– There's talk of a distinct "Notodden sound". It's a little different from the blues you hear in Oslo or in the USA, says Espen Fjelle, program manager for the unique blues programme.
The University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) started the programme back in 2018. The location is of course the blues town of Notodden.
Every year, new students contribute to a unique sound, formed by the interaction of different people with different backgrounds. This year, the sound has elements from both Iceland, South Africa and the USA.
Award winning partners
The university collaborates closely with Notodden Blues Festival, which also hosts Little Steven's Blues School. This band seminar attracts young musicians from all over the world every summer.
The school recently won the prestigious 'Keeping The Blues Alive Award', for its contribution to the music genre.
Little Steven, or Steven Van Zandt, is best known as a guitarist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band (and also for his role in the TV Norwegian tv series Lillyhammer). He has direct connections to the blues study on campus Notodden.
– The idea of a blues programme at university level is many ways a result of the collaboration with Little Steven, says Fjelle.
– It's important to recruit young people and carry on the genre's legacy, he says.
Surrounded by the blues
A closer look at this year's students at the blues programme confirms that the genre is indeed alive and kicking.
20-year-old Alexander Hjaltason from Iceland participated in last year's blues summer school at Notodden. The experience made him crave more.
– I just wanted to continue playing! Then I heard about this study programme. It's perfect for me, says Hjaltason
– I have never experienced so much blues anywhere. Everywhere else it's just pop. It's wonderful to be surrounded by the music I love, he says.
Before Alexander came to Notodden, he studied cyber security in Spain, where his family has relocated. He also learned to play the guitar at home, by himself. As part of his current blues studies, he gets to play a lot with others – and has to try a number of other instruments.
The executive part of the studies is comprehensive.
Lots of playing and performing
– The first semester, they come in here slightly confused, but they calibrate quickly, says Espen Fjelle and explains that the students get to play live concerts early in their studies.
The students themselves highlight all the practical playing as one of the most valuable aspects of their studies. There's an audition to get accepted to the programme.
– You get to develop a lot as a musician here. Blues is fundamental. If you can play the blues, you can play almost anything, says Fjelle.
So what's the deal with the blues?
Several students mention the emotional side of the music as part of the appeal.
– Blues deals with a lot about emotions. As a vocalist, it's interesting to convey emotions with my voice, says American student Elliot Weber, who is on exchange this semester.
He has studied several genres, and would like to further his education to become a music teacher. But first he has to get through the Norwegian winter.
– I'm from Minnesota, so I'm used to the cold. But I'm not used to walking everywhere in this kind of weather, says Elliot.
He arrived at the Notodden campus in January, and has already performed at several concerts and had the opportunity to play a number of instruments.
– In addition, we get to work in the studio here at campus, and that's cool, Elliot says.
Practical and social skills
South African Guy Collins is the last international element in this year's student cohort, where three out of ten have a foreign background. Collins worked as a professional musician in his home country, and is probably the most experienced in the group.
– I played four or five gigs a week to make a living. Back then, I playedmany different genres. Blues in South Africa also sounds a little different, says Guy, who has now settled in Kongsberg with his family.
– I didn't know anyone here in Notodden when I started, but now I have really become a part of the community. I'm almost 50 years old and have a lot of experience, so it's easy for me to take on a "teaching role". It's natural that I share with the others, he says.
Guy highlights the social knowledge as one of the most important things you learn on the blues programme.
– The practical skills you learn here are completely different from what you learn from youtube by yourself. You may be good at home, but you won't work in a band. Here you develop big ears. You learn to listen to others, he says.
This is exactly the experience Icelandic Alexander is excited about. He says he has learned a lot from Guy, about his style and way of playing.
– All places in the world have a unique sound, and all people have a unique sound. Here we come from many places – and everyone brings their own. It's easy to be inspired, says Alexander.