Espen Sommer Eide

Where are you now?

I am currently in Oslo, Norway.


Where would you be?

I would like to be nowhere else. But of course being able to work unhindered would be a dream. And to be more able to help out my family in Tromsø would be great.


What have you been doing lately?

It so happened that I just moved to this city to work for the next half year with a very special stage performance collective called Verdensteatret (http://verdensteatret.com). Just in time for the lockdown... But I still try to keep busy preparing material for our (hopefully) premiere in September.


What are you hearing right now?

Just a lot of noise from the news.... but also the sizzling pan with some raindeer stew coming together!


Are you taking advantage of this containment period to make music?

It is hard to concentrate on creating anything right now. I find I have loads of time to learn new techniques and tools. I will contribute with a livestream field recording from outside my window, on Dawn Chorus Day 3rd May as part of the http://soundtent.org initiative.


How will the world be after all this?

I hope to wake up to a new beginning when the borders open up again, surveillance stops, the world decides to focus on climate crisis with the same urgency, and artists have finally learned to show more solidarity with each other! Maybe artists will make less airport oriented art? More collaborations! More depth and profundity! More laughter and lightness!


How can we support the music community?

This is a great time to buy music. Sofamusic.no even has a vinyl sale! (if it has ended I am sure there will be another soon, as the rumor is that people are in need of a lot of music in these times)


Five musical recommendations ?

Ok, since I feel like recommending Norwegian labels and artists I would pick:

Undulate by Niklas Adam on Sofa https://sofamusic.bandcamp.com/album/undulate
On The Silver Globe by Kim Myhr/Lasse Marhaug https://sofamusic.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-silver-globe

On hubro:
Mangelen min by Building Instrument https://buildinginstrument.bandcamp.com/album/mangelen-min
Chromola by 1982 https://1982hubro.bandcamp.com

Finally you can check out on Sacred Bones: Jenny Hval, The Practice of Love.


One book ?

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu


What will you do when you're out?

Make some outdoor pizza and invite all my friends!



Links:
https://sofamusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-waves
https://phonophani.bandcamp.com/album/animal-imagination