Bjørn Tomren

“I guess you could call it something like dystopian sci-fi country that you can listen to when you’re hungover,” laughs singer-songwriter Bjørn Tomren when asked to describe his enigmatic sound. “I’ve heard it called ‘gothic Americana’ too, but it’s just what comes out really.” Call it what you want, but the world of Bjørn Tomren is one of depth and surprising left-turns. He could only really have arrived here via his love of taking the long way round. His earliest introduction to music came from his older brother, who would introduce him to the likes of AC/DC – and even teasingly threaten to hit a very young Bjørn if he couldn’t remember at least five Iron Maiden songs. After picking up his first guitar aged 14 and spending his teens writing songs and finding his voice, life then got in the way. It would be 15 years until he returned to the guitar, but would spend the interim time living life, learning truths, exploring, and finding plenty to write about. As we studying Psychology, Greek and Philosophy in Bergen, he worked at a mental hospital and undertook expeditions that saw him kayaked the length of Norway and Finland, as well as crossing the country on skis, holding the world record for most crossings of Norway.