article
in Tønsberg Blad, Saturday March 12. 1994
| Translated by Dag Sirnes: Greeted with a great applause Tønsberg: Nearly 150 people showed up when Silje Nergaard visited Tønsberg cinema's new intimate stage on Thursday night. With a great applause from a rather adult audience, she was welcomed to Tønsberg for the fifth time. She's not just good at singing, this girl. She composes and writes most of the music herself, just like the role model Joni Mitchell. By: Sonja Evang The concert consisted mainly of material from her latest release, ''Cow On The Highway'', and she was proved once and for all that she is an outstanding singer. Her music is a mix of pop, jazz and country, according to herself. The lyrics often deal with love, friendship and everyday things. Together with his very talented musical friends; Audun Erlien (bass), Andes Engen (drums) and Nils E. Vinjor (guitar), she performed a great concert. In one moment they struck with catchy rhythms, and then in the next to perform soft, lyrical ballads. With her distinctive voice, Silje offered many musical features, which not many do after her. And in the hall sat his girlfriend, TV2 celebrity Gerhard Helskog, with a satisfied smile on his face. Silje has recently spent time in Munich, where she has made a music video for the song "Break all the rules", and now she is ready for concerts in her home country. ''Music has always been a natural part of me. I come from a very musical family. My father is an avid guitar player - for me he was for a long time 'the best in the world'. During school time in Hamar, I used to dream away completely, and as soon as I got the chance, I went home to compose and play the piano. When I finished high school I went to Oslo, where I was going to study, but I quickly realized that it was not for me. Then I found Nils (the guitarist in the band), and started a band. The jobs came eventually. The beginning of my record career came when I met the jazz musician Pat Metheny, who recommended me an English producer named Richard Niles. Niles invested heavily and started his own company called Life Time Records, when we did not get a contract in other companies. We finally got radio play, and other major record companies expressed their interest, and we obtained distribution agreements. Then the ball began to roll. I got a good response in Japan, England and Scandinavia with "Tell me where you're going". "Do you feel like you're the same girl you were before you broke through?" ''I feel like I've never had a reason to lose ground, I'm not that famous. There was a time when I was afraid that people would recognize me everywhere, so that I could not even take a trip to Tøyenbadet [swimming pool] without being stared at, but that has not happened.'' She does not make a fortune in her profession either. "I earn so I can manage, and I get the most money for what I compose." Photo: Silje delivered a good concert at Tønsberg cinema on Thursday. (Photo: Per Moe) |