Stefan Olsdal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefan Olsdal
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Olsdal performing with Placebo in 2022
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bo Stefan Alexander Olsdal |
| Born | 31 March 1974 Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Genres | Alternative rock, electronic |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | current: Elevator Lady Ltd, past: Universal Germany, EMI, Virgin Records, PIAS, Hut Records, Caroline Records |
| Associated acts | Placebo Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal Hotel Persona Hotel Persona DJs SPAM Lantalba Digital 21 |
Bo Stefan Alexander Olsdal, born on March 31, 1974, is a talented musician from Sweden and Luxembourg. He is most famous as the bassist and guitarist for the alternative rock band Placebo. Stefan also plays in the electronic band Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal and is involved with the dance music project Hotel Persona.
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About Stefan Olsdal
Stefan Olsdal was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. When he was young, his family moved to Luxembourg. He attended the American International School of Luxembourg. Interestingly, another future band member, Brian Molko, also went to the same school.
Stefan started playing music in his school's orchestra in 1987. After finishing high school in Sweden, he moved to London in 1993. There, he studied music at the Musicians Institute. In 2018, Stefan shared that he had applied to become a British citizen.
Music Production Work
Stefan Olsdal is not just a performer; he also works behind the scenes. He has produced, arranged, and mixed music for other artists. For example, in 2013, he mixed the EP "El Encanto" for the singer Lantana. He also produced two songs on that album.
In 2016, Stefan produced "La Chica Con Los Ojos Dorados." He also worked on the Fangoria album "Canciones Para Robots Romanticos." His band Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal released their first album, "Inside," that same year.
Stefan's Bands
Stefan Olsdal is known for his work in several music groups. Each band has a different style.
Placebo
Stefan met Brian Molko by chance in London in 1994. They decided to form a band together. At first, they called themselves Ashtray Heart. They wrote a few songs using toy instruments.
Later, they wanted to form a more serious band. Stefan invited his old schoolmate Robert Schultzberg to join as the drummer. This was the beginning of the band Placebo. Stefan and Brian Molko have written almost every Placebo song together. They also helped produce the album Black Market Music.
Hotel Persona
Hotel Persona started when Stefan Olsdal and David Amen began making dance music for parties. Javier Solo joined to sing songs in Spanish. Stefan sang the English versions.
Stefan and David also worked as DJs under the Hotel Persona name. They played music in cities like Milan, Paris, and London. They have also remixed songs for other bands, including Queens of the Stone Age and Placebo. Their first album, In the Clouds, was released in 2008. It featured many guest singers.
Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal
In 2012, Stefan Olsdal teamed up with Spanish electronic musician Digital 21 (Miguel Lopez Mora). They formed the group Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal. They both loved electronic and classical music. So, they decided to mix these two styles.
They often include a string quartet and other instruments in their electronic songs. This creates a unique and experimental sound. They first released an EP called "Rebellion EP." Then, they released two albums: "Inside" in 2017 and "Complex" in 2021. These albums featured many female singers.
In 2020, they started a different project called Made For Humans. They wanted to create songs that would help people relax and feel like they were traveling. They released their first album and an EP that year. A second album, "Made For Humans II," was released on November 17, 2023.
Stefan's Equipment
Stefan Olsdal uses many different instruments when he performs. For bass, he often uses a Gibson Thunderbird, Fender Jazz Bass, and Fender Bass VI. For guitar, he uses a Gibson Les Paul Custom and a Gretsch Anniversary.
He also plays keyboards, especially for acoustic performances. Sometimes, he even plays the xylophone! For his sound, he uses Ampeg amplifiers for bass and Marshall amplifiers for guitars. He also uses various effects pedals to change the sound of his instruments.
Stefan also sings backing vocals for Placebo. He sings lead and backing vocals for most Hotel Persona songs.
Production Work
- 2017: Inside by Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal: producer
- 2016: Sinestesia (bonus track) from the album Canciones Para Robots Románticos by Fangoria: producer
- 2015: La Chica de los Ojos Dorados (LP) by Lantalba: producer, musician and mixing
- 2013: El Encanto (EP) by Lantana: musician and mixer
- 2013: "La noche de los muertos vivientes" (single) by Lantana: producer, musician, mixing and mastering
- 2008: Into The Clouds by Hotel Persona: producer
- 2007: "Siempre – Hotel Persona" (remix) by Lantana: remixer
Remixes
- Lantana "Siempre" Hotel Persona Remix
- She Wants Revenge "I Want To Tear You Apart" Hotel Persona Remix
- Placebo "Infra-Red" Hotel Persona Remix
- Placebo "I Do" (Material Mix) Remix (Placebo – I Do (Material Mix) (Once More With Feeling (Singles 1996–2004) Mexican Limited Edition Album)
Images for kids
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Stefan Olsdal performing with Placebo in 2022
See also
In Spanish: Stefan Olsdal para niños
