Fra Lippo Lippi in Danger
By Mondo Castro
The Philippines’ love affair with the Norwegian group Fra Lippo Lippi began 21 years ago when Manila’s New
Wave powerhouse XB-102 debuted their bittersweet single “The Distance Between Us” to the delight of Cure
and Depeche Mode fans who were seeking similarly poetic and angst-ridden anthems. Since then, Fra Lippo
Lippi gradually evolved, eventually casting off their Gothic rock roots and becoming a New Wave band that is
embraced by people of various tastes with their flirtations with jazz and classic soul. On May 13, Fra Lippo
Lippi’s crooning vocalist Per Oystein Sorensen will be performing the group’s classics at the Araneta
Coliseum. Sorensen recently entered the Danger Room for his first interview with the Philippine press prior to
this upcoming gig (tickets are on sale now).
When—and how—did you find out about Fra Lippo Lippi’s massive popularity in the Philippines?
We first heard about it through the OctoArts people who released Virgin albums in the old days; they didn’t tell
us until they contacted us about setting up live gigs in Manila, though. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank the old staff at one particular New Wave station [XB-102]. We were told they played our music
frequently. No one bothered to blow the whistle and say: “Hey lads, there is a station in Metro Manila playing
your records to death.” The OctoArts people didn’t bother. We were soon to know why. OctoArts did not only
sell records. They booked artists, they were in the film industry and so on. Their boss rang our London agent
one day in 1988, suggesting we should fly to Manila to perform live. They had a deal set up, rehearsed the
set with our regular band, and off we went. Three days later we played in front of 11, 000 people at the Folk
Arts Theater. The venue was estimated to take some 7,000 or 8,000 people. We, of course, did not learn
about the scam until August 2000, when we last visited Manila and Cebu. Artists are always told last. Well
over 60,000 fans screamed their lungs out (six nights) and most of their cash rolled into the local promoter’s
vast pockets. It was a horrible situation: We knew we were being ripped off and there was nothing we could
do, except to smile and do our best (and become seriously pissed every night). I loathe that kind of deals. We
came back some four months later, I believe, to perform three nights at the Ultra; great fun. Ripped off (I
wonder how many Mercedes cars are needed to satisfy some people?).
On In Silence and Small Mercies, Fra Lippo Lippi had more of a Gothic-rock sound, recalling Joy Division and
the Cure. How did the group slowly evolve into more pop-oriented material that incorporated jazz and soul?
FLL’s engineer for Small Mercies, Espen Dahl (we’re the same age and went to the same school),
recommended me when FLL needed a singer for that album; I had no artistic input, except for the vocals. I
was asked to become an associated member of FLL, which I had no problems with, in as much as I was busy
doing sessions in all the studios one could possibly find in Oslo those days(backing vocals and piano). I was
the one to bring a little influences of jazz and soul. Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye are some of my favorites.
Oh, and we both loved to listen to Coltrane, Miles and Steely Dan, which would lead us to LA in 1987. Rune
[Kristoffersen] found it more difficult than me to mix our rather dark sounding music with lighter elements.
Did you sing prior to Fra Lippo Lippi?
I have always been singing and earned my first candy bars at the age of four, when I also started to play
drums. I learned how to play guitar at the age of 11 and piano the year after, when mom inherited some
money from her dad. I played drums in the school band, drums, then piano in a Gospel group and piano and
vocals in a local rock band. Went professional at the age of 19 after having finished school.
Would you describe your lyrics as autobiographical?
Some are, some aren’t, and some of the lyrics were written by Norwegian lyricist Kari Iveland [on 2003’s In a
Brilliant White].
The mesmerizing “Story of a Broken Heart” takes me back to the New Wave ’80s, but the other tracks on In A
Brilliant White explore other forms of contemporary music, revealing modern influences.
What artists move you these days?
I’ve always been a huge fan of Depeche Mode. I also like Røyksopp, Cardigans, Goldfrapp, and artists like
Norah Jones and Diana Krall. All sorts of good music, I suppose. I’m a devoted fan of Swedish singer Lisa
Nilsson as well.
What was your reaction when you performed in the Philippines for the first time?
Shock. They seemed to know all our songs by heart. I mean, we’d been to Tokyo, the UK, France, Germany
and several other places, never to receive the same attraction. Amazing.
(The legendary XB-102 has been resurrected online with new programs from original staffers like Cool Carla
and Mick Flame. To tune in to the radio station that introduced Fra Lippo Lippi to the Philippines, log on to:
http://www.live365.com/stations/xb_102).