Multi-Tasking Master
One day while I was bored, I came across a funny video by theDOMINICshow on Youtube titled “Things You Can’t Do By Yourself”
Some of the sketches in the montage are: playing baseball, using Facebook with no friends, playing tag, and being in a band. While the video was hilarious and I agreed with everything on his list, he’s flat out wrong about the band part. Just ask Jarle Bernhoft. Not only is he a one-man band but he’s also a one-man producer and engineer for said band. He’ll have you questioning the traditional band format faster than guests can Guess The Sex on an episode of Maury Povich.
If you’ve never heard of him before, he is a one-person act with an amazing ability to recreate a full band sound with a couple of guitars, a piano, two mics, and a loop pedal. It’s quite impressive to watch. You’ll either be really inspired or really depressed. In my case it was both. The amount of talent he possesses is remarkable. How can I explain this? Picture Prince as a Norwegian and minus the costume-y clothes (work with me here) performing live by himself while playing every instrument in the song. If that sounds crazy, that’s because it is.
Each performance starts out the same. The first part is the build up. In this phase he creates the track right before your eyes (and ears). He will either flip his guitar over and slap out a percussive beat or he may beat box, clap, and snap his fingers. Sometimes it’s all of the above. While this is being looped he’ll record a couple of guitar melodies. Next up may either be a piano progression, some vocal harmonies, or a baseline which he inventively plays with an 8-string guitar. At this point, the fully formed track is humming along and ready for him to take the lead vocal role and start singing the song. This whole time, mind you, he’s pressing his loop pedal with both feet, singing into the mics, switching an XLR cable into different guitars, and pulling a guitar pick out of his pocket. Just watching the spectacle is confusing. Let alone actually doing it! Let’s just say the difficulty factor is high but his margin for error is low.
Then there’s his voice. It’s so smooth yet has a wonderful texture. Simply, it makes you feel good. Bernhoft credits American culture in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Civil Rights Movement, and urban Detroit as major influences on his music. How and why a Norwegian fell in love with this period in American history is any one’s guess. It certainly affirms the way in which music, creativity, and emotion transcends culture. In my opinion, this referenced period was one of the greatest times for music in the last century.You can definitely feel it. His music: it’s very soulful, it’s funky, it’s edgy and sweet. His arrangements are so colorful they keep you guessing as to where the song and his performance will take you next.
After watching (and listening) Bernhoft perform live, it’s obvious a one-man band is possible. However, I can’t help but wonder why it’s not a common format in addition to the duo, trio, or 4 and 5 piece ensembles. When taking into account the logistics of a one-man band, it makes a lot of sense: no more dealing with egos or creative control, you get to keep all the money, you’re guaranteed a personal traveling bus (or at least you can stuff all your gear in the back seat and trunk of a car), and the biggest issue for all bands — the band breakup — is a non-issue. You’re the band. A band of one.
Written by Jamall Oluokun.
