Leirblaa
Leirblaa is the collaboration between Jakob Nordli (vocals, keyboard, compositions and lyrics), Jenny Frøysa (baritone saxophone), Amund Storløkken Åse (vibraphone, mellotron) and August Glännestrand (drums). The four musicians met at the Jazz Department of NTNU in Trondheim, Norway in 2018 and have played together since.
Leirblaa plays Nordlis music and texts that can be described as improvised music with alternative pop aestetics. Leirblaa’s unique sounds combines lyrics in Trondheim dialect, a rare mix of acoustic instruments and electronic elements such as synths, samples and drum machines.
Since the beginning Leirblaa has recorded two albums: “Sirkel” from 2022 and “Drømmesky” which will be released the 29th of August this year. Leirblaa will do a “Drømmesky” release tour the fall of 2025 with concerts in Oslo, Trondheim, Inderøy and Copenhagen.
Since 2021 Nordli and Leirblaa has organized and done three “local tours” in the region of Trøndelag in Norway. This is a concept that they have developed while looking for more short-travelled alternatives when it comes to touring. The goals for these projects have been to investigate what happens when they bring alternative music to rooms an spaces that are not frequently hosting concerts with improvised music. Another goal is to travel in a lower pace which can be good for both musicians and for the surroundings. In 2026 Leirblaa will do their fourth version of this project in the western region of Norway.
Photo: Eiril Nås Høistad
Drømmesky
Drømmesky is the title of Leirblaa’s upcoming album which will be released the 29th of August this year. “Drømmesky” can be translated to Dream Cloud and is an imaginary place and a cornucopia of creativity that might work as a means of transport towards different places.
The projects deals with different dichotomies such as hope and despair, imagination and reality. “Drømmesky” is inspired by Utopianism and asks questions about the role of creativity and music in a dystopian zeitgeist.
The first single from the album is called “Herr Skyboer”. “Herr Skyboer” can be translated to “Mr.Cloud-Dweller” and was released the 16th of may 2025. Nordli wanted to make a text were the cloud-dweller is seen as something good and someone who points at alternatives through (day)dreaming and creativity.
The second single is called “Oss og verden”. “Oss og verden” can be translated to something between Us and the world and Also the world and was released the 13th of june 2025.The song depicts a peaceful memory and a stoic, yet fragile hope for other worlds to exist.
Cover art by Margit Rønning Omholt
Sirkel
Sirkel (which is the Norwegian word for circle) was the first album of Leirblaa released on Particular Recordings Collective in October 2022.
This album is a manifestation of the first period of Leirblaa as a band from when all the members studied together at the Jazz Department of NTNU in Trondheim between 2018-2021. The music highlights the interplay between lyrics and music with an unique instrumentation, Norwegian lyrics and musical playfulness.
The compositions and lyrics are written by Jakob Nordli Leirvik.
Recorded and mixed by Kyrre Laastad at Øra Studio, mastered by Karl Klaseie at Øra Mastering.
Cover art by Brit Dyrnes and cover design by Infinitiv.
Musikkvideo til låta "Hagen". Laget av Live Henriette Harestad Almvik.
Norwegian review on Sirkel from Nettavisen:
“Tilveksten er fortsatt formidabel og jeg slutter ikke å la meg begeistre over både kvantiteten og kvaliteten hos stadig nye generasjoner norske jazzmusikere. Leirbraa føyer seg elegant inn i denne rekka.
Med 26 år unge Jakob Nordli Leirvik, vokalist og elektroniker, tekstforfatter og komponist, som naturlig midtpunkt med si trønderdialekt, har Leiblaa blitt noe ganske annerledes enn alt annet som har vederfaret våre sinn fra norske jazzmusikere på det jeg kan huske.
Tekstene til Nordli Leirvik blir elegant løfta frem av Jenny Frøysa på barytonsaksofon og bassklarinett, svenske August Glännestrand på trommer og elektronikk og Amund Storløkken Åse på vibrafon, klokkespill, trøorgel og synth – alle jazzlinjere som Nordli Leirvik.
Nordli Leirvik skriver underfundige og personlige tekster som gjør at man blir sittende langt fremme på stolen for å få med seg detaljene. og bandet, som har eksistert siden 2018, og vet hvordan de skal kle og utfordre hverandre.”
Tor Hammerø, Nettavisen 13.10.22
Photo: Eiril Nås Høistad