Thomas Dybdahl

Thomas Dybdahl

Thomas Dybdahl is a Norwegian singer-songwriter from Sandnes, Norway, born in 1979. He releases music as a solo artist and is also the lead singer of The National Bank, a project with members from Jaga Jazzist and BigBang. He is associated with Petroleum Records.

Early career

Before beginning his solo career, Dybdahl plays guitar in the Norwegian band Quadraphonics. His first solo single EP, Bird, appears in 2000, followed by the 2001 EP John Wayne. These early releases do not bring much success.

Solo albums

His first album, ... That Great October Sound, appears in 2002 and begins the October series. The record receives strong attention in Norway and abroad, and his later releases also build his reputation. Stray Dogs appears in 2005, and One Day You'll Dance for Me, New York City follows, with the latter including an interlude featuring the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss speaking about quality of life. Dybdahl has released six albums in total, with critical acclaim and commercial success in Norway, Denmark and other territories.

Style and recognition

Dybdahl's music is generally described as melancholic, soulful and low-key, within a traditional singer-songwriter style. He is often compared with Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake. He receives the Spellemannprisen and the Alarm Award for his work.

Other collaborations and projects

In 2004, Dybdahl works with musicians from Jaga Jazzist and BigBang on The National Bank, whose self-titled debut album enters the Norwegian charts. The album is later released outside Norway in 2009. He also contributes vocals to several tracks on Morcheeba's 2008 album Dive Deep. His single Damn Heart, written for the Danish film En Soap, appears in 2006 on Copenhagen Records. He performs as an opening act for Sondre Lerche in the United States in 2007 and for Tori Amos on her Night of Hunters tour in 2011. His single Man On a Wire is released as the first single from What's Left is Forever.