The prolific Norwegian pianist Kjetil Jerve started in 2019 to post small snippets on Instagram under the hashtag #dailypiano. Jerve's followers were served small, daily drips with piano playing, in a mixture of self-composed melodies and improvisation. 2019 was also when Kjetil's family grew considerably when he and Karoline became parents to triplets. In parallel with the new life as a father of three, the #dailypiano project also grew, far beyond the framework of social media.
The tangible result is the album "The Soundtrack of My Home." The title naturally refers to his new residence at Holmlia, but also the childhood home in Ålesund. Kjetil grew up in a house full of music, with his mother and father and two big brothers. A house does not become a home until you fill it with people.
And of course, it's the people it's about, more specifically the family - both the one Kjetil grew up with and the one he started himself. Each of the album's ten songs is dedicated to the people who have been closest to him in life. The triplets Iben, Turid, Eivor, and his wife Karoline made up the first four singles released this autumn and have already reached 200,000 plays on Spotify. Since then, his mother Mette, big brothers Espen and Jon Eirik, and even the cat Sussi have received their songs. Also, Kjetil has dedicated the opening track to himself, while the album ends with a meditation dedicated to his late father, Sven. Thus, the circle is closed.
In terms of genre, the album spans between rhythmic ambient, lo-fi jazz, and minimalist pop, and has in common that only Kjetil and his piano create the moods. Seasoned with sounds from his home as the recordings were made; Sounds of the triplets playing in the background, creaking from a floor, birds chirping outside the window. Sounds of life.
The tracks are dedicated to each individual person based on what Kjetil describes as "a slightly abstract feeling" that the songs represent a mood he feels for them. The sum is a reassuring album filled with atmospheric, beautiful music suitable for everyday chores and thoughtful moments. That is life.