Morten Qvenild
A sonic architect of Norwegian jazz, using prepared pianos and electronics to build expansive, textured soundscapes far beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Norwegian jazz pianist and band leader·Birthday: August 31·Generation X
Biography
Morten Qvenild approaches the piano not as a mere instrument but as a laboratory. Emerging from the vibrant Norwegian jazz scene, he quickly distinguished himself as a thinker and innovator. As a founding member of the genre-bending trio In the Country and the collaborative supergroup Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Qvenild became known for a minimalist, atmospheric style. He treats the piano's innards with mutes and objects, creating haunting, percussive tones, while layering in synthesizers and electronic effects. This approach has made him a sought-after producer and collaborator, working with artists from folk to pop. His work is less about virtuosic solos and more about crafting a total mood, building immersive worlds of sound that feel both intimate and vast, placing him at the forefront of experimental Nordic music.
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.
Morten was born in 1978, 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 Morten Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Morten's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded and is the pianist for the influential Norwegian jazz trio In the Country.
- Was a key member of Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, contributing to their acclaimed album 'List of Lights and Buoys'.
- Has produced and arranged albums for a diverse range of artists including Solveig Slettahjell and Frida Ånnevik.
- Received the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) with In the Country for their album 'Sunset Sunrise'.
Did You Know?
He frequently uses 'prepared piano' techniques, placing objects on the strings to alter the instrument's sound.
He studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
He has collaborated with his wife, singer and songwriter Solveig Slettahjell, on several projects.
His group In the Country has performed at major international jazz festivals like Molde and Kongsberg.
“The piano is a machine for finding sounds you didn't know were there.”
