the fans earlier on Saturday – referring to the numbers recently posted on a-ha.com’s Facebook page; 44 and 365, which have led to fan speculations about a possible a-ha reunion in 2015.

Check out more coverage of the a-ha Fan Weekend on a-ha.com’s Twitter profile and Facebook page.

Other links:
TV2 Nyhetskanalen – interview with Morten at soundcheck, Oct. 24th
NRK Østlandssendingen – report from Sentrum Scene
dbmag.no – Morten Harket concert review (5/6)
Vimeo – Safe With Me (Oct. 24th) by After Event Productions
Vimeo – Whispering Heart (Oct. 24th) by After Event Productions
Vimeo – Brother (Oct. 24th) by After Event Productions
Facebook – Sentrum Scene photos by StageWorks
Facebook – Sentrum Scene photos by Christina Galbraith
YouTube – Morten visiting the fan party
YouTube – Harald Wiik speaking at the fan convention
YouTube – Terry Slater speaking at the fan convention

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Magne and Tini on Senkveld

Posted by Jakob S on September 28th, 2014
Magne and Tini performing "You Can't Have It Both Ways" on Senkveld, September 26th

Magne and Tini performing “You Can’t Have It Both Ways” on Senkveld, September 26th

Magne and Tini Flaat Mykland were guests on the TV2 talkshow Senkveld on Friday night, to promote Tini’s debut album Undo My Heart which will be released in Norway on October 3rd. The album features several songs written by Magne, including Tini’s new version of “Running Out Of Reasons” from Magne’s solo album A Dot Of Black In
The Blue Of Your Bliss.

“Tini initially appeared a bit secretive and didn’t quite fit the format of The Voice, as she didn’t really try to show off in her performances. Instead she stood out by being very pure and focused on the music. When I brought the talents I wanted to work with over to England, Tini was the one who got the best reactions and who people wanted to help develop”, Magne said.

“It’s been really exciting. Magne is a fantastic mentor who has helped me a lot, not least by allowing me to grow my ambitions. He has also introduced me to a great network of people, both in Norway and abroad”, Tini said.

Following the interview, Magne and Tini were joined by a few additional musicians and performed a live version of the new single “You Can’t Have It Both Ways”, which has also been written by Magne.

Senkveld is available online through TV2 Sumo (subscribers only).

More info about Tini: tinispage.com

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‘Self-Portraits’ exhibition in Oslo

Posted by Jakob S on September 6th, 2014
From A-magasinet, September 5th, with Magne in front of one of the self-portraits, My self as an alphabet, inspired by Edvard Munch's The Scream.

From A-magasinet, September 5th, with Magne in front of one of the self-portraits, My self as an alphabet, inspired by Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

Magne’s latest solo exhibition Self-Portraits opened at Kunstverket Galleri in Oslo on Thursday, September 4th.

The large woodcuts that make up this new exhibition are not traditional self-portraits, but rather Magne’s own idea of what a self-portrait could be.

“I have not been interested in portraying myself in a traditional way. Under the guise of the exhibition title, I’ve been more interested in pursuing an idea. The idea has been to explore different sides of myself; the one I think I am, but perhaps also someone I’m not. It’s also about imagining what it would have been like to be someone else”, Magne said in 6-page interview in A-magasinet yesterday, which is also available online at aftenposten.no.

The interview was done by well-known psychiatrist and author Finn Skårderud.

“I’ve been collecting my whole life, been inspired by others, listened to music, like John Lennon, looked at artworks, and now I’m putting it on display. These images references a lot of things and people that have made an impact, and which have influenced me”, Magne said.

A photo gallery from the preparations and the exhibition opening has been posted on Kunstverket Galleri’s Facebook page.

Self-Portraits will be on display until September 28th.

There is also an article about Magne in the September issue of Art, a German magazine. A photo gallery from Magne’s atelier in Asker in connection with the article can be seen at art-magazin.de.

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‘Beatles’ soundtrack now available

Posted by Jakob S on September 6th, 2014
Album cover

Album cover

The soundtrack album for the movie Beatles, featuring original music composed by Magne, was released digitally in Norway yesterday and is now available on Spotify, Wimp and iTunes.

30-second samples can be heard at wimp.no.

The album includes 17 tracks, of which 13 are instrumentals by Magne. It also includes a version of “Come Together” by Apparatjik (Feat. Icona Pop & Erik Hassle), “Et Kyss Til” by Hvitmalt Gjerde (taken from their recently released second album), “Sukker og Salt” by Rosenberg Allstars, plus Magne’s own fragile version of “Yesterday”.

“Yeah, that’s me singing. Someone wanted to include “Yesterday”, and we initially tried to use the original Beatles version, but that particular scene screams for something less perfect, and I thought it could be worth a try. It was of course necessary to do a completely different version, as I could never get close to the original one, but the idea was that it needed a certain roughness to match the atmosphere [in the scene]”, Magne told Dagbladet in a recent interview.

When recording the string parts at Abbey Road, Magne brought in a group of musicians from London Philharmonic Orchestra, while David Davidson was flown in from Nashville to oversee the arrangements.

“David Davidson has a PhD in Beatles-strings and is a fantastic guy. He has done string arrangements for a-ha in the past, so I know him well”, Magne told Dagbladet.

Beatles had its nationwide premiere in Norway on August 29th. Although the reviews have been mixed and the box office results have been weaker than expected, Magne’s music has been well-received.

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Magne prepares Apparatjik performance

Posted by Jakob S on June 28th, 2014
Magne interviewed by NRK in Fosnavåg, June 25th

Magne interviewed by NRK in Fosnavåg, June 25th

Magne was in Fosnavåg this Wednesday, together with Stefan Brunner from Audiokolor, to install the surveillance cameras that will turn movements into music for the upcoming Apparatjik performance at the opening of the new concert house in October.

“In many ways you could say that we’re turning Fosnavåg into sheet music, and letting the locals create the sounds”, Magne told local newspaper Vestlandsnytt.

Three cameras will capture movement patterns in different parts of Fosnavåg over the next two weeks.

“We want to urge people to be creative and perhaps do something out of the ordinary, as we think that could result in some great music. When we go through the recorded material afterwards, we will be able to locate the parts that have the most activity in front of the camera. These parts will then be edited into a musical piece of around 20 minutes, that Apparatjik will perform together with The Norwegian Radio Orchestra”, Magne says.

He adds that people who are curious about this project could also visit the Go With The Flø festival this weekend, where the Apparatjik/Audiokolor installation “Everybody is a composer!” can be experienced.

Magne was also interviewed by NRK Møre og Romsdal’s local TV news. The video clip can be seen at nrk.no.

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Exhibition at Soli Brug

Posted by Jakob S on June 18th, 2014
Magne in front of his ceramic jars

Magne in front of his ceramic jars

Magne is one of the artists taking part in a summer exhibition at the Soli Brug gallery in Sarpsborg, Norway, which opened on Saturday, June 14th.

In addition to paintings and graphic prints, Magne is exhibiting a collection of ceramic jars, which have been placed on top of six concrete manhole covers in connection with a new wastewater treatment system.

“The surroundings here are very beautiful and idyllic. But these new manhole covers were apparently necessary to add, and so I was asked if I could do something in connection with them. Most of what I do is about trying to turn something negative into something positive, and I feel this installation turned out really well”, Magne said in a radio interview with NRK Østfold on June 12th.

There is also a video interview with Magne at nrk.no.

The exhibition is open until June 29th.

Magne has also recently collaborated with Henrik Haugan to design the bottle for a limited series of XO Contemporary Cognac for Braastad. He was in France on June 10th to discuss the final design. More info in this French article.

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Apparatjik to perform in Fosnavåg

Posted by Jakob S on May 23rd, 2014
Magne on stage at Roskilde, July 2012

Magne on stage at Roskilde, July 2012

Apparatjik will be performing at the opening of the new concert house in Fosnavåg, Norway, on October 23rd. This was announced at a press conference today.

They will be joined by The Norwegian Radio Orchestra for a special performance of music made by movements captured on surveillance cameras placed around Fosnavåg – similar to the “Everybody is a composer!” project in 2012.

This news follows an announcement on the official Apparatjik website – “Everybody is clapping!” – where they invite fans to record video clips of themselves clapping their hands, to be used in connection with a new recording project.

Apparatjik’s last performance was in Copenhagen in May 2013.

Articles:
Vikebladet   Sunnmørsposten   Herøynytt

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Magne attends funeral of Kjell Nupen

Posted by Jakob S on March 25th, 2014
Kjell Nupen

Kjell Nupen

Magne attended the funeral of Kjell Nupen (1955 – 2014) in Kristiansand today.

Nupen, who died from cancer on March 12th, was one of Norway’s most famous contemporary artists. He was Magne’s artistic mentor from 1989 – 1993 and they held several exhibitions together.

“Norway has lost one of its greatest visual artists and a unique personality. Kjell was a great figure in every way, and leaves a gaping void that will be impossible to fill. Everything I know about graphic art I’ve learnt from him”, Magne said in his speech during the ceremony.

Magne outside the church

Magne outside the church

“Kjell was a kind and thoughtful man, and one of the wisest people I have met. I have lost a close friend and an important discussion partner. The most important thing I can do now is to honour him through my work, and prove that I was worthy of his trust.”

“Kjell. I miss you and it hurts so much. There’s so much more we should have talked about. I am grateful for the time we had together”, Magne said.

The funeral ceremony was held in Søm Church, a church decorated by Nupen himself. 700 people attended the funeral, including King Harald and Queen Sonja.

Magne carried the coffin together with Bjørn Eidsvåg and Ole Larsen (VG photo).

Links:  Fædrelandsvennen article   Agderposten article   VG photo gallery

 

Magne and Kjell Nupen, working together in Paris in 2002.

Magne and Kjell Nupen, working together in Paris in 2002.

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TV2 report from Abbey Road Studios

Posted by Jakob S on March 8th, 2014
Magne at the mixing desk

Magne at the mixing desk

Two different news reports about Magne’s Beatles film score sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London have aired on TV2 in Norway over the last couple of days. The first one can be seen at tv2.no.

Among other things we could see a blues instrumental being recorded for one scene, with Magne on harmonica, Jonas Bjerre on piano and Martin Terefe on guitar. Magne was also recording piano and organ parts together with Kjetil Bjerkestrand and could be heard playing “Stay On These Roads” on the original “Lady Madonna” piano.

Recording a blues instrumental with Bjerre and Terefe

Recording a blues instrumental with Jonas Bjerre, Martin Terefe and others

As we know, Magne is using original instruments, microphones and other recording equipment used by The Beatles for these sessions.

“It’s mostly for the music nerds, including myself, that we decided to do it like this. The idea of creating a sort of time machine and walking into a room from the late 60s. It’s almost like a theatrical setup of the whole recording session”, Magne told TV2.

“I don’t want it to become too big and symphonic. I feel like I’m the unknown, melancholic member of The Beatles”, Magne said when he was interviewed at the by:Larm festival in Oslo last week.

Playing "Stay On These Roads" on the original "Lady Madonna" piano

Playing “Stay On These Roads” on the original “Lady Madonna” piano

When asked, Magne said that he hadn’t sought the advice of Paul McCartney:

“But I have informed him about it! He’s a thumbs-up guy, but it would only have scared me even more if I’d asked him to help out. It’s very different to write film music without lyrics, which is what normally drives me to release solo stuff.”

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