Ephemera

Ephemera, the Norwegian pop trio whose name means "a short-lived thing," has watched that label grow steadily more ironic. Three childhood friends from Bergen had already performed together nearly a decade before commercial momentum arrived. They formed the band in 1994 and soon drew notice for their light, melodic acoustic pop marked by girlish charm. Still in their late teens, they secured a multi-album contract with BMG and issued their debut, Glue, in 1996, only to leave the label after the relationship soured.

Four years later they returned on their own imprint, also called Ephemera, with the 2000 album Sun. Added maturity had refined the sweet, harmonic pop that had defined them from the outset. The single "Happy, Grateful, Aware" emerged as their first clear classic, its catchiness earning a spot on the Olsen twins' 2002 soundtrack Getting There. Bergen studio specialist Yngve Saetre handled the tasteful production and arrangements, aided by several of the city's top musicians, and the resulting songs, harmonies, and lush sound became the signature Ephemera style.

After Sun and its singles established the group as a serious domestic act, they released Balloons and Champagne just a year later in 2001. Though it lacked another instantly recognizable single on the level of the sublime "Happy, Grateful, Aware," the album earned strong reviews and widened their following. Popularity surged further in 2003 with the massive hit "Girls Keep Secrets in the Strangest Ways" and the accompanying album Air, turning Ephemera into household names and major sellers both at home and across Asia and continental Europe.

Their fifth album, Monolove, appeared in 2004 and stayed faithful to the same melodic approach. Without a standout single, it still found warm reception from fans and critics alike. ~ Anders Kaasen