Line Horntveth
A versatile musical architect whose tuba and vocals provide the warm, grounding heartbeat for Norway's innovative Jaga Jazzist collective.
Born 1974 (age 52)·Musical artist·Birthday: November 26·Generation X
Biography
Line Horntveth operates as a vital, stabilizing force within the intricate, shifting soundscapes of Jaga Jazzist, the Norwegian experimental ensemble co-founded by her brothers. While the group is known for its sprawling, genre-defying compositions, Horntveth's role is foundational: her tuba lines offer a deep, resonant bass anchor, and her clear, ethereal vocals provide moments of human-scale melody amidst the electronic and orchestral whirl. Her musicianship, extending to flute and percussion, embodies the collective's ethos where no instrument is conventional. Beyond Jaga, she has contributed to projects like the live band for singer Jenny Hval, demonstrating a flexibility that moves from avant-garde jazz to art-pop. Her presence underscores the collaborative, familial spirit that makes the group's complex music feel unexpectedly organic and alive.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Line was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Line Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Line's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- A core member and vocalist/tuba player for the internationally celebrated Norwegian experimental band Jaga Jazzist.
- Performed on and contributed to multiple critically acclaimed Jaga Jazzist albums, including 'One-Armed Bandit' and 'Starfire'.
- Toured globally with Jaga Jazzist, bringing their elaborate, multi-layered live performances to major festivals and concert halls.
Did You Know?
She is married to Bjørn Holm, the upright bassist for the Norwegian rock band BigBang.
Her brothers, Martin and Lars Horntveth, are also founding members of Jaga Jazzist.
She provided vocals for the track "Toccata" on Jaga Jazzist's 2010 album 'One-Armed Bandit'.
“The tuba is the anchor; it gives the chaos a floor to stand on.”
