“Sweet Dreams” @ The Voice – Blind Audition reaches over 100.000 views on the net in 3 www.eeks!! Please accept a free mp3 download of the song in return. Recorded and mixed at Odden Studio, with good mate and studio wiz Sven Andréen. Please go here to pick up your mp3. Thanks for watching :)

“Invisible Kings” is a song I wrote after hiking up Kilimanjaro. Some notes to self about the reasons for doing so, a reminder of the undiscovered and to go see it! It was originally written as an intro for “Dragon On a Plane”.

The title “Invisible Kings” is a tribute to those brave and dedicated Arusha locals that make sure people like you and me make it to the top. Twice a month!! Respect..

“Invisible Kings”

Walk with me up to the top
we need to make a move before the Sun wakes up
Palace of stone
Invisible kings
drinking to the view from a paper cup

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Some thoughts on The Voice …

The Netherlands TV success The Voice has just reached Norway and TV2, produced by the wonderful people @ Nordisk Film TV. And with it comes a brand new opportunity, changing my view of this kind of commerciality/music mash-up scene. A chance to reach a bigger audience with my music and/or my approach to it, started to reveal itself as the concept of The Voice was presented to me in detail and as my scepticism settled down a bit. One major detail being that one of my (very few) idols Magne Furuholmen (from A-Ha) would be a part of the very talented mentor panel. Along side Sondre Lerche, Hanne Sørvaag and Yosef Wolde-Mariam from Madcon. Well, that’s definitely a step in the right direction for both this type of tv show and any musician looking for a helping hand! That, and the feeling that more than one of us will be going to a brighter future after, as well as during this season. The talent on this show is amazing! And the people behind it are genuine. I am so proud to be a part of #teammagne and #teamvoice in general. I do my best not to think about The Voice as a competition.. but in the sense that it is.. these guys definitely are.

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I realise that some of you have been listening to my music for a while now already. More and more of you have revealed yourselves since my Blind Audition hit the tube Friday 9th of March, too. Many more than I knew of! I’m overwhelmed, actually. Bringing up favourite songs and vids from the past and sharing links with new listeners. I love the way you interact, and how any feedback on here (the net) and at gigs has always inspired me to keep on making music and seeing a bright future ahead. I LOVE YOU. You make me feel like I’ve meant something musically in your lives and you have no idea how much impact your loyalty has had on me. The reception from new listeners has been utterly amazing also. Thank you all so much!! Without your ears and souls I would never have had the guts to enter something like The Voice and put what I stand for “on the line” like this. So … in some weird anatomic way it’s all your fault if this goes down the drain I guess, and I’ll have that to fall back on at least! (I joke..)

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“Where I’ve been …”

Over the years I’ve gone to a few more gigs than I’ve played. I’m ready to turn that around (+ I’ve started feeling older at other peoples concerts..)! After years of trying to book as many gigs in as many places as my heart desires.. what I’ve mainly discovered is a money/risk ratio and how many cool independent bands that are out there (already getting booked)! And a lot of work obviously! Getting booking agencies to show up at the occasional gig to consider one’s future, can be a drag.. anyone that starts out there knows that.. especially when they don’t show up. In my case when they finally did, I was told to tour alone rather than with my live band that I’d just spent the last 2 years writing for and rehearsing with. The band sounds great by the way! The agency was referring to economy and a major lack of broader exposure. And they were right. After 729.000 households watched my Blind Audition @ The Voice many people have responded with “Where have you been?”, whilst a couple have said “This guy is Norwegian? I had no idea!” … Lovin it! Anyway.. To put it lightly, I didn’t respond well to the choice(s) once given to me by the booking agency. I’d never even played a whole gig solo before and didn’t have the confidence required to book a tour that way. Needless to say this decision didn’t exactly pay the bills, so I decided to make an optional choice;

- Go to Africa. Walk up Kilimanjaro. Have a think.

-Check!

When I saw her there, the World’s highest free standing mountain, I knew I’d feel a lot more comfortable entering the stage alone by the time I got back down. Plus see more opportunities than obstacles in the future. Since returning I’ve done several solo performances and been busy writing songs for my third album Green Means Walk, Red Means Run. Amongst other things to finally feel ready to say “Hello”!

My main goal for entering The Voice is to work with Magne Furuholmen in some inspiring shape or manner. So far so good! Also, to be introduced to the right producer and to record and release my third album on a larger scale than previously. And of course to reach as many of you out there as possible with the few music-minutes given on The Voice’s stage, keeping my dignity and being able to meet you with a straight face when I hopefully get to go out there and tour both solo and with my live band!

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Whether you read all this or not, here are the important bits;
I love you and you really are brilliant.
Thank you!

Take (and give) care,
Shaun
xxxx

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Maybe Big Bang was a heart attack
and the Universe is an old man
whose soul is the sky that we painted black

Maybe mornings will always break just to fix us
An offering left shimmering for the Gods
that are you and I

…

Odden Studio

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In the summer of 2005 I went to Larsville, Stugudalen to record my debut album Sometimes Divided. Recording time was 5 weeks in total. The first 2 were spent recording already written material with the band. Good times were had! The next 3 were set to write and record songs for the rest of the album by my lonesome.

After the band left it went pretty quiet pretty quick. The second before that first idea fills the emptiness with sound is just as exciting each time, and one of many reasons why I’m so in love with music. In this case that sound turned into the song Feathers In Rain.

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I had a little creative spur in the night and took it out on some paper and pencils in front of my camera. The thought that kept me up was – describe a word in 10 seconds without using words. I thought I’d give “sensitive” a go. You might want to watch it a couple of times to see what’s going on behind the layer of unfortunate video quality (sorry). Anyways, it was fun to move stuff around again! Hope you enjoy it too..

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Dragon on a Plane

You see through me and it could be comforting
if it wasn’t from the bullets that you once threw me
Our days are of déjà vu
We’ll know what to do too late to mention
Patience, where have you been?
You took ages

Fascinations will come and take over for your concerns
Any hesitations stand in the way of your big return
Under a crescent moon there’s a dragon on a plane leaving soon

Senses, they are senseless
in this void that is our abyss
where our lines run parallel, but out of reach
so we save ourselves
I’m gonna make it to the surface
Up to the surface
I’m gonna make it to the surface
Do I deserve this?

Fascinations will come and take over for your concerns
Any hesitations stand in the way of your big return
Under a crescent moon there’s a dragon on a plane

I’m a dreamer because of what I know
Now give me what’s mine
For all I ever planned what do I have to show
Now give me what’s mine

…. FREE DOWNLOAD HERE ALSO!

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