A kaleidoscope is an optical toy that creates varying patterns and symmetries using mirrors. There is also a band from Telemark. – We would like our music to be colorful and varied.
/ 14/06/2019 / Kristian DugstadA kaleidoscope is an optical toy that creates varying patterns and symmetries using mirrors. There is also a band from Telemark. – We would like our music to be colorful and varied.
Photo above: Simen Omland
Name: Audun Rørmark, Marie Skaadel, Sol Strøm, Martin Iversen, Cornelius Odegard Risberg, Jon Espelid and Anders Dønnestad.
Age: Everyone is turning or has turned 20 this year.
Current with: "On the Low"
TONO member since: Some since 2013, most 2018.
Who is Kaléidoscope and how does the name fit the music?
We are a band consisting of seven people from around Telemark. We are different both musically and personally, which makes our music a mix of everything possible. The name Kaléidoscope is more or less random, but we would like our music to be colorful and varied. It can be compared to a kaleidoscope.
What are their musical backgrounds?
We all went to the same class on the music course at Skien upper secondary school, and have experience from cultural school, choirs and various TV productions. Four of us also went to the jazz course at Sund Folkehøgskole together for a year. Otherwise, we have a background in pop, jazz, rock, folk music and classical, in different contexts and on different instruments.
How do different styles affect the soundscape?
We all have different references and sources of inspiration. When we come together to make music and play together, it shows that.
You started as a youth enterprise (a business program and elective in high school). How is that connected?
In high school we wanted to start a youth business together, but we always wanted to create something that could last after we finished our studies. We have long enjoyed playing together, so when we were going to start a youth business, it was natural for us to form a band.
How do you write music, do all seven of you work together or separately?
It varies. Sometimes one person has an idea, then we meet and develop it further together. Other times one of us may already have a finished song. We write a little here and there, but the arrangements are usually completed together.
Does being such a big band present challenges, practical and artistic?
Yes, especially practical ones. We sometimes have video meetings, which are sometimes not very productive. Since we don't see each other every day anymore, there is just as much catching up as meeting activities. In the artistic area, we are surprisingly well-coordinated and have not encountered any particular challenges so far.
Tell us about your latest single "On The Low"?
The song is based on an idea by Audun and Cornelius, where Audun and Sol have created the lyrics and melody. The song is about unhealthy love. We recorded it in the summer of 2018 at Propeller Music Division together with producer Herman Hassel. It was later mixed by Mike Hartung and mastered by Propeller Mastring.
What are you working on now? What does 2019 bring for you?
This summer we will be playing a couple of festivals. At the same time we are preparing an upcoming EP release, which will be very exciting!
What is your career highlight so far?
When we had our self-arranged debut concert at Parkbiografen in Skien.
Is there anything we should have asked you about?
When is your EP coming out?
And what is the answer to that question?
It will be released sometime in the fall, and in the meantime, a new single will be released.
