Jarle Bernhoft (Norwegian pronunciation:[ˈjɑ̀ːləˈbæ̀ɳhɔft]; néJarle Norman Bernhoft-Sjødin; born 21 June 1976),[1] known professionally as Bernhoft (often stylized as Bern/hoft), is a Norwegian singer, musician and songwriter.[2] His best known songs are "Streetlights", "Shout" (a Tears for Fears cover), "Choices", "C'mon Talk" and "Stay with Me". He has also been in a number of bands, notably Explicit Lyrics and Span.
Hailing from Nittedal, Bernhoft attended Rud Upper Secondary School in Bærum where he joined the musical scene.[3] Bernhoft, alongside Fridtjof "Joff" Nilsen, were members of Explicit Lyrics. Within a span of three years, the band released three albums, Fleshpulse (1996), Flow (1997) and Lipshave (1998).
After the breakup of Explicit Lyrics, Bernhoft, a vocalist and songwriter, and guitarist Nilsen, joined drummer Fredrik Wallumrød and bassist Vemund Stavnes to form the rock band Span. After two EPs, Baby's Come Back (2002) and Found (2003), Span had two successful albums, Mass Distraction (2004) and Vs. Time (2005). The band broke up in 2005.[1] In late 2023, the band announced reunion shows at Rockefeller Music Hall in February 2024, twenty years after the release of their debut album.
He also played in the band Green Granadas using the stage name Rod Hot.
Solo
Bernhoft live in 2011
Bernhoft released his first solo album Ceramik City Chronicles on 1 September 2008. In January 2010, he released a double live album called 1:Man 2:Band, where one half is a recording from his solo show at a jazz café in Oslo (Kampen Bistro), and the other half is a recording from his concerts in Rockefeller and Molde Jazz Festival with a full band.
His second solo album, Solidarity Breaks, was released the next year in January 2011. It topped the VG-lista,[4] the Norwegian Albums Chart, for a total of seven weeks (in July, August and September 2011). The album was credited to Bern/hoft rather than his full name. He was also credited as Bern/hoft in his 2014 follow-up album Islander that also topped the VG-lista chart in May 2014.
In June 2014, Bernhoft appeared for the first time at the Glastonbury Festival and was featured by BBC One in a special performance of his song "Wind You Up".[5]
In September 2011, Bernhoft appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after producers of the show found his video on YouTube. While on the show he played his song "C'mon Talk".[7]
In July 2013 and again in June 2014, he was featured as a musical guest on Conan on TBS.[8]
