Hi there!
I`m Øisten, born 10th of November 1980 in Kristiansund N (Norway). I joined a marching band in an early age, where I first started playing the saxophone for aproximately a year. I had always wanted to play the drums, but since the drummers section was full-filled, I had to pick another instrument. But during the "sax-year", I got tired and actually wanted to quit the whole thing. That was when I was offered to play melodic percussion. At the lessons, I started bringing drumsticks and thankfully my teacher during many many years, Kiril Kirilov let me get lessons on drums as well. And then the snowball allready had started rolling...
I stuck with the marching band until the age of 21, and do still occasionally join them if possible at the Norwegian labour day. But at high-scholl, and the age of 15 I started a Metallica-cover band with some friends at school. We participated in a competition, and went on for about a year.
At the age of 16 I started to study music at school, with the same teacher as mentioned above. Now I got more drumset focused and worked really hard, practising as much as I could during those 3 years, and graduated with quite okay grades. Escpecially in my exam of percussion/drumset.
The following year I serviced in the army, where I almost didn`t get the oppurtunity to practise/perform at all.
After finishing my year in the army, I re-joined that marching band, and also joined a pop-band. I also had a few jazz/pop/rock projects with some gig`s at different places. Especially I want to mention the "Jazz in words" gig, which was a co-operation with writer Jon Hollen. John contacted me with this idea where the concept was lyrics/poems with jazz music as a theme. We sat down and made a show which took place at the restaurant "Onkel og Vennene hans" the 23rd of May 2002. I invited some fellow fantastic musicians which made this come true as a show.
A big thank to John Hollen (lyrics), Leif Inge Andaas (vocals), Steinar Værnes (trumpet), Eirik Kulø (keyboards), Lars Klausen (guitars) and Thomas Taftø (bass).
The same years, I moved to Halden, continuing on my music-study. I took a grade as a music/drum instructor. During my time studying, I`ve been hired to play in a few cabarets and some other small gigs.
I still live in Halden, mainly working in a security company, but joined the band "Blue Fusion" in october 2005 (a blues-rock band). We are playing around in different bars and clubs, until now around in the nearby area.
I am still available for freelance projects, and am ready to jump in in whatever should be available. Just give a ring if I`m needed! ;)