– Becoming an artist has always been a dream, and when I faced the choice of where I wanted to study, I was pretty sure that Noroff was the right choice.
Richard Andreas Eriksen (20) is studying sound and music production at the Oslo campus. He has recently released the song "Soloppgang" through the school's student-driven record label, Noroff Records. His interest in music began in 2nd grade of primary school. At the age of 7, he picked up drumsticks and was already in love with the first note. Over the years, he also picked up the piano, guitar, and eventually the microphone.
– Becoming an artist has always been a dream, and when I faced the choice of where I wanted to study, I was pretty sure that Noroff was the right choice. I have always wanted to stand on my own in the music industry, and that involves understanding all the different aspects it consists of, says Richard, who goes by the artist name Rich.e.
Collaboration Across Studies
Through the subjects offered in sound and music production, Richard feels that he is learning a lot of different aspects of music, making his daily life particularly exciting.
– We are always working on something new, which I really like. The teachers are skilled and very helpful. The subjects are varied and interesting, while also being challenging at times, but in an exciting way.
He continues:
– The student environment is one of the best things about Noroff. It's very nice to be in a class where everyone shares a common interest, and where we can inspire each other.
The student environment is one of the best things about Noroff.Rich.e
The 20-year-old mentions that there are good collaborations across the studies on campus. If he needs help creating cover art for music he wants to release, graphic design students are happy to assist. A cover art competition was even held for them, where the best suggestion was used as the cover for Richard's single. He has also received help from film production students in creating a music video.
– One of the most important things you do to succeed in the music industry is to create a network, and I definitely feel that I get that here at Noroff. There are a lot of resourceful students here, whom you should take advantage of as much as you can while you're here, he says.
Inspired by Northern Norway
The song "Soloppgang" is a song Richard wrote a couple of years ago while in Northern Norway.
– There, the sun disappears in November and often doesn't reappear until February. This was a very tough period, but one day I could suddenly see the sun between the mountain tops. It was a clear sign that better times were coming, and I wanted to put words and melody to that exact feeling.
He wanted to release the song precisely at the time of year when you can suddenly catch a glimpse of the sun again. Therefore, he kept it hidden until November when a demo competition for sound and music production, organized by Noroff Records, was held. The best demo would be selected and released with support from the company. Richard's song "Soloppgang" won, and he thus got a contract that was valid until the song's release on February 2.
– The process behind releasing the single has been very educational. After the song was chosen, the task was to re-record it in a more professional way to achieve the full potential of the demo. It became a bit stressful at times, as we also had a semester assignment to work on, but it was fun to feel a bit of that pressure too. After several days in the studio with a lot of mixing of the song, we finally arrived at the 'perfect' version, he explains.
It was a clear sign that better times were in store, and I wanted to put words and melody to that exact feeling.Rich.e
📷: Richard in the studio at Noroff.
Dreams of a Music Career
The 20-year-old hopes that in the future, he can release music and eventually stand on stage playing his own songs for an audience that has come to listen to his songs specifically.
– That's the dream. I plan to continue releasing music through Noroff Records as long as I'm at Noroff. The collaboration has worked very well so far, and I look forward to continuing to work with them. The school contributes to meeting skilled people and making connections through the study. These are people I want to stay in touch with after studies because, in such a demanding industry, it's important that we support each other, says Richard.
– What advice would you give to others who want to pursue a music career?
– My advice is to just do it! I have long thought about whether I should dare to stand in front of the stage and sing, or if I should rather stay in the background. After starting at Noroff, I got the kick I needed to finally do what I want. Now I just think it's a shame that it didn't happen earlier. My advice to you who want to pursue, whether it's in music or not, is just to dare to do it.
Related studies
Sound and Music Production
This programme is designed for individuals who wish to work creatively or technically with music and sound. The degree is made for those who aspire to become artists, composers, producers, or work with sound and film music.
| 2 years (or 1 year) | |
| Oslo, Bergen | |
| Higher Professional Degree |
