Stefan Olsdal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefan Olsdal
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bo Stefan Alexander Olsdal |
| Born | 31 March 1974 Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Genres | Alternative rock, electronic music |
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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 |
Stefan Olsdal is a talented musician from Sweden. He was born on March 31, 1974. He is most famous as the bassist and guitarist for the rock band Placebo. Stefan also plays in an electronic music group called Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal. He has also worked on electronic dance music with his project Hotel Persona.
Contents
Stefan Olsdal's Life Story
Stefan Olsdal was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. When he was young, his family moved to Luxembourg. He went to the American International School of Luxembourg. Interestingly, another future band member, Brian Molko, also went to this school. However, they did not meet each other back then.
Stefan started playing music in his school 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 was applying to become a British citizen.
Working with Other Artists
Stefan Olsdal is not only a musician but also a producer. He helps other artists create their music.
- In 2013, he helped mix an album called "El Encanto" for a singer named Lantana. He also produced two songs on that album. He played instruments like synthesizers, bass, and guitars.
- In 2016, Stefan produced a song called 'La Chica Con Los Ojos Dorados'. He also produced an album for the band Fangoria.
- His own band, Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal, released their first album, "Inside," in 2016.
Placebo Band Journey
Stefan Olsdal met Brian Molko by chance in London in 1994. They were outside a train station. They decided to form a band together. At first, they called themselves Ashtray Heart. They played on toy instruments and wrote a few songs.
Soon, they wanted to be a more serious band. They invited Steve Hewitt to be their drummer. But Steve was already in another band. So, Stefan invited an old school friend, Robert Schultzberg, to join. Robert became Placebo's first drummer. Later, Steve Hewitt joined Placebo as the full-time drummer.
Stefan and Brian Molko have written almost all of Placebo's songs together. Stefan also helped produce some of Placebo's albums, like Black Market Music.
Hotel Persona Music Project
Hotel Persona started when Stefan Olsdal and his friend David Amen began making dance music for parties. They invited Javier Solo to sing songs in Spanish. Stefan sang the English versions.
Stefan and David also worked as DJs under the name Hotel Persona. They played music in cities like Milan, Paris, and London. They also created new versions of songs for other bands. These bands included Queens of the Stone Age and Placebo.
Their first album, In the Clouds, was recorded over two years. Many different singers helped on the album. These included Brian Molko from Placebo and Samantha Fox.
Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal
In 2012, Stefan Olsdal started a new project. He teamed up with Spanish electronic music artist Digital 21 (Miguel Lopez Mora). They called their group Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal.
Both Stefan and Digital 21 love electronic and classical music. They decided to mix these two styles. They often use a string quartet in their electronic songs. They also have string players at their concerts. 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). The "Complex" album was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On these albums, they featured many female singers.
The band has also created instrumental music. In 2020, they started a different project called Made For Humans. They wanted to make songs that help people relax and imagine traveling. They released their first album and an EP in 2020. A second album, "Made For Humans II," came out in November 2023.
Production Work
Stefan Olsdal has produced and mixed music for various artists:
- 2017: Inside by Digital 21 + Stefan Olsdal (producer)
- 2016: Sinestesia (bonus track) from Canciones Para Robots Románticos by Fangoria (producer)
- 2015: La Chica de los Ojos Dorados (LP) by Lantalba (producer, musician, mixer)
- 2013: El Encanto (EP) by Lantana (musician, mixer)
- 2013: "La noche de los muertos vivientes" (single) by Lantana (producer, musician, mixer, mastering)
- 2008: Into The Clouds by Hotel Persona (producer)
- 2007: "Siempre – Hotel Persona" (remix) by Lantana (remixer)
Stefan's Musical Instruments
Stefan Olsdal uses many different instruments. For bass, he often plays a Gibson Thunderbird or a Fender Jazz Bass. He also uses a Fender Bass VI. For guitar, he plays a Gibson Les Paul Custom and a Gretsch Anniversary.
When playing acoustic songs, he sometimes uses a Technics keyboard. He has also played a xylophone for some songs. For his sound, he uses Ampeg amplifiers for bass and Marshall amplifiers for guitars.
Stefan also uses many special effects pedals for his sound. These include pedals that create delay, fuzz, reverb, and other cool effects. He also sings backing vocals for Placebo and lead vocals for Hotel Persona.
See also
In Spanish: Stefan Olsdal para niños
