Being a fan of singer-songwriter/ one-man band Jarle Bernhoft is pretty much a no-brainer. It isn’t too difficult to see why this Norwegian-born musician has found mainstream acclaim in quite a short span of time.
Born on June 27, 1976, Bernhoft became popular back in Norway being part of two now-defunct bands- Explicit Lyrics and Span. After the respective break-ups, he decided to go solo, and as they say, he has not looked back ever since.
One of the most endearing qualities about his performances is that he prefers his slows to be confined to within a smaller, more personal space between him and the audience. Unlike some other musicians and performers, Bernhoft has this uncanny ability to connect with his audience by making them sing-along to infectious hooks and melodies- so even if you don’t know the words to his song, you’ll still be singing along!
This is a typical stage set with Bernhoft: two acoustic guitars (one of which has an extra bass-string tuning), a keyboard, standard delays and effects board, and two microphones (one for his main vocal and one for back-up vocals).
Unlike most artists who play solo gigs, Bernhoft is literally a one-man band. He “records” all the parts of a song live via his delay and effects board- rhythm, main vocals, back-up, bass, beats throughout the beginning of the performance for each song, so much so that the song becomes “complete” by the time the first chorus comes in, identical to the tracks on his album.
“C’mon talk” is one of his more popular videos on Youtube. Check it out
Bernhoft performed a hour long set at the Union Chapel in London on October 15 last month, and as we were singing along with him, I couldn’t help but notice the choice of his venue: a church. Which is amazing, as the acoustics and lighting were top-notch and superb. You could literally hear him without a microphone.
But I was quite curious about Union Chapel, so I did some research.
The church (http://www.unionchapel.org.uk) describes itself as “a working church, an award winning venue and a centre for those homeless and in crisis in London.” It doubles as a place of worship and a place for gigs and events, and even has a bar for drinks!
Personally I like the idea. Its approach is inviting, allows people to utilise its space and is non-discriminatory. I think many of places of worships throughout the world, mosques, gurdwaras, temples and churches should do more to appeal to not just those their target audience of “believers” but also those who do not profess similar faiths. Better understanding leads to better relationships between peoples, and I think by making places of worship more accessible is a good way to start.
Shazwan M Kamal
soularone 