Bernhoft

Born in 1976 in Nittedal near Oslo, Norwegian singer, songwriter and guitarist Jarle Bernhoft first gained recognition as a member of the rock bands Explicit Lyrics and later Span, before adopting the stage name Bernhoft for a solo career oriented more toward soul and R&B. After those early alternative rock experiences he moved toward a songwriting approach that blends vintage soul, pop, light funk and touches of folk, with a strong emphasis on voice and harmonies. The 2008 album "Ceramik City Chronicles" established this stylistic shift; "Solidarity Breaks" (2011) developed a pronounced rhythmic focus and a more confident soul songwriting approach. Operating between neo‑soul and melodic pop, he recorded "Islander" in 2014, which earned him a Grammy nomination in the R&B category, and "Stop/Shutup/Shout It Out" in 2018, continuing his voice‑, choir‑ and mid‑tempo groove‑centered writing. On stage Bernhoft alternates between band lineups and solo formats, with guitar and vocal work geared to live energy, appearing on club stages as well as at festivals across Norway and Europe, cultivating over the years an identity at the crossroads of contemporary soul and singer‑songwriter pop.