Jarle Bernhoft (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈjɑ̀ːlə ˈbæ̀ɳhɔft]; né Jarle Norman Bernhoft-Sjødin; born 21 June 1976),[1] known professionally as Bernhoft (often stylized as Bern/hoft), is a Norwegian singer, musician and songwriter.[2] His best known songs are "Streetlights", "Shout" (aTears for Fears cover), "Choices", "C'mon Talk" and "Stay with Me". He has also been in a number of bands, notably Explicit Lyrics and Span.
Jarle Bernhoft
Bern/hoft | |
|---|---|
Bernhoft at Nobel Prizes concert 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jarle Norman Bernhoft-Sjødin |
| Also known as | Bern/Hoft (solo work 2011 onwards) Rod Hot (in Green Granadas) |
| Born | (1976-06-21) 21 June 1976 (age 48) Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, songwriter |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Website | bernhoft |
Hailing from Nittedal, Bernhoft attended Rud Upper Secondary School in Bærum where he joined the musical scene.[3] Bernhoft, alongside Fridtjof "Joff" Nilsen, were members of Explicit Lyrics. Within a span of three years, the band released three albums, Fleshpulse (1996), Flow (1997) and Lipshave (1998).
After the breakup of Explicit Lyrics, Bernhoft, a vocalist and songwriter, and guitarist Nilsen, joined drummer Fredrik Wallumrød and bassist Vemund Stavnes to form the rock band Span. After two EPs, Baby's Come Back (2002) and Found (2003), Span had two successful albums, Mass Distraction (2004) and Vs. Time (2005). The band broke up in 2005.[1] In late 2023, the band announced reunion shows at Rockefeller Music Hall in February 2024, twenty years after the release of their debut album.
Bernhoft has contributed on a number of recordings and concerts with mostly Norwegian artists, such as Hanne Hukkelberg, Dadafon, Bigbang and The Køhn/Johansen Sextet.
He also played in the band Green Granadas using the stage name Rod Hot.
Bernhoft released his first solo album Ceramik City Chronicles on 1 September 2008. In January 2010, he released a double live album called 1:Man 2:Band, where one half is a recording from his solo show at a jazz café in Oslo (Kampen Bistro), and the other half is a recording from his concerts in Rockefeller and Molde Jazz Festival with a full band.
His second solo album, Solidarity Breaks, was released the next year in January 2011. It topped the VG-lista,[4] the Norwegian Albums Chart for a total of seven weeks (in July, August and September 2011). The album was credited to Bern/hoft rather than his full name. He was also credited as Bern/hoft in his 2014 follow-up album Islander that also topped the VG-lista chart in May 2014.
In June 2014, Bernhoft appeared for the first time at the Glastonbury Festival and was featured by BBC One in a special performance of his song "Wind You Up".[5]
His album Islander was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for the 2015 Grammy Awards ceremony, held in February 2015.
In September 2011, Bernhoft appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after producers of the show found his video on YouTube. While on the show he played his song "C'mon Talk".[6]
In July 2013 and again in June 2014, he was featured as a musical guest on ConanonTBS.[7]
With Explicit Lyrics
With Span
With Børre Dalhaug's Bigbandblast
Solo (studio)
| Year | Album | Credited to | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR [9] |
DEN [10] |
FR [11] | |||
| 2008 | Ceramik City Chronicles | Jarle Bernhoft | 4 | — | — |
| 2011 | Solidarity Breaks | Bern/Hoft | 1 | 29 | 64 |
| 2014 | Islander | Bern/Hoft | 1 | 23 | 208 |
| 2016 | Stop/Shutup/Shout It Out | Bern/Hoft | 25 | — | — |
| 2017 | The Morning Comes | Bern/Hoft | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Humanoid | Bern/Hoft & the Fashion Bruises | 23 [12] |
— | — |
| 2021 | Dancing on My Knees | Bern/Hoft | 11 [13] |
— | — |
| 2023 | Avenue of Loveless Hearts | Bern/Hoft | — | — | — |
Solo (live)
| Year | Album | Credited to | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOR [14] | |||
| 2010 | 1:Man 2:Band (live double album) | Jarle Bernhoft | — |
| 2011 | Walk with Me (Live at Chateau Neuf) | Bern/Hoft | 1 |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Recipient of the Spellemannprisen as This year's Spellemann 2011 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Recipient of the popular music Edvardprisen 2015 |
Succeeded by |