Sondre Lerche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sondre Lerche
Lerche performing in 2022
Born	Sondre Lerche Vaular (1982-09-05) 5 September 1982 (age 42) Bergen, Norway
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	2000–present
Spouse(s)	Mona Fastvold ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2013)​
Partner(s)	Linnéa Myhre (2013–2020) Hilde Solli (2023–present)
Musical career
Genres	Pop indie rock jazz
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonica bass glockenspiel keyboards piano percussion Hammond
Labels	EMI Norway Astralwerks Yep Roc Mona Records PLZ

Sondre Lerche (born September 5, 1982) is a talented singer, songwriter, musician, and actor from Norway. He has released many studio albums and EPs, showing off his unique musical style.

Sondre Lerche's Early Life and Music Beginnings

Sondre grew up in a suburb of Bergen, Norway. He loved 1980s pop music from a young age. Bands like the Beatles, A-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout really inspired him.

He started guitar lessons when he was eight. Classical lessons weren't quite right for him. His teacher then showed him Brazilian music, like bossa nova. This new style helped shape the complex melodies and chords in Sondre's music today.

When he was just fourteen, Sondre wrote his first song, called "Locust Girl." He even played acoustic shows at a club where his sister worked, even though he was still too young to be there. A Norwegian producer named H.P. Gundersen "discovered" Sondre. Gundersen became his mentor, introducing him to many different types of music, including psychedelia and 1960s pop.

Sondre Lerche's Music Career Journey

Sondre met with Tatiana Penzo, a manager from Oslo. This led to him signing a deal with Virgin Norway in 2000. His popularity in Norway grew steadily. In 2000, he recorded his first album, Faces Down.

Debut Album and Early Success

Faces Down was released in 2001, after Sondre finished school. Before its release, he was named Best New Act at the Norwegian Grammys (Spellemannprisen). He also performed locally, opening for bigger artists like Beth Orton.

The album officially came out in Norway in September 2001. It then slowly spread across Europe. Sondre toured with various acts, including his idols, a-ha, in Oslo. In autumn 2002, Faces Down was released in America. Sondre then went on his first big tour of the United States.

Faces Down was a hit in Norway and received great reviews in both Norway and the U.S. Rolling Stone Magazine even put it in their top 50 albums of 2002. The next year, he released a live/studio collection called Don't Be Shallow EP. In 2003, he toured with another one of his musical heroes, Elvis Costello. They even toured together again in 2005.

Lerche in 2004

Exploring New Sounds with Albums

In 2004, Sondre released his second album, Two Way Monologue. H.P. Gundersen also produced this album. It showed how Sondre could play many different styles. He created upbeat pop songs and also more calm, melodic tunes. The album was very well-received, getting good reviews from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.

On February 27, 2006, Duper Sessions was released. This was a jazz album. He recorded it in late 2005 with his band, the Faces Down, and pianist Erik Halvorsen. The album reached No. 21 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

His album from February 2007, Phantom Punch, was a rock album. It had a more energetic sound than his earlier work. Sondre and the Faces Down recorded and mixed this album in Los Angeles in 2006.

Later Albums and Musical Growth

In September 2009, Sondre released Heartbeat Radio. Critics loved it. The album mixed acoustic guitars with orchestral pop. It also had elements of 1950s Jazz, 1960s and 1970s Brazilian psych-folk, and 1980s pop. Mikael Wood from the Los Angeles Times praised Sondre's catchy songs.

Lerche in 2012

In June 2011, Sondre released his self-titled album, Sondre Lerche. He released it on his own Mona Records label. This album was praised for its musical experiments. It featured interesting arrangements and catchy songs. It also had some more thoughtful and personal tunes. Sondre recorded this album live in the studio in just three weeks.

Sondre celebrated his 30th birthday in 2012. He released his first live album, Bootlegs, that year.

He wrote and recorded Please after some personal changes in his life. This album was released on September 23, 2014. "Bad Law" was the main single from the album.

On March 3, 2017, Sondre released his eighth studio album, Pleasure. Later that year, on November 24, he released a simpler, solo version of the songs called Solo Pleasure.

In April 2022, Sondre Lerche released a double album titled Avatars of Love.

Sondre Lerche's Personal Life

In 2005, Sondre married director and actress Mona Fastvold. They later divorced in 2013. From 2013 to 2020, Sondre was in a relationship with writer and blogger Linnéa Myhre. As of 2023, his current partner is photographer Hilde Solli.

Sondre moved back to Norway in 2020. Before that, he lived in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York. He lived in Brooklyn from 2005 to 2018.

Sondre Lerche is the cousin of Norwegian rapper Lars Vaular. In 2012, they worked together on a song called "Øynene Lukket."

In 2015, Sondre discovered he loved running. Since then, he has completed several marathons. He has run marathons in New York, London, Berlin, and Norway. His best marathon time is 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 51 seconds, which he achieved in 2020.

Sondre Lerche's Albums (Discography)

• Faces Down (2001)
• Two Way Monologue (2004)
• Duper Sessions (2006)
• Phantom Punch (2007)
• Dan in Real Life (2007)
• Heartbeat Radio (2009)
• Sondre Lerche (2011)
• Please (2014)
• Pleasure (2017)
• Patience (2020)
• Avatars of Love (2022)

Sondre Lerche's Film and TV Appearances (Filmography)

Sondre Lerche's Awards and Recognition

• Newcomer Spellemannprisen (2001)
• Alternative Pop/Rock Album, Avatars of Love Spellemannprisen (2022)

See also

In Spanish: Sondre Lerche para niños