You can hear his music in a number of international series and films. Alexander Kristian Andresen has created a life and a career for himself in the USA, but the road from Sandefjord to LA has been full of twists and turns. How does one succeed in the land of the free?
/ 28/05/2021 / Kristian DugstadFor many young music creators, the American dream is alive and well. The United States is the promised land – a shining image – something almost unattainable.
In a scenic corner of the entertainment capital of the world lies The Hollywood Dell. A residential area in a small valley in the Hollywood Hills, the hill between the Capitol Records Tower and the Hollywood Sign.
And here, in the shadow of pop culture's foremost landmark, with Lake Hollywood in the backyard, lives Alexander Andresen. A Norwegian-Canadian from Sandefjord who works as a composer for the TV and film industry.
You can hear his music in series such as, Life Below Zero, American Idol, Shark Week og Catfish, the movie Take this waltz with Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, and the Norwegian crime drama The third eye.
He has created a life and a career for himself in the United States, but the road from Sandefjord to LA has been full of twists and turns. How does one succeed in the land of the free?
– It started with me leaving. When I decide on something, I do it. That's why it wasn't difficult to leave, Alexander says.
It seems obvious, but many dreamers probably don't even dare to take the first step. For Alexander, it was never a question. After high school, he packed up his saxophone and his dream of a career as a jazz musician and moved from Norway.
The road led to Canada, where he was born, and lived until he was seven. During his childhood, the family visited relatives in Norway and spent summer days on boat trips in Haugesund. Even then, Alexander showed great faith in his own sense of direction.
– They heard a splash and a voice saying “Bye guys”. Then I threw myself into the sea and started swimming in the opposite direction. I have never been one to find my own way.
And he believes that daring to throw oneself into deep water is the key. Figuratively, of course.
Alexander worked for several years as a freelance musician in Canada, and played with the Grammy-winning disco band A Taste of Honey, known for the Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit Boogie Oogie Oogie from 1978.
Jazz took a back seat during this period, but he wasn't ready to give up on his dream.
– I started studying saxophone at the jazz department in Toronto. But in my last year of college, my tastes changed 180 degrees and I became very interested in indie, bluegrass and roots music. The day after I finished my degree, I packed up my saxophone and got a guitar and banjo.
The story continues below the picture.
Alexander had had a passion for film music ever since the legendary science fiction film Back to the Future hit the big screen in 1985. After earning his jazz degree and closing the chapter, his love for film music flared up stronger than ever.
– When I bought my first iPhone, it came with a free episode of the series Being Erica. I was incredibly fascinated by the music. It played with acoustic guitar and string instruments within the indie landscape that I had just become so curious about. Then I wrote down the names of everyone who had worked on the music production in the series, and sent a bunch of emails.
It took a while, but after six months of silence he was asked to drop by. He hasn't looked back since.
– I ended up working on the next three seasons of Being Erica. I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
He worked in television during the day, and produced music with Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, who would become The Weeknd, in the evenings. Together they produced two top-liners for artists such as Chris Brown and Trey Songz. But Alexander had to leave Toronto to pursue his dream. Film music was waiting for him.
With knowledge from the famous Canadian film composers Trevor Yuile (Orphan Black) and Jonathan Goldsmith (Oscar nominee "Away With Her") in his luggage, he traveled to LA.
In Hollywood, Alexander signed with a production company. Since then, he has written music for motion pictures. But things have changed in recent years.
– The industry is changing. I write more and more for music libraries. A producer gives me some cues, and I write a series of pieces of music based on that to convey that mood. Then it's up to the person who edits the program to stitch it all together. It's a little nerve-wracking, but no less artistic – the task is still to support the dramaturgy.
In line with these changes in production, Alexander's daily work routine has also changed.
– When I first came to LA, everything was done in the studio with video playback. Now I work more and more from my studio here at home. I have a lot of composers in the neighborhood who do the same. Right up the street, people like Clint Mansell (“Black Swan”) and Michael Brook (“The Fighter”). One time I was celebrating Thanksgiving at Michael’s house, we found out that he got a job that I was also in the spotlight for. That film was Brooklyn which was nominated for an Oscar the following year.
Although Alexander has spent his entire professional career in Canada and the United States, he is a TONO member for territories outside of North America.
– I wondered for a long time whether it was a good idea to split my rights, but it has been very positive. Communication with TONO has always been efficient and good.
It's tempting to say that Alexander's life is like something out of a movie. That's not too far from the truth. On the journey from Sandefjord to LA, he has worked with Hans Zimmer, Tom "Junkie XL" Holkenborg and the artist Snow, as well as films with Olivia Newton-John and Nelly Furtado.
Today, he regularly receives visits from Norwegian songwriters at his home in The Hollywood Dell, where he has a small dormitory in the yard where they can live and study in a converted garage. It is, to put it mildly, a sought-after area for music creators.
– There's something magical about this place. Walking distance to Hollywood, but cougars and bobcats in the backyard. Things happen here that don't happen anywhere else. Just before the corona pandemic, I played with Sondre Lerche at a tribute concert to Joni Mitchell. Right next to the stage is Meryl Streep herself, digging. It's surreal.
So if you have a dream of America in your stomach, Alex has only one piece of advice.
– Travel as soon as possible. Don't wait until it's too late. Sure, it can be scary, but the best advice I ever received was what a good friend once told me:
"Sometimes you have to have ice in your stomach."