Hey! With a musical journey that spans over five decades, could you share how you both started making music together and what initially drew you to each other both musically and personally?
A: They fell in love at a local dance and early in the relationship Bjørn asked Liv if she did sing. She said yes, she sang along 60’s records when she came home from school. Liv got pregnant with their first child Mona when she was 19, and they married before Mona was born in 1969.
Your repertoire includes a diverse range of songs from the 60s through to the 90s, both Norwegian and English. How do you decide which songs to cover, and what makes a song stand out to you as a good fit for your style?
A: We choose a song if the melody, rythme and lyrics suits us.
Can you walk us through your creative process for reimagining classics like Sting’s ‘Fields of Gold’ and Johnny Cash’s hits into your unique ‘easy listening’ style?
A: Liv got suggested to listen to Eve Cassidy’s version of Stings song Fields of gold, she really liked this song and it suited her voice. Bjørn has always been drawn to Johnny Cash as an artist. He makes the songs fit his style and his voice. They collaborate often with other musicians who makes a considerable contributions to the productions. On the album “Minner” we have Dagfinn Hjort Hovin on guitar also Dag Yri as the producer makes the tracks fall together nice.
The album ‘Minner’ translates to ‘Memories’ in English. Could you share the inspiration behind this title and how it reflects the content of the album?
A: Its our memories about our time in dance bands in our youth, we also cover many of the sames songs on the album as we did in our youth, like “That’ll be the day” and others.
Being deeply rooted in Eidsvoll, Norway, how has your local community influenced your music and career over the years?
A: In the 1960s, Eidsvoll became a meeting point for young people’s music, with the main emphasis on guitar music. Søndre Samfund had all relevant groups visit and The Sunbeams from Eidsvoll made a breakthrough in Scandinavia. Bjørn played in the group The Spotlights.
Appearing on Norway’s Got Talent in 2017 must have been a significant moment. How has that experience impacted your musical career?
A: We have received an encouraging feedback. It was an exiting experience and it encouraged us to keep playing.
How has the reception to your unique interpretations of well-known classics influenced your approach to music?
A: We usually receive good feedback when we play our music at gatherings and so forth, also musicians enjoy to collaborate on the material we choose.
Celebrating over 50 years of marriage and musical collaboration is no small feat. What would you say is the secret to maintaining both a successful relationship and musical partnership?
A: Patience and mutual respect on firm ground.
After ‘Minner’, do you have any plans for future projects or albums? Are there any new directions or musical styles you’re eager to explore?
A: We will soon be releasing our version of Johnny B Good, Roll over Beethoven and our Norwegian song Tough Bill. We have no plans beyond this, we are closing in on 80 years old so maybe it’s the age?
With such a rich career in music, what advice would you offer to aspiring musicians looking to carve out a lasting legacy in the industry?
A: Be true to yourself and let the music reflect your true self.
