Steinar Nickelsen
A versatile Norwegian jazz organist and keyboardist whose textured playing fuels everything from avant-garde explorations to funk grooves.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Musical artist·Birthday: October 5·Generation X
Biography
Steinar Nickelsen is a musician's musician, a figure whose name might not headline global festivals but whose inventive playing has been a vital ingredient in the rich stew of Scandinavian jazz for years. Hailing from Bærum, Norway, and born in 1978, Nickelsen found his voice primarily through the Hammond organ and other keyboards, instruments known for their warmth and grit. He emerged as a sought-after collaborator, not confined to one style but fluent in many. His work spans the psychedelic-tinged jazz of the band Elephant9, the atmospheric soundscapes of guitarist Stian Westerhus, and the driving funk of Bigbang. Nickelsen's approach is less about flashy solos and more about creating immersive sonic beds, using the organ's drawbars and Leslie speaker to paint with sound. He represents a modern European jazz sensibility that values texture, ensemble interplay, and a fearless blending of genres.
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.
Steinar 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 Steinar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Steinar'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
- A core member of the acclaimed instrumental jazz-rock trio Elephant9, known for its energetic and psychedelic sound.
- Has been a frequent collaborator with innovative Norwegian guitarist and vocalist Stian Westerhus on multiple experimental projects.
- Performed and recorded with the popular Norwegian rock band Bigbang, contributing keyboards to several albums.
- Released albums as a leader, including 'Plutonium' with his group The Last Generation, showcasing his compositional skills.
Did You Know?
He is the brother of Norwegian jazz drummer Torstein Lofthus.
He studied at the prestigious Trondheim Musikkonservatorium.
Beyond the Hammond organ, he is also skilled on the Fender Rhodes and synthesizers.
He has performed at major international jazz festivals like Molde Jazz Festival and Oslo Jazz Festival.
“The Hammond organ is an orchestra under your fingers.”
