bio
egil olsen has been touring and releasing albums since the beginning of the 2000s. the norwegian singer/songwriter has, since his 2007 solo debut ‘i am a singer/songwriter’, released five critically acclaimed albums and done countless live shows. the new album ‘big babies‘ (out 11/11/22) will be his sixth and his first album in five years, other than the double live album ‘egil olsen live‘ (2018) and the double rarity collection ‘egil olsen rare’ (2019).
egil olsen has also made music for tv, films and computer games. in the game ‘dreamfall - chapters’ there’s even a 3d animated egil olsen doing a full live show inside the game! he also makes his own artwork and music videos, and an autobiographical comic strip about life as "a relatively unknown popstar”. there’s even an egil olsen tribute album, with norwegian artists covering his songs.
egil olsen is a live performer out of the ordinary, balancing his vulnerable and melancholy songs with comedy and charming banter. he mostly performs solo, but often appears on stage with various band constellations. egil olsen has done shows in germany, japan, china, the us and all over norway.
when all shows were cancelled in 2020, he was one of the very first to appear online with what he called ‘the egil olsen show must go online‘, which turned into a monthly show. he invited viewers into his recording studio filled with old instruments. an interactive experience with requests, demostrations, studio tips and tricks and performances with guests.
During the pandemic, between fear, hopelessness, streaming and moving, the new album ‘big babies‘ took shape and felt more and more relevant. most of the album is recorded in egil olsen’s new home, an old courthouse from the beginning of the 1800s known as ‘gamle skrivargarden‘. since the judges and the king of norway sold the house in the 1900s to private owners, it’s been home to a lot of art and music and comes with a lot of history. the recording studio is in the attic, and there’s a little venue downstairs, in the old courtroom, where egil olsen and his wife invite fellow artists and musicians to do monthly live shows. several local and international jazz legends have set foot and played here in the old days. when chet baker himself visited in the 80s, he allegedly said, 'with a view like this, i wouldn't need drugs'.
the new album is definitely flirting with jazz, but with egil olsen’s recognizable voice and lyrics in the center. the album features jazz musicians henrik lødøen on drums, martin morland on upright bass, vidar sæther and jesse heckman on clarinets. there’s also the duet ‘you be the darkness you be the light‘ with british-american singer/songwriter nellie mckay. egil olsen’s wife and two little boys can also be heard, according to the album cover, singin along, boohooin and cryin on the title track ‘big babies’.
“Beyond beautiul songs”
- Dagbladet
"One of the funniest and most peculiar artist we have"
-VG
"One of Norway's very best songwriters"
-Dagens Næringsliv
“A supreme entertainer”
- Erik Valebrokk
“A genre of his own”
- Klassekampen
“Strokes of genius!”
- Hamar Arbeiderblad
“Peculiar - and very nice"
- Gaffa
“Charming. Soulful. Funny as f$#%. Luminous. Smooth. Norwegian. Egil Olsen”
- Michael, Instagram review of a live show in los angeles
"A bright and sparkling universe"
- Music in Belgium
"A master in making fragile pop songs that exposes his soul"
- altcountry
"Sparkles with honesty and warmth"
- Stage info
“Wonderfully rebellious”
- Nordische musik
“Timeless and intended for eternity”
- Musik Reviews
“George Harrison would be delighted”
- Soultrain 4/5