Drummer Artist Teacher Passionate Creative
This is me…
I’m a drummer, artist, and percussion teacher living on a peninsula in the Fjord of Oslo, Norway.
I picked up the drums when I was 12, with my first kit set up in an apartment in a Stockholm suburb. During a challenging time in my teens, drums became my refuge as I navigated life with Anorexia Nervosa.
I’ve always been a restless soul with a deep desire to learn. Over the years, I've explored various genres, from hard rock, pop, and blues to big band, Balkan-inspired music, orchestra, modern chamber music, and improvisation. In 1990, I moved to Norway to study classical percussion, pedagogy, and chamber music at the Music Conservatory in Oslo, now the Norwegian Academy of Music. Post-studies, I found myself as a “moving” percussionist in various dance projects and also worked as a graphic artist and painter. I later completed a Master’s degree in Music Therapy, which led me to establish Mindful Drumming.
Around 2011, I returned to the drum kit after a long hiatus, performing with various bands and attending master classes across Europe and the USA. I also delved into traditional hand drums and composition techniques from the Middle East.
When I play, my ultimate goal is to reach a state of freedom. My compositions lean more towards soundscapes than conventional songs, often starting from a feeling, a visual, or a groove that I develop until a melody emerges. I’m a blend of different cultures and techniques, bringing my unique voice to the drums—an instrument often viewed as powerful and masculine. After years of trying to "play like the guys," I realized I needed to play as myself—light, dynamic, and sensitive. My influences include musicians known for their lightness and innovation, as well as bold artists and dancers.
For me, being a musician is about embarking on an endless journey, where each challenge takes me one step deeper. My playing and compositions are the diary of that journey. I love being on stage, not for the limelight, but because it’s where I feel free to express everything that burns inside, without words. The stage is the one place where it’s okay to be completely myself, which is all I’ve ever wished for.
If you want to learn more about my approach to drumming, life, and teaching, I recommend checking out my conversation with Mark McGuinness on The 21st Century Creative podcast [here]. Or, visit my YouTube channel to see me in action.
When I play, I can say all that burns inside. It's simple without words. The scene is the arena where I feel it is ok to be myself, which is the only thing I've ever wished for.