Zotora

Since Zotora was a little boy he has been drawn to Australia and the aboriginal instrument didjeridoo. But what later happened would never have happened without Zotoras urge to ... emigrate. Lets have a look at how it all began A cold and grey day of fall 1984, a young man from Norway packed his bags and waved goodbye to his homeland. He got a job onboard M/S Tarago. His destination was as far away as possible to the land down under. And after 6 ½ weeks in the depths of Taragos humming machinery he could finally crawl upon deck and view upon the Promised Land. The land which he then met, fulfilled all his dreams. So - it took this happy traveller ten years before he found his way back home. But he did not come home emptyhanded. He had a didjeridoo under his arm. This intrument has its origin in Australia. It is played by the aboriginals, todays oldest living natives of origin, and is made from the trunk of a eucalyptus-tree where termites have eaten the inside. It has been used in religious ceremonies, but also for fun, games and celebrations.The instrument has excisted for over 40 000 years and has throughout time played its role as a storyteller.The skill of circular breathing and the blowing techniques that enables Zotora to imitate all the sounds of nature is something he learned in The Kimberleys in 1988. «Zotora masters fully this technique of breathing as well as David Hudson and other famous didjeridoo players» (Urban 1994, in connection with the release of «Ninji-Ninji»).Zotora has also brought with him from Australia the traditions of storytelling .But the stories he tells with the didjeridoo are his own, and with his special talent he makes the audience want to stay on and listen. «How this charismatic musician is able to create such a range of sounds and with such intensity, is a mystery. He certainly put a spell on us and took us far away from the dark streets of Narvik». (Fremover 1996) «Even children down to 3-4 years old where quiet and bewitched for the 1 º hours the concert lasted».(Nordlys 1996).In his first years as a storytelling musician, Zotora travelled around the world and played on the streets, but he also did several soloperformances in different kinds of settings like Falun International Folkmusic festival , development courses for industrial leaders and the official opening of «Trollfeltet» (the worlds largest offshore gas-platform). In 1994 he released the CD «Ninji-Ninji» (playful ceremony) where the didjeridoo is the only instrument. With the inspiration of the aboriginal music of Australia he wanted this CD to cultivate a clean and simple expression which would combine his knowledge with his own person. «A brave and modern look into an ancient tradtion» (Natt og Dag, 1994) «Uncompromising and filled with respect and love for this very special windinstument» (Fedrelandsvennen 1994).Following this release, an exciting collaboration took place. Together with the dancer Lisbeth Rønning he made the dance performance «Ninji-Ninji». «The musician and dancer Zotora , with the ancient instrument didjeridoo and the dancer Lisbeth Rønning created a curious atmosphere of great beauty. (Fedrelandsvennen 1995)Since then things have continued to happen. From touring alone to collaborating with all kinds of musicians within different genres. The following was written in Moss Dagblad about the performance with the «Rødstrupen» choir in 1995: «Zotora is the name of the musician who captured the whole «Aud Max». It was a pity there was no room for an impulsive applause - it would have lifted the ceiling»From his touring with the stringquartet Arctimus we can read: «The Arctimus quartet musicians were obviously inspired by playing with Zotora (...) Never before have I heard a classical stringquartet create improvised music which vibrates in the deeper layers of the cortex.» (From Nordlys 1995). «Zotoras stage performance is cleverly calculated, he keeps his audience in suspense with the nerve and timing of a circus artist. The opening act alone was well worth the entrance fee. (Nordlys 1996). Dagbladet puts it this way in the review of Øystein Sevågs concert tour at Rockefeller in 1996: «But most suprisingly was Zotoras didjeridoo playing(...) He controlled it with the skills of a master and created a trembling, snarling and humming sound.» Zotora did altso attend in "Aurora 2000", a multimedia/dance performance composed by Øystein Sevåg and Maida Withers, professor of coreography. Performed in Nordlysfestivalen (North og Norway) and in Washington DC. (www.sevag.com/aurora.htm)In the last years (96 - 01) Zotora has toured the Norwegian high-schools together with a percussionist and a singer. The name of the production is «Draumtid»(dreamtime), and it has altso several times been presented to a more grown-up audience: Trond Lepperød from Porsgrunn Dagblad (98) says: «What strikes the listener is that the vibrations and waves of sound not only hit the membrain in the ear but also the diaphragm and heaven knows what other parts of the human body (...) Magical must be the word.» Namdals-avisa (2000) says: "Over the years, we have attended countless school-concerts, but "Dreamtime" is the one that have touched us the most. Warm, genuine, and of very high quality througout the concert."Zotora also works with folk musicians, and when it comes to music from the Lappland Zotora shows great interest. From the review of the experimental ancient-techno-constellation «Featherfingertips» who played at the Easterfestival in Kautokeino, it says: «Didjeridoo is one of the worlds most ancient instruments. Zotora handles this instrument with the greatest precision» (Finnmark Dagblad 1998) In 2001 Zotora was support for Buffy Saint Marie in the Theater of Drammen together with the lappish joiker and throatsinger Johan Anders Beer. At last a curiosity from the Gateavisa review of one of Zotoras earlier MC-releases (1993) «Didjeridoo is an intrument which communicates with the synapsis of the skull and which certainly will be misused by new age healers with bankmanagers as clients. A special fetish: Lay down on the floor. Breathe long and deep breaths. Listen to the music. You are totally into it. Your body is floating. When you’re finally back to normal someone has stolen all your funiture.»