Terje Nordgarden Talks Flags

View Comments 28 January 2010

By Atlas Al

Norwegian acoustic guitarist, Terje Nordgarden, has traveled and performed for audiences in lots of countries since 2003. As a busking guitarist in Bologna, Italy, he was discovered by an Italian record label that helped him produce his first album, Terje Nordgarden. His second album, A Brighter Kind of Blue, was self-produced and he’s on tour now promoting his third and latest album, The Path of Love.

I was lucky enough to see Terje play at Parkteatret in Oslo, Norway earlier this month for an enthusiastic home crowd. After the show, I interviewed him to find out what it’s like to be a vagabonding busker:

Atlas Al: How many countries have you visited during your years of traveling and busking?

Terje Nordgarden: Mainly Europe: Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland.

Atlas: Traveled anywhere for pleasure?

Terje: Europe again, plus a road trip in the states last August. I want to break into the American market, but it’s so huge and works differently than in Europe, so we’ll see.

In March, Terje hopes his March 2010 performances in New York City and Toronto will tell some clues as to North America’s potential. He admitted to being a bit anxious, but looking forward to it nonetheless.

Terje: My music’s origins come from the states. Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Robert Johnson have all inspired me. Even though I’m Norwegian, it’s very natural for me to sing in English. It’s not a pose, it’s real. In a global world like we’re living in today, you can be whoever you want as long as you’re real.

Atlas: How did/do you travel when you’re on the road?

Terje: Initially, I was backpacking and hitchhiking. Oh Brother, a track from my latest album, is a hitchhiker song. I’ve always been thrilled by just traveling with a backpack and a guitar. I’d busk in the streets, perform at festivals, or ask local bars if I could play. It wasn’t uncommon to get weeks of work at the same bar. That’s the wonderful thing about getting out there: things start happening.

Terje mentioned he became a seasoned Couchsurfer during his 2007 Euro tour.

Atlas: What were your impressions of Couchsurfing?

Terje: Good. I did it for a while and then gradually I’d get a hotel room or sometimes the manager of the venue would put me up. The more repeat gigs I did, the more I stayed at the managers’ homes. Not only is Couchsurfing very social and allows you to experience the local culture better, my couch hosts usually brought their friends to the shows.

Atlas: Did you hook up with any foreign women while you were Couchsurfing? I know they don’t like to promote the sex aspect of it, but it does happen, right?

Terje: A lot of girls are put off by the whole Couchsurfing phenomenon because of that. Sure, it’s happened. It’s not something I looked for, I’d just let it happen if it felt right. That’d be the downfall of Couchsurfing if sex was the focus.

Crashing on people’s couches is “cool for humanity” and “positive for humankind,” says Nordgarden.

I asked if he could recommend any good travel books and any he’s reading now. American author, Henry Miller, wrote The Tropic of Cancer whose free association (stream-of-consciousness) style inspired Terje in his own songwriting.

Terje: Often you try to write something topic, but sometimes it’s good to write and write and not think of creating anything. To keep the channels open and to not think that everything you create is going to be something to release. It should be creation for the joy of creation. Around the time of my first album I was so impatient. Gradually, I accepted whatever I had and did my best. I’m already making a living from performing. It’s all about acceptance and not about trying to solve a problem but to let the problem solve itself.

Atlas: I’m curious, did anyone tell you what my web site is about?

Terje: Something about traveling?

Atlas: And sex.

“And sex,” he said, as if to make sure he heard correctly.

Atlas: Actually, sex with foreigners, which brings us to the next question. You’ve been on the road for years. Have you heard of flagging?

Terje: It sounds familiar, but I never got the true meaning of the word.

Atlas: Basically, hook up with a foreigner and you get their flag. Now, I believe it’d be rude and inconsiderate to ask someone how many sex partners they’ve had in their life; I’d never do that. But, how many flags do you have?

He laughs, then I start laughing from his laughter.

Terje: This is going to be the downfall of my career.

Atlas: Dude, you already smoked weed on a Dutch radio show (Watch here), talking about sex with foreigners won’t hurt your career anymore. Guys, even girls, have this conversation all the time: What foreigners have you hooked up with, or which foreigners would you want to hook up with. It’s always on people’s minds. Because you’re Norwegian, I’ll assume you have Norway.

Terje: Wait, how many flags do you have?

Atlas: 20.

Terje: Shit, you’re counting and everything.

Atlas: I wrote a book about [flagging], haha.

Terje: Haha, that’s the way you work when you go out, huh? Is she from that country, oh she’s interesting; I’ve never been with that one before. I guess I’ve never really thought about it, but—

Atlas: Off the top of your head, Norway…

Terje: Are you writing down the nations?

Atlas: Off course. But don’t worry, I don’t want details or anything.

Terje: The whole of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark). Then Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy loads.

Atlas: Remember, if you hooked up with multiple Italian chicks, that only counts as one Italian flag.

Terje: Even if she’s from Sicily or Sardinia?

Atlas: Yes. We have to have a way to claim flags, to draw the line somewhere. Sicily was a sovereign state 150 years ago, but it’s the Italian flag now.

Terje: Okay, so Switzerland, England, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia. Does half Japanese count?

Atlas: Sorry, no.

Terje: How many do we have now?

Atlas: I count 13.

Terje: Is this turning into a sport?

Atlas: Sort of.

Terje: Who’s the world champion?

Atlas: I don’t know. The biggest number I’ve heard anyone claim is 34.

Terje: Incredible.

Atlas: Do you have any tips on how to pick up Norwegian girls and what would you say about them in general?

Terje: Something I learned from traveling is that I generalize less and less. No stereotypes. Depends on how much she’s traveled, how secure she is, etc. You might meet a really chill woman or one who looks for guys with money, just depends. A sure way to get some in Norway is to go out, drink, have a good time, be yourself, and you’ll get laid in a week for sure. Knowing the local language helps with hooking up with foreigners. It’s hard to lay an Italian if you don’t speak the language. Being a musician helps as well. The problem is that the more sex you have, the more sex you want.

Atlas: You mean like a drug?

Terje: Can be. Definitely, I’ve felt sometimes like I was addicted. But it’s natural to enjoy sex. We have to find a balance. If you don’t have a steady relationship where you have good sex, you build up a lot of tension in your body and I think that can actually be harmful in the long run. Having sex is as important as doing other important stuff like eating, peeing, breathing. It’s really a good feeling to be naked with a woman, the problem is when you get too many.

It’s not every day you meet a backpacking busker turned professional musician. Terje Nordgarden was always a flagger whether he knew it or not. If you travel, you’re more likely to meet and hook up with other nationalities. In Terje’s case, he played the guitar while traveling; imagine the flagging potential.

As we gathered our belongings after the interview, Terje blurted, “Nigeria.” Some guys have all the luck; he captured a flag from the only continent I don’t have.

For more info on Terje Nordgarden, check out heaps of videos on YouTube or find him online:

http://www.myspace.com/nordgarden

http://www.nordgarden.info/

Flags of the World, European flags, Norwegian flag