Nils Økland is a Norwegian fiddle virtuoso, born on the 7th of January in 1961, who has made a name for himself as a bridge-builder between contemporary music and folk music. He is renowned as a Hardanger fiddle player and is the brother of fellow musician Torbjørn Økland.
Over the years, Økland has collaborated with several musical groups and ensembles, leaving an indelible mark in the industry. His musical journey started with the short-lived musical group Løver og Tigre in 1983, and he has since performed with Balkanensemblet from 1984 to 1995 and 2005 to the present day. Økland also paired up with jazz bassist Bjørnar Andresen to form a duo, and with Arvid Gangsø and Jorun Hafstad, he played in the trio Skinn og Bein.
In addition to his collaborations, Økland has many solo recordings under his belt, all of which have been critically acclaimed. He released his solo recording Blå harding in 1996, and Straum with organist and ethnomusicologist Sigbjørn Apeland, his brother Torbjørn Økland, Pål Thorstensen, and vocalist Åsne Valland Nordli in 2000. In 2004, he released Bris, a collaboration with Sigbjørn Apeland, Mats Eilertsen, Per Oddvar Johansen, and Håkon Mørch Stene. Portions of this recording featured Økland’s music for Jon Fosse’s play Melankolika, which is based on the tragic life of the artist Lars Hertervig (1830-1902).
Økland’s musical prowess extends beyond his solo and collaborative work. He served as a conductor at the Ole Bull Academy for six years, where he organized Concerts Norway, an initiative aimed at regularly performing quality music throughout Norway on a very intensive schedule. He has also worked on several recordings with jazz musician Christian Wallumrød’s ensemble and recorded for the trio BNB with Berit Opheim and Bjørn Kjellemyr. Moreover, he has played on CDs issued by Benedicte Maurseth, Knut Hamre, Kari Bremnes, Alf Cranner, Karoline Krüger, and Hans Fredrik Jacobsen.
Nils Økland has written music for London Sinfonietta, films, ballet, and theater, and has played with various big orchestras. He has also featured on albums with Christian Wallumrød, Arve Henriksen, Åsne Valland Norli, and Bjørnar Andreas. His band, the Nils Økland Band, won the jazz album of the year by Aftenposten with their recording “Kjølvatn” (ECM, 2015), and the album won a Folkelarm award. Their latest album, “Lysning” (Hubro, 2017), won the top Norwegian music award, solidifying Økland’s position as a musical icon.
In terms of collaborations, Nils Økland has participated in several projects with a diverse group of musicians. Among his earliest collaborations is the album “Nils Økland/Bjørnar Andresen,” which was released in 1986 under the Hot Club label. He also played with Skinn og Bein, a trio that included Arvid Gangsø and Jorun Hafstad, and released “Knaus,” a contemporary rock album, in 1989 under Hot Club.
In 2009 and 2017, Økland collaborated with Sigbjørn Apeland and Øyvind Skarbø on the albums “1982” and “Chromola,” respectively. He worked with Knut Hamre, Benedicte Maurseth, Philippe Pierlot, and Elisabeth Seitz in 2012 on “Anima” under Heilo Music, while “Neve,” a 2014 album under Duippidit, featured Georg Buljo.
Økland was also part of Lumen Drones, which released their self-titled album under ECM in 2014, and Linus, a group that released “Felt Like Old Folk” in 2016 under Smeraldina-Rima, featuring Niels Van Heertum. These collaborations showcase the versatility and adaptability of Økland’s musical abilities, cementing his reputation as a bridge builder between different musical genres.
”Glødetrådar”, released in 2021, is the commissioned work for Vossajazz 2016. The album marked a significant return to the roots of the renowned musician, Nils Økland. The Voss region played a pivotal role in the development of his musical style, with Økland spending his formative years as a student in the 80s and later serving as the musical director at Ole Bull Akademiet from 1989 to 1995. The academy had a profound impact on his music, inspiring a distinctive style that blends jazz, free improvisation, contemporary, and folk music.
“Glødetrådar” is a testament to Økland’s unique musical style, characterized by simple melodies and an honest, heartfelt tone that touches the soul. The music is exceptionally dynamic, shifting from calm and meditative to a rock-inspired sound with the distortion turned up to the max.
Despite the album’s highly-anticipated release, it took a while for the recording and production process to come to fruition. According to Økland, “I used all my energy to make a work that would hopefully make a good concert. I needed a long process before I was ready to work with the transition to an album, a totally different format.”
The album features a remarkable musical interaction, highlighting the seamless compromises made between performers with strong individual voices. The music is primarily sketch-based and played without notation, meaning that it has been developed through impulses from the musicians and inspiration from how Økland knows them. As Økland explains, “I like to work with people over a long time, so we can get to know each other musically. I’m not necessarily interested in the musicians’ instruments, but their personalities. The most important thing is that we communicate well with each other.”
The band on “Glødetrådar” comprised a group of musicians who have individually collaborated with Økland for a long time, although not all of them had played together before this project. The musicians featured on the album include Per Steinar Lie and Ørjan Haaland from Lumen Drones; Sigbjørn Apeland, Håkon Mørch Stene, Mats Eilertsen, and Rolf-Erik Nystrøm from the Nils Økland band; and Økland’s brother, Torbjørn Økland, with whom he has played music since their childhood.
The lineup on ”Glødetrådar” includes Nils Økland on Hardanger fiddle and viola d’amore; Rolf-Erik Nystrøm on saxophones; Torbjørn Erik Økland on trumpet and mandolin; Per Steinar Lie on electric guitar; Sigbjørn Apeland on harmonium, Fender Rhodes and prepared piano; Mats Eilertsen on double bass; Ørjan Haaland on drums; Håkon Mørch Stene on percussion and vibraphone; and Økland, Nystrøm, Økland, Lie, Apeland, Eilertsen, Haaland, Mørch-Stene and Meland on vocals.
(headline image: Nils Økland – Photo by Frederic Boudin)
Discography
Blå Harding (Morild, 1996)
Straum (Rune Grammofon, 2000)
Bris (Rune Grammofon, 2004)
Monograph (ECM, 2009)
Kjølvatn (ECM, 2015)
Lysning (Hubro, 2017)
Glødetrådar (Hubro, 2021)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.