– It is a dream job. My whole life has led up to this moment, says the new music director in Melodi Grand Prix. Tarjei Strøm takes over the baton from Stig Karlsen, who announced in August that he is leaving the job after ten years. The songs that will be included in MGP next year were selected by Karlsen before he left his position. – In the beginning, it’s about getting to know the scheme, getting into the editorial team and being with the artists who have already been selected for 2025, says incoming music director Tarjei Strøm. Shared position Although Karlsen acted as both music manager and project manager, Strøm will only concentrate on the music. The MGP position will therefore be divided into two parts, where Strøm will focus on finding the artists, while project manager at news, Mads Tørklep, works with the organization of the song contest and is the link between the Eurovision Song Contest and the EBU. Tarjei Strøm and Mads Tørklep will share MGP responsibility. Photo: news Tørklep has great faith in the new music director. – He has a network of contacts in the music industry that is completely unique, which perhaps no one else has. I have faith that he will find absolutely crazy artists for Melodi Grand Prix, says an energetic Tørklep. Gåte won the MGP this year with the song “Ulveham”, but ended up in last place in the Eurovision final. Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU Will bring in artists who have felt a little too “cool” Tarjei Strøm has a long career in the music industry. He has been a drummer in, among others, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band and Datarock. So what kind of artists and music is he going to focus on? – I have a very tough exterior, but it’s probably tougher than it really is. I listen to all kinds of music, says Strøm. He is clear that there will be no drastic changes in the song selection. – But, I have a wide network of contacts that MGP has not been missing, with artists who may have felt a bit too “cool” to join. So what I want to achieve is to bring along the artists you didn’t think would be at MGP, says Strøm. Strøm was recently one of the presenters for the TV campaign on news. Photo: NTB Benefiting from his own experiences The new music director also has experience with the MGP universe. In 2013 he participated with the band Datarock with the song “The Underground” and in 2015 he was the presenter of the Adresse Wien programs on news. He also sat on the music jury for MGP in 2014. Strøm believes his own MGP experiences are a great advantage in his new role. He himself had the experience of being well looked after in the “MGP circus”, and is therefore keen to continue it. – If I call an artist, and that artist says yes, I will be there for that artist until he or she goes home from the Eurovision final. Then you follow them all the way. I simply learned that in MGP myself, says Strøm. Together with the band Datarock, Tarjei Strøm made it to the final of Melodi Grand Prix in 2013. Photo: NTB Skal secure Eurovision victory Strøm joins the ranks as one of several well-known names who have figured as MGP generals. Here you find names such as Per Sundnes and Jan Fredrik Karlsen. But the question most people are wondering is: Will the new music director be able to secure Norway another Eurovision victory? – When I got the phone I had to ask myself the question: “Can I find the winning song that gives Norway the victory in the Eurovision Song Contest?” And then the answer was a modest one … Yes, I have to do that! So that is the goal, says Strøm. Published 29/10/2024, at 23.18 Updated 29.10.2024, at 23.51
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