Photo Raymond Mosken
Geir Sundstøl, born in 1969 in Halden, is a Norwegian guitarist who plays a variety of stringed instrument; marxophone, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, bouzouki, other stringed instruments, banjo and dobro, plus harmonica.
Photo Runa Cecilie Waterloo Hovstein
His music draws inspiration from jazz, blues, roots and country, but can be characterised most of all as original, eccentric and lovely. Sundstøl is an avid collector of instruments, and his home studio is full of rare and unusual finds. He plays most of the instruments on the record himself, but has also enjoyed the input of a few colleagues representing what can without exaggeration be called the upper echelon: keyboardist David Wallumrød (Bernhoft) and drummers Erland Dahlen and Michael Blair (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed). Dahlen and Sundstøl have played together in a number of contexts, including Nils Petter Molvær’s group and the band Morris.
He has been making music for a living since 1988 and he has contributed to recordings and concerts with Odd Nordstoga, Young Neils, deLillos, Di Derre and Hangnail. Mid-90s he toured with the American musician Jimmie Dale Gilmore in the United States after he was discovered by Gilmore under Down on the Farm Festival in 1993. He has left his unique musical mark on 260 records featuring everyone from a-ha to Nils Petter Molvær.
Custom made Shankar-guitar from India
Sundstøl has toured all over the world, and has been the most frequently played performer on Norwegian radio for several years. A concert he held with Jimmie Dale Gilmore in the USA in the 1990s gave film directors and brothers Joel and Ethan Coen the inspiration for Gaear Grimsrud, Peter Stormare’s character in the film “Fargo”.
with Erland Dahlen at Nasjonal jazzscene
“Furulund” is a collection of atmospheric, low-key and evocative instrumental pieces, recorded in analogue at Geir Sundstøl’s home studio, Studio Intim.
“Furulund” is the first record he is releasing under his own name, and is a long-awaited debut from an extremely popular musician.
Williams Pedal steel
Which was the first and the last record you bought with your own money?
First: Madness One step beyond
Last: Garbarek, Jarrett, Danielsson, Christensen Belonging
How's your musical routine practice?
I try to practice every day but that seldom happens.
Nils Petter Molvær – trumpet, Geir Sundstøl – Guitar, Jo Berger Myhre – bass, Erland Dahlen – drums
What's the relevance of technique in music, in your opinion?
Hard to answer. I recently saw a quartet (two piano players and two percussion players) perform a Béla Bartók-piece. Without their precision and skill, it would have sounded awful.
But, as Captain Beefheart said:
IF YOU'RE GUILTY OF THINKING, YOU'RE OUT If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore.
Tell me one impossible project do you like to realize?
I’d like to make a record with Harry Partch’s original instruments.
Photo Jørgen Nordby
What are the challenges and benefits of today's digital music scene?
We don’t make any money, but we can reach people all over the world in an instant.
How do you feel listening to your own music?
I don’t.
What special or extrange techniques do you use?
I sometimes slide downwards, instead of upwards :)
If i make a mistake, i repeat it.
Which is the main pleasure of the strings? What are their main limitation?
You can bend them and there are no limitations.
Can you describe a sound experience that you believe contributed to your becoming a musician?
Hearing Wilco Johnson in 1987.
What quality do you most empatize with in a musician
I like it when the musicians i work with don’t question what they do.
Geir Sundstøl’s home studio, Studio Intim
Which living or dead artist would you like to collaborate with?
The late Harry Partch.
What instruments and tools do you use?
I use a Williams Pedal steel and a bottle neck.
Also
1937 National Duolian
2005 National lefty baritone Tricone
1974 12-string Dobro
1997 National lefty Duolian
This is my signal Chain
Williams pedal steel - Hilton volume pedal
Red Panda particle pedal
Pedalboard with Electro Harmonix and strymon stuff - split signal -
Red Panda particle pedal
Pedalboard with Electro Harmonix and strymon stuff - split signal -
Fender Twin and Leslie cabinet w Fender Deluxe top.
I also use the Moog MiniTaur with McMillan footpedals.
In my weird Stuff
A 1930's Guitar-O-lin
A custom made Shankar-guitar from India
One Maccaferri G30 plastic guitar.
and a Marxophone
What projects are you working on now and what does the future hold?
I’m recording my second album, as we speak. My first album, Furulund (Hubro music) was released last year.
I have been a sideman for 25 years. Now it’s time to make my own music.
Selected Discography
Solo
Furulund (2015)
Photos: Jørgen Nordby, Raymond Mosken, Gernot Gleiss, Johannes Andersen,Vidar Pettersen
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