By Catalina Gonzalez

contributing writer

I am here to introduce to you to a series of articles I will be doing on artists’ acoustic work. I love listening to well-produced, arranged and instrumented songs, but who doesn’t enjoy an artist performing a stripped down version of how it all began? – Just a couple of chords on the guitar or piano and the melodic sweetness of the vocals.

This week, I will not only show you a great acoustic performance, but I will also introduce you to this Norwegian musical mastermind. Name: Bernhoft. Weapon: multi-instrumentalist, vocal and beatboxing abilities, which are all combined with his deadliest weapon of all: the loop pedal.

Let’s begin with the one I discovered him with, “C’mon Talk.” I go on YouTube at least ten times a day, and by clicking on the related videos so much, I find hidden gems. This is how I found Bernhoft, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Nittedal, Norway.

There he was singing his song “C’mon Talk” for the YouTube channel, Embassy of Music. He begins by singing the chorus into the microphone, while snapping his fingers. Then he hits that loop pedal and adds a harmony to the melody of the chorus. Later, he layers in the beatboxing, guitar and bass line in. Once he has got everything laid down, he cuts off the chorus melody and harmony, along with the main guitar part. He continues to sing the verse and play the bass line. All of this is played and mixed live. His set up consists of two microphones, two guitars and a set up of pedals, in which we can find the Boss loop pedal he uses as well as a phaser effect pedal for when he plays the bridge transition into the chorus on the guitar.

A couple of months ago, I went through the recent videos of “Jam in the Van,” which is the organization that goes to all of the festivals around the U.S. and has a couple of artists come jam in their van. Bernhoft was performing an acoustic version of his song, “Streetlights,” where he seems to be playing a small electric guitar, along with his acoustic guitar, beatboxing and beautiful vocal work. I fell in love with him and his music all over again.

“Streetlights,” is a darker song more focused on the lead vocals than adding to many layers of harmonies, but that’s because he added this little raunchy electric guitar into the mix, which truly gives the song a unique character.

Enough with my description; it truly does not do these songs, or the artists, any justice. Take a listen for yourself. After, please go find the studio versions of these songs and you will see why the acoustic live versions are so much better (at least in my opinion). Enjoy and add Bernhoft onto your iPod!

The two must-watch performances (“C’mon Talk” and “Streetlights”) can be found on YouTube.