Every time Ephemera Records release an album, they receive nominations from prestigious Norwegian music awards.
They simply can’t help it.
Norway’s most celebrated popband have their own way of winning musical hearts over.

Inger Lise Størksen (26), Christine Sandtorv (28) and Jannicke Larsen (27) spend 2003 releasing great music, and the first part of 2004 receiving the honours to prove it. Hit single Girls keep secrets in the strangest ways, is awarded Song of the year 2003 at the influential alternative Alarmprisen; during the Bylarm festival in Bergen, February 04. Three weeks later the girls receive Spelemannprisen – the Norwegian equivalent to Grammy- for Best Pop Group (04),- as their critically acclaimed album peaks 25 000 sold albums in Norway.

It doesn’t get much better.

But despite their young age, Ephemera have been around the block a time or two,- before settling on the penthouse floor. September 2004 the trio celebrate their tenth anniversary as a band.

The tale of Ephemera starts out sometime during the fall of ’94. Inger Lise Størksen (17), girlfriends Christine Sandtorv (18) and Jannicke Larsen assemble in a basement in hometown Bergen, Norway - to hit a few chords on borrowed guitars. The girls however, - being equally shy, - barely dare sing out in each other’s presence. Luckily the shyness soon evaporates - leaving nothing but Christine and Jannicke’s raw songwriter talent – and an immensely beautiful blend of voices.

“Not tonight said the ephemera”. A mediocre joke, which provides the girls with a name for their everything but mediocre band. The local press and audience in Bergen soon acknowledge ephemera, and it doesn’t take record company BMG long to pick up the vibe either. At the ripe old age of 19 and 20, Inger Lise, Jannicke and Christine are ready to enlighten music lovers nationwide with their debut album Glue (96). Inspired by bands such as R.E.M, U2, and Mazzy Star, - plus Swedish act Stina Nordenstam, - Ephemera’s first record is well received. Critics describe the material as being original and beautiful. A stunned audience agrees.

After four years of touring, songwriting and studying, Ephemera release their second album Sun (00). This time they do it on their own terms by starting up their very own label; Ephemera records. Renowned producer Yngve L. Sæthre becomes Ephemera’s musical soul mate while recording in Duper Studio, Bergen, Norway. Sun contains single hits such as Saddest day and monumental Happy Grateful Aware, along with the melancholic pearls Find your way and Bad Deal. Ingerlise also makes her debut as a songwriter with Perfect and Close – revealing indisputable talent. Critics adore Sun. The album provides Ephemera with their first nomination for the Norwegian Grammy; Spellemannprisen, in the category Best Group. The innovative magazine Natt & Dag names Sun to be the best Norwegian album to come out in the year 2000. Ephemera also hit it off with 13000 Japanese and Korean record buyers when releasing Sun in Asia, and are picked up by the BBC England in order to front their TV-show Attachments with Happy grateful… and Last Thing. In other words; a whole bunch of laurels upon which to rest for Ephemera. But the girls are in a hurry to make more beautiful music.

That great Ephemera sound is maintained on Balloons and Champagne (Ephemera records 01) – the band’s third album. Again the trio provide the people with knock- out singles like Last Thing and title track Balloons and Champagne, - only to sooth souls next, with ballads such as Act and If I’m still your girl. Their efforts are once more widely appreciated. February 2003 Ephemera receive their first Alarm award for making beautiful music while running their own label - followed by recognition from the Norwegian Spelemann committee. Balloons and Champagne provides the girls with their second nomination for Best Pop Group. And this time – the silverharp comes with, when the girls return to Bergen.

By now Ephemera are definitely breaking on through to a wider audience. Their first class ticket to national fame is called Girls keep secrets in the strangest ways - an instant hit - written by one of the country’s finest young songwriters; Christine Sandtorv. And whilst Girls…is getting the job done promoting the lush and lovely ephemeral sound on radios January 2003, it’s creators and producer Yngve Sætre are working late finishing Ephemera’s fourth album- again in Duper Studio. And when capable talent teams up with perfect timing -things simply can't go wrong. Air (Ephemera records 03) is a wrap a short week after the Alarm and Spellemann award frenzy, and fans respond immediately. Air crashes into the Norwegian charts (VG-lista Topp 40) as number 2 and stays for 15 weeks. A year later the record has sold an impressive 25 000 copies- just in Norway. Critics are more aware of the girls than ever- and more ecstatic too,- complimenting the girls on songwriting skills as well as the maintenance of the ephemeral signature sound. Even though February leaves 2003 with yet another ten months to go before calling it a wrap,- Girls…is proclaimed Song of the year by Norwegian music press. Countrysong, Blown and William Hut- duet Diamonds in the sand, also excite both critics and fans.

Ephemera have always written their own material. Air is no exception. They also play their own instruments and do their own vocal arrangements. When they’re not busy running their own record label that is…As if these activities shouldn’t cause for a packed schedule, graphic designer Christine also provides Ephemera with their pastel profile. Covers, posters, flyers and web – everything is signed csdesign…
Behind the scenes, however, we find a few good men, who – each in their own way – contribute to create that distinct Ephemera sound. Yngve L. Sætre is producing Air, as did he Sun and Balloons and Champagne. Simen Mæhlum (Number Seven Deli og Jim Stärk) and Ole Ludvig Krüger handles the percussion while as Per Amund Solberg (Number Seven Deli) flaunts it on the bass…Alanis Morrisette’s current favourite artist Magnet also contributes on steel guitar.

After releasing Air, Ephemera definitely make a move from being local heroines in Bergen to becoming Norway’s favourite girlfriends. When IL, CS and JL leave for Japan and a mini tour there,- they bring new members of the extended Ephmera family; drummer Roger Urhaug, bass player Thomas Dahl and roadtec Andrè Trebbi,- as well as Norway’s biggest newspaper VG. The Norwegian delegation is welcomed by polite but excited Japanese among whom hmhmhmh proves the most dedidated fan. She runs her own Ephemera web page, and is thrilled to meet up with the girls live. Album sales prove that the Japanese are still in love with the bittersweet sound of Ephemera. By early 2004,- 50 000 copies are out there making lives lighter for musiclovers in Asia.

Back home in Bergen Ephemera and the boys pack their bags, guitars, pianos and frogs in order to hit the road for a grand Norwegian tour. By the end of 2003 the band has completed more than 100 gigs throughout the country,- including prestigious festivals such as Quart and Øya .
Ephemera enjoy getting out there sharing their music with fans – no matter how old the fans may prove to be. In January 2004 concert halls, pubs and cafes are exchanged with high school classrooms. Sponsored by the Norwegian organization Rikskonsertene the girls are able to supply teenagers in the outskirts of Norway with their first concert-experience ever – an assignment they all thouroughly enjoy.
Inger Lise Christine and jannicke make it back to Bergen just in time for the award bonanza to strike.

In many ways this is typical of Ephemera. One minute they have rolls and coffee with the cleaning lady during breaks at a remote high school in Trøndelag. The next they receive the two most prestigious music awards in Norway. Always friendly, somewhat timid and seemingly unaware of their own immense talent.

2003 has been a blast for Ephemera. Also, 2004 has gotten off to a great start. Neither Norway’s most successful label – if counting by the numbers of records released,- nor the band itself- have any intentions of slowing down any time soon. Several of Ephemera’s singles – including Saddest Day, Last Thing and Happy Greatful Aware have been utilized on popular American TV- shows such as Felicity, and Meet my Folks. This coming spring an album including these hits will be released in the US.
Ephemera are also preparing record number 5- intending for a release sometime during the fall of 2004. New material has already been exposed to fans during concerts, and songs like City Lights, End and On The Surface carry within them the promise of more golden moments to come from Duper Studio.

During their ten years in the business, Ephemera have been linked to the socalled Bergensbølgen- a phenomenon describing the immense success of the musical scene in Norway’s second largest city. The girls have also cooperated with different prominent Norwegian singers songwriters and bands such as Ralph Myerz, Popium, Jan Eggum, Anne Grete Preus, Rotoscope and Corvine. Also in the future Ingerlise, Christine and jannicke will continue sharing their talent with colleagues- either as a band or as individual contributors.

Girls keep secrets in the strangest ways.
But this cat’s out of the bag.
Ephemera is here to stay.