In November 2024, I underwent some tests and was later informed that I had colon cancer. The shock was immense, but fortunately, I received quick and excellent care at the hospital. At the same time, I had the world’s best support in my beloved Stina, who kept me going even when my thoughts and physical condition were out of sync with what I wished for. I had surgery in December, and it was a successful procedure, allowing me to return home after just over a week and celebrate Christmas at home. After that, it was all about rehabilitation and gradually increasing my workload.
When I received the diagnosis, I decided to do something that would leave a mark and serve as a personal statement during the process. I had long considered recording some songs in the studio but had always stopped at the idea stage, shelving it in my usual self-critical fashion. Now, I wanted to create one song per month and publish it on Spotify—not to seek praise from others, but to leave a clear trace for myself.
The first song I worked on was one I had written for my father’s funeral, which I reworked into a softer style. I called it “November Song” since that’s when I got the test results. It’s an instrumental inspired by the mountains and the sense of freedom my father felt in nature—something I wanted to carry forward.
The next song was created from late November leading up to the surgery in December. This was also an instrumental, naturally titled “Waiting December.”
Throughout December, I felt immense gratitude, especially toward my beloved, who encouraged me to get tested in early November, supported me through the entire process, and was my rock when I was at my weakest, both physically and mentally. I had long been working on a song to thank her for who she is, but now it gained even more layers and emotions, resulting in “You Mean the World to Me.”
During my sick leave, I had plenty of time to reflect, ponder, and polish lyrics, even though I couldn’t play until January. One song title I had been working on for years was “Daddy’s Girl.” After many years in primary school and encounters with various people and life stories, I wanted to write a song for those who carry “secrets” and never ask for help during vulnerable childhood or teenage years. This became my “January song.”
Along the way, I had many philosophical moments and discussions, and more ideas emerged. From the turn of the year, I felt a growing need to be alone, and “Man on the Silent Mountain” was born. In the debates about extroverted and introverted personality types, I simply wanted to express that people come in different forms, and that choosing not to follow societal norms often draws strange looks. I was also inspired—and irritated—by the media’s obsession with exposing even the most private moments in various entertainment shows. Around this time, I also gathered the courage to work with vocals, realizing I might as well just go for it…
It’s inevitable to become philosophical and reflect on life when facing trials and major challenges—and so it was for me. “Journey of Life” came naturally as I truly felt that life is not eternal, and growing old is not a given. People around you pass away, and you see sorrow and joy go hand in hand. The song was an attempt to capture that.
By March, as I was feeling better, I felt the need to focus on something more positive. This led to the instrumental “Slightly Optimistic.” It reflected the realization that things might actually turn out okay, despite negative thoughts and a major surgery.
When April arrived with brighter days, I found myself “playing” more in the studio with lighter effects, resulting in “Aprilience,” which is simply about positivity and exploring harmonies I hadn’t worked with much before.
In spring 2024, we saw the “Team Pølsa” series on TV—starring six young people with greater physical challenges than most. Yet they showed a drive and will to live that most of us can only dream of. From this, I wrote the song “Real Heroes,” a tribute to these brave youths. I know they’ve heard the song since, and it feels good to know I gave them a cheer, even if it’s small compared to the challenges they face.
In May, I felt compelled to write a song about what I consider to be reckless world leaders—especially with one in mind. This called for a more aggressive approach, so it became a riff-based rock song. Ruthless decisions with no regard for the future ended up in the song “After the Storm.”
My heart’s passion since I was quite young has been to ensure that people who choose to live in rural areas have good living conditions, equal to those who live in the cities. We need lights in all the houses, and we need the diversity that rural life brings. In connection with the Norwegian parliamentary election in 2025, I imagined someone who had to choose between city and countryside, and the thoughts this person might have. This year, I also saw Are Kalvø’s performance “Berre bønder lengtar heim” — not only as entertainment, but also as a source of reflection and influence on black-and-white thinking, especially regarding political choices and attitudes between urban and rural communities. His book is also very umusing. Thats why I wrote the song «Neon lights«
This is a song I wrote following a wave of media attention surrounding the widespread use and normalization of cocaine in society. The lyrics largely explore the emptiness and the descent from intoxication to withdrawal, and the loss of vitality that comes with addiction. The song is called ‘In the Shadow of the Flame‘ and it has been in the works for quite some time — but now it has finally taken shape and color.
It’s October 6th, and this one has been a long time coming!
My father built and crafted a cabin with his own hands in the late 2000s, but he never got to finish it completely, as he passed away far too early in 2011. In the spring of 2025, we dismantled the cabin as far as it had come, and rebuilt it in our garden—mostly as a tribute to him.
During this rebuilding process, I wrote the song «My fathers cabin», but only managed to finish it now. It was incredibly hard to complete, even though it’s been 14 years since he passed.
I hope he appreciates both the cabin and the song.
In the wake of «My Father’s Cabin», I got the idea for the song «True to Love« – about those who are condemned for making difficult but hard choices in life, choices that are absolutely necessary in order to stay true to themselves. The lyrics probably speak best for themselves.
After all the «ballads», I had a rock riff stuck in my head, and it turned into the song «Fire» — about having a burning desire to achieve something, even when the world around you doesn’t believe in you or offer support. If you just believe strongly enough in something — and work hard — you can accomplish the most incredible things. «Nothing is impossible – the impossible just takes a little longer.»
The news is full of world politics and games involving people’s lives. Crazy leaders using soldiers as pawns for power and money. Can’t they understand that weapons can’t be the solution to all challenges and problems in the world? The new song became ‘Guns can’t solve it all’ – which speaks for itself.
