Sondre Lerche

Sondre Lerche
Lerche performing in 2022
Born
Sondre Lerche Vaular

(1982-09-05) 5 September 1982
Bergen, Norway
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2000–present
WorksDiscography
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2013)​
Partner(s)Linnéa Myhre (2013–2020)
Hilde Solli (2023–present)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Labels
Signature
Websitesondrelerche.com

Sondre Lerche (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈsɔndrə ˈlærkə]; born 5 September 1982) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, musician and actor.

Early life

Growing up in a suburb of Bergen, Lerche was heavily influenced by 1980s pop.[1] He was fascinated by bands such as the Beatles, A-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, and began formal guitar instruction at the age of eight.[1] In addition to classical instruction, Lerche's teacher introduced him to Brazilian music, such as bossa nova, and thus formed the foundation of Lerche's array of complex melodies and chords. By the age of fourteen, he had already written some songs, such as "Locust Girl."[2] He performed in acoustic gigs at the club where his sister worked while he was still under age.[1] Norwegian producer H.P. Gundersen "discovered" Lerche, and began to mentor him, exposing him to diverse music genres, including psychedelia, 1960s pop, and mainstream Brazilian music.[1]

Career

Lerche met with Oslo-based manager Tatiana Penzo, leading up to a deal with Virgin Norway signed in 2000.[1] His popularity in his home country increased steadily, and, in 2000, he recorded his debut album, Faces Down.

Faces Down was released in 2001, after Lerche finished school.[1] In the interim, he was named Best New Act at the Norwegian Grammys (Spellemannprisen) and performed locally in support of major acts such as Beth Orton.[1] Faces Down was officially released in Norway in September 2001 and gradually throughout all of Europe. He toured with various acts, and appeared with his long-time idols, a-ha, in Oslo. Autumn 2002 saw the release of Faces Down in America and Lerche's first major tour of the United States.[3] Faces Down was a hit in Norway and received critical praise in Norway and the United States — Rolling Stone Magazine placed it in their top 50 albums of 2002. He released the live/studio collection Don't Be Shallow EP the following year.[1] In 2003, he toured with another one of his musical heroes, Elvis Costello (they toured together once again in 2005).

In 2004, his second album was released, Two Way Monologue, also produced by Gundersen. It was very well received, with positive reviews in Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.[4] Devon Powers of Popmatters praised Lerche's "contagious musical sensibilities, exhilarating vigor and downright stupefying songcraft," and noted that "Lerche manages to both push himself and maintain an allegiance to his ways – something artists twice his age have trouble doing."[5]

On 27 February 2006, Duper Sessions was released. The jazz album was recorded in the fall of 2005 with his band the Faces Down and pianist Erik Halvorsen at Duper Studios in Bergen. The album reached No. 21 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.[6]

His 2007 release was Phantom Punch. Lerche and the Faces Down recorded and mixed the album in Los Angeles in April and May 2006, with producer Tony Hoffer.[7]

In September 2009, Lerche released Heartbeat Radio, to critical acclaim. In his review, Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "No matter what genre he's working in – fuzzy garage rock, breezy vocal jazz, acoustic folk-pop – this young Norwegian singer-songwriter crafts catchier choruses than many musicians who’ve been working twice as long as he has."[8] Allmusic Guide's Tim Sendra called Heartbeat Radio Lerche's "best work to date."

In June 2011, Lerche released the self-titled Sondre Lerche, on his own Mona Records.[9] The album was praised by Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Stereogum, Filter, Spin, and Entertainment Weekly among others for its experimentation with contrasting musical sounds. In the studio, Lerche wanted to explore his new creative alliances in Williamsburg, the Brooklyn neighborhood where he'd lived on and off for the previous six years.[10] The album was recorded – live in the studio – and mixed in a short but intense time period of three weeks. The sessions included fellow musicians – Midlake drummer McKenzie Smith, longtime producer/collaborator Kato Ådland, Dave Heilman (drummer for Regina Spektor),[2] and co-producer, mixer, and owner of Rare Book Room Studio, Nicolas Verhnes (Spoon, Animal Collective).

Lerche celebrated his 30th birthday with the release of his first live album, Bootlegs, in 2012.[1]

He released his seventh album, Please, following his divorce from Mona Fastvold.[11][12][13] The album was released on 23 September 2014 on Mona Records.[14] "Bad Law" was released as the main single for the album in May 2014, supported by a music video released that June.[13][14]

On 3 March 2017, Lerche released his eighth studio album, Pleasure, on the PLZ label.[15] On 24 November that year the songs from Pleasure were also released in a stripped down solo version titled Solo Pleasure. Solo Pleasure was released digitally on 14 February 2018.[16]

In April 2022, Lerche released a double album, Avatars of Love.[17] It was followed in 2026 by the album Acrobats.[18]

Other ventures

Acting

Lerche made his musical theatre debut in the Norwegian stage production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, in which he played the lead role of Christian;[19] the show premiered at Chateau Neuf in Oslo in August 2023. Karen Frøsland Nystøyl of NRK reviewed his performance and wrote that he appeared to be a better singer than an actor, while commenting that his performance improved when sharing the stage with co-star Heidi Ruud Ellingsen.[20] The production as a whole received a perfect 6/6 review from Aftenposten.[21] Lerche's other acting appearances include voice acting in the animated films Two Buddies and a Badger[a] (2015)[22] and Askepote (2024).[23] In December 2025, he appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the Norwegian mockumentary TV series Helt perfekt.[24]

Writing

As a writer in his native Norwegian, Lerche has published two books containing essays on music, Et slags julekort / Aldri forstumme in 2019, and Alle sanger handler om deg in 2020.[25] The latter was positively reviewed by Gry Elise Jacobsen of NRK, who remarked that the book's 22 essays gave insight into Lerche's inspirations and how he thinks about music.[26] In 2021, Lerche contributed an essay on running to the anthology book Endelig sommer.[27]

Lerche has also published two Norwegian children's books, the Christmas-themed Snømannens jul in 2020, and En flue fløy in 2021. He wrote the text of both books, which were illustrated by Victoria Sandøy.[25][28]

Personal life

In 2005, Lerche married director and actress Mona Fastvold.[29] They divorced in 2013.[30][11][12] Lerche was in a relationship with writer and blogger Linnéa Myhre from 2013 to 2020.[31] His current partner is photographer Hilde Solli, as of 2023.[32]

Lerche returned to Norway in 2020.[33] Prior to that, he lived in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York, where he resided from 2005 to 2018.[34][10]

He is the cousin of Norwegian rapper Lars Vaular. In 2012, they collaborated on the single "Øynene Lukket".[35]

Discography

Main article: Sondre Lerche discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Year Work Role Notes Ref.
2007 Dan in Real Life Self (Wedding Singer) Cameo, also soundtrack composer [36]
2012–15 The Voice – Norges beste stemme Self (Coach) Seasons 1–3 [37]
2013 Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me Self Documentary [38]
2015 Two Buddies and a Badger[a] Pizzatrynet Voice [22]
2020 And In My Dreams: Patience Extravaganza Self Concert film/livestream [39]
2024 Askepote Prinsen Voice [23]
2025 Stop Time Self Concert film [40]
Helt perfekt Self (Fictionalized) TV series; 1 episode [24]

Books written

  • Et slags julekort / Aldri forstumme (2019)[25]
  • Alle sanger handler om deg (2020)[26]
  • Snømannens jul (illustrated by Victoria Sandøy, 2020)[25]
  • En flue fløy (illustrated by Victoria Sandøy, 2021)[28]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b Originally released in Norway under the title Knutsen & Ludvigsen og den fæle Rasputin.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Blanford, Roxanne. "Sondre Lerche Biography". Billboard. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b Martin, Erin Lyndal (10 August 2011). "Norwegian Wunderkind". PopMatters. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  3. ^ Blanford, Roxanne. "Sondre Lerche Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  4. ^ Sylvester, Nick (26 February 2004). "Two Way Monologue". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  5. ^ Powers, Devon (26 March 2004). "Sondre Lerche: Two Way Monologue". PopMatters. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Sondre Lerche Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  7. ^ Lash, Jolie (24 May 2006). "Sondre Lerche Packs Pop "Punch" on New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  8. ^ Wood, Mikael (8 September 2009). "Album review: Sondre Lerche's 'Heartbeat Radio'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  9. ^ Lovejoy, Heather (18 November 2011). "Norway's Sondre Lerche brings a pop-folk, edgy darkness". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  10. ^ a b Gallo, Phil (7 June 2011). "Sondre Lerche Finds 'Stronger Connection with Reality' on New Album". Billboard. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  11. ^ a b Norris, John (2 September 2014). "Sondre Lerche Is A Punk-Rock Crooner". Refinery29. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  12. ^ a b Barshad, Nim (22 May 2014). "Hear Sondre Lerche's Dancey, Divorce-Fueled 'Bad Law'". Spin. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  13. ^ a b Murray, Nick (19 June 2014). "Watch Sondre Lerche Humiliate Himself in 'Bad Law' Video – Premiere". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  14. ^ a b Interrante, Scott (23 September 2014). "The Legends We Were Meant to Be". PopMatters. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Sondre Lerche – Pleasure". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Sondre Lerche – Solo Pleasure". EDDA Music. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Sondre Lerche Namechecks Drake, Taylor Swift, & William Basinski on New Song "Avatars of Love"". 14 February 2022.
  18. ^ Breihan, Tom (12 May 2026). "Sondre Lerche Announces New Album Acrobats: Hear "Little Kids"". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  19. ^ "Watch Sondre Lerche Play "The Most Savage Joke" and Cover Joni Mitchell in Oslo for "Neighborhoods"". FLOOD Magazine. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  20. ^ Frøsland Nystøyl, Karen (31 August 2023). "Heftig hitparade". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  21. ^ Levin, Mona (31 August 2023). "Bohemenes seierrike inntogsmarsj". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  22. ^ a b Nilsson, Ørjan (23 September 2015). "Sondre Lerche: – Han er en håpløs karakter". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  23. ^ a b Vik, Sigurd (7 November 2024). "Askepote". NRK P3 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  24. ^ a b Holen, Øyvind (28 November 2025). "Dette er alle tv-nyhetene i desember". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  25. ^ a b c d Straume, Anne Cathrine (20 October 2020). "Vennlig, men vinglete julefortelling". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  26. ^ a b Jacobsen, Gry Elise (9 January 2020). "Sondres musikalske minnebok". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  27. ^ Hepsø, Turid Oline (8 July 2021). "«Endelig sommer»: Fem kjappe med Sondre Lerche, Shazia Majid og Mari Andreassen". Boktips. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  28. ^ a b Straume, Anne Cathrine (13 May 2021). "Feirer korpsmusikken i ny bildebok". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  29. ^ Aartun, Jorun Sofie F. (6 August 2005). "Trendy å være to". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  30. ^ Lerche, Sondre (25 December 2013). "Hey". Sondre Lerche. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  31. ^ Johansen, Robert Veiåker (25 January 2019). "På restauranter kan Linnéa Myhre være en så vanskelig gjest at kjæresten kan bli flau". Aftenposten.no. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  32. ^ Karlson Nielsen, Marthe; Gaathaug Nielsen, Jonathan (7 February 2023). "Viste frem ny flamme". Seher (in Norwegian). Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  33. ^ "Sondre Lerche Sees Different Parameters of Devotion on 'Avatars of Love'". 27 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Watch Sondre Lerche Trace His Unusual Path to Pop". Rolling Stone. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  35. ^ Talseth, Thomas (4 May 2012). "Lars Vaular og Sondre Lerche: "Øynene lukket"". VG. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  36. ^ Bauder, David (17 September 2009). "'Dan in Real Life' opens Lerche's music to world". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  37. ^ Laban, Linda (25 June 2015). "Sondre Lerche Grows a Pair: 'This Is the Best Work I've Ever Done'". Observer. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  38. ^ Marcos, Carlos (13 November 2023). "So good, but so unlucky: The cult-favorite band Big Star". El País. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  39. ^ "Sondre Lerche - "And In My Dreams: Patience Extravaganza"". Vier Live. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  40. ^ Eliassen Kverndokk, Guro (3 August 2025). "GAFFA var til stede under lørdagens premiere av "STOP TIME - Sondre Lerche & Operaen" på Klingenberg kino". Gaffa (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  41. ^ Holen, Øyvind (27 September 2001). "Ansiktsløftning for Spellemannprisen". Ballade (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  42. ^ "Sondre Lerche - Avatars Of Love | Alternativ pop/rock" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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