Musician, composer & visual artist
About
Biography
Jonas H. Sjøvaag is a multi-talented artist and musician, working with everything from musical improvisational structures, pop music, photography, linographic and other prints, carving, digital artwork and editing, composing, drumming and web developement, to combinations of these or something completely different.
While listing David Hockney, Uta Barth, Tom Waits, Jan Garbarek, Jan Johansson and Hiroshi Sugimoto as major sources of inspiration, Sjøvaag has a unique touch and mode of expression, both in his visual work, as well as in his compositions and lyrics.
Jonas was born in München on Nov. 03, 1978, started playing classical piano at age 5. He had his solo debut with Vestfold Youth Symphony Orchestra at age 11. He started playing drums at age 10, and switched main focus to jazz drums at age 17.
Visual expression through drawing, painting, photography or other outputs has always been a big part of Sjøvaag's daily routine. An autodidact in the field, countless hours has been spent digesting books of technique, perspective, color, anatomy and art philosophy.
Personal info & experience
Personal information
| Name | Birth date | Birthplace | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonas Howden Sjøvaag | 03/11 1978 | München, Germany | 0153, Oslo | Norway |
Education
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 to 2008 | Master, improvised music | Norges Musikkhøgskole |
| 2002 to 2006 | Bachelor, improvised music | Norges Musikkhøgskole |
| 2001 to 2002 | Network Administrator | IT Akademiet |
| 1999 to 2000 | UiO Blindern | |
| 1998 | Private | Compulsory military service |
| 1994 to 1997 | Artium | Sandefjord VGS (High School) |
Projects
| Year | Project name |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Eple Trio |
| 2009 | Karl Seglem Acoustic Quartet |
| 2008 | mattisogjonas |
| 2002 | Navyelectre |
Work
| Year | Position | Workplace |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Web + graphical designer | Supremeconnection.no |
| 2013 | CEO | Weblance AS |
| 2001 | Musician (Composer / founder / drummer / vocals) | Navyelectre |
Scholarships and grants
| Year | Title | Description | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/2013 | Arts Council Norway | Scholarship | Norsk Kulturråd |
| 01/2012 to 12/2012 | Arts Council Norway | Support of musical ensembles / Eple Trio | Norsk Kulturråd |
| 01/2011 | FFUK | Grant from Fund for performing artists (FFUK) | FFUK |
| 01/2009 to 12/2010 | Arts Council Norway | Scholarship for young artists | Norsk Kulturråd |
| 01/2006 | Marit Brændhs Stiftelse | Local scholarship for musical students |
Discography
Albums as band member
| Nineteen - single release, Jonas Sjøvaag, Shipwreckords | 2022 |
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| How do you know where we will go?, Jonas Sjøvaag | 2022 |
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| Sunday Songs, Jonas Sjøvaag | 2021 |
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| Turmusikk, Jonas Sjøvaag, Shipwreckords | 2021 |
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| Ghosts, Eple Trio | 2020 |
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| Commuter Music, Jonas Sjøvaag, Shipwreckords | 2020 |
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| Alien Horticultures, Shipwreckords | 2019 |
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| I See Grief, Shipwreckords | 2019 |
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| West Wind Drift, West Wind Drift, Shipwreckords | 2017 |
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| Skyer over byen, Jonas Sjøvaag, Shipwreckords | 2017 |
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| 5, Eple Trio | 2017 |
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| Nordic Balm, Karl Seglem Acoustic Quartet | 2016 |
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| Nærmere enn nå / Single / SHPWRK015, Jonas Sjøvaag, Shipwreckords | 2016 |
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| To planeter i samme bane, single - Jonas Sjøvaag - SHPWRK012, Jonas Sjøvaag, Shipwreckords | 2016 |
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| Ancient Land, New Territory, Sjøvaag / Andersen duo, Shipwreckords | 2015 |
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| JazzBukkBox, Karl Seglem Acoustic Quartet | 2015 |
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| Large Ensemble, Shipwreckords, Navyelectre | 2015 |
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| Universal Cycle, Shipwreckords, Eple Trio | 2014 |
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| nyesongar.no, Karl Seglem Acoustic Quartet | 2013 |
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| The Mourning, Shipwreckords, Navyelectre | 2010 |
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| In the Future, Shipwreckords, mattisogjonas | 2010 |
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| In the Clearing / In the Cavern (2CD), Eple Trio | 2010 |
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| Norskjazz.no, Karl Seglem Acoustic Quartet | 2009 |
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| The Widening Sphere of Influence, Eple Trio | 2008 |
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| Made This, Eple Trio | 2007 |
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| 1, Navyelectre | 2003 |
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Albums as sideman
| Mattis & the Grand Trunk Road / Imperial Splendor, Shipwreckords | 2014 |
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| Ivar Grydeland - Bathymetric Modes | 2012 |
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| Koan / Thresholds, Shipwreckords | 2011 |
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| Huntsville | For Flowers, Cars and Merry Wars | 2011 |
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Compositions
| Cover | Title | Length | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
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Electre | 6:07 | Made This |
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House | 4:34 | Made This |
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Insabbiati | 6:15 | Made This |
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Silversmith | 4:20 | Made This |
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In the Middle of the Night | 6:12 | Made This |
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First Monday of October | 3:40 | The Widening Sphere of Influence |
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Blackwater | 5:02 | The Widening Sphere of Influence |
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Triplex | 5:18 | The Widening Sphere of Influence |
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And There You Were | In the Future | |
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Linear Light | In the Future | |
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These Are Images | In the Future | |
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Humanoid | In the Future | |
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In the Future | In the Future | |
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Four | In the Future | |
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End | In the Future | |
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Greatest Joy on Earth | 7:13 | In the Clearing / In the Cavern (2CD) |
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River Song II | 9:53 | In the Clearing / In the Cavern (2CD) |
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In the Clearing | 2:27 | In the Clearing / In the Cavern (2CD) |
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Birds of India | 11:28 | In the Clearing / In the Cavern (2CD) |
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In the Cavern | 6:29 | In the Clearing / In the Cavern (2CD) |
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The Mourning | 7:30 | The Mourning |
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When You Lean Back to Fight a War | 4:00 | The Mourning |
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Just Another Day | 3:59 | The Mourning |
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The Fuse is Lit and the Fire is On | 4:32 | The Mourning |
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Then Spring Exploded into Light | 5:16 | The Mourning |
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Don't Ever Think You'll Win | 3:34 | The Mourning |
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Up on Chrome Hill | 6:12 | The Mourning |
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Skullduggery | 7:26 | The Mourning |
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Coming Home | ||
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Setting Foot on Another Planet | Universal Cycle | |
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Island Sunrise | Universal Cycle | |
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In Our Home, Where We Live | Universal Cycle | |
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And Now, Many Days Have Passed | Universal Cycle | |
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Morning Stillness, Crisp Air | Universal Cycle | |
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On A Road That Never Ends | Universal Cycle | |
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Dordei | 5:32 | nyesongar.no |
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Etter Snø (Odda) | 5:21 | nyesongar.no |
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Better Off Dead | Large Ensemble | |
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A Tear in My eye | Large Ensemble | |
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Voice Perfume | Large Ensemble | |
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Interview With a Hobo | Large Ensemble | |
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Dead Mans Glory | Large Ensemble | |
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Slipping Through | Large Ensemble | |
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Johnny Always Stayed | Large Ensemble | |
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Seed | Large Ensemble | |
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This is Love | Large Ensemble | |
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Camera Roll | Large Ensemble | |
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Never | 1 | |
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Marvellous Day | 1 | |
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Julian | 1 | |
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Love Letter | 1 | |
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Of All That is Gone | 1 | |
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Papertowel Moon | 1 | |
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Behind | 1 | |
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Everybody Sing | 1 | |
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Lullaby | 1 | |
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Wedding Song | 1 | |
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Moon is Up | 1 | |
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October '67 | 1 | |
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A Very Long night | 1 | |
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Lærad / Einherjedansen | 2:56 | JazzBukkBox |
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Live in Germany (K4) / Ventande | 4:16 | JazzBukkBox |
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Live in Germany (K4) / Veksande | 2:58 | JazzBukkBox |
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Live in Germany (K4) / Vandrande vågal | 6:19 | JazzBukkBox |
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Live in Germany (K4) / Vaktande | 3:39 | JazzBukkBox |
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Aurora | 5:50 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Sacred Rituals | 7:39 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Hidden Passage | 2:31 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Starwatcher | 3:40 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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For Life, Eternal | 3:18 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Atmosphere | 6:36 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Shadow Dance | 4:03 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Offering | 2:38 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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Nightfall | 3:44 | Ancient Land, New Territory |
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To planeter i samme bane | 4:17 | To planeter i samme bane, single - Jonas Sjøvaag - SHPWRK012 |
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Nærmere enn nå | 3:38 | Nærmere enn nå / Single / SHPWRK015 |
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Lys i Glaset | 4:53 | Nordic Balm |
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Helgheim | 4:57 | Nordic Balm |
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I See Grief | 6:38 | I See Grief |