Ole Kirkeng

“I think this album feels closer to a sound I’ve been hearing in my head for a while. It leans more into indie-Americana and country. The writing feels punchier and more vulnerable, and I think each song has a clearer message. I love when a song has a point – a destination, a kind of northern star that the protagonist is following. With this record I think I’m one step closer to achieving that.”

“It’s a body of work I’m really proud of. It feels like a big step forward in tapping into my emotional truth. It’s probably my most complete album to date. There’s a real sense of calm through the record, and it’s the first time I have recorded an album with the musicians I play with everyday. I think we developed our own sound, and I’m genuinely excited to share that.”

Gratefulness as an enabler for happiness and confidence

Cowboy Lie Detector Machine was produced by American musician and producer Dominic Billett. “First and foremost – Dom is a wonderful musician, producer and a human. He has a vast amount of experience, and I really love the way he approaches music. Whether it is through the producer lens or on the drums, he plays with a sensitivity and a respect for the song that not a lot of people possess. Having him steering the whole recording ship in the studio gave me and the band the freedom to fully focus on the music. I truly trust in his taste, so I feels like an honor to have his imprint on the record.”

“I think with every year that passes as a musician, the more I try to root this endeavor in gratefulness. The fact that I get to play with these musicians and have a life that allows me to make music gives me so many reasons to be happy. Gratefulness has been a great enabler for both happiness and confidence.”

“Humor can be a vehicle for true vulnerability”

“Bare Minimum is a song I never thought I’d write. A song about shortcomings of men. It’s on the nose, funny, and I’m not sure I dare to say whether its based on personal experiences or not, haha. Cowboy Lie Detector Machine, the title track of the record, is special to me. I love how the title came about: It’s about a woman confronting someone for not being an actual cowboy – ‘She knew I bought the jacket, pre-stained with gasoline / She’s a cowboy lie detector machine.’ It’s a love story where a farm girl meets a city boy.”

Anyone who gets to know Kirkeng on a more personal level, will know his sense of humor. A trait that before this new record, maybe did not shine through in his work as much. Watch the music video for Bare Minimum if you want a quick taste. “I think humor can be a vehicle for true vulnerability. Sometimes it feels easier to access the truth of a feeling through humor. It also feels good not putting a lid on certain aspects of my personality. I find it’s easier to write song when humor is welcomed in the door. It’s a great counterpart to melancholy – it makes the melancholic sentiments more effective when there’s another side to them, not only sitting in sadness.”

Photos

2026 Bare Minimum Cowboy Lie Detector Machine die with your boots on norwegian ole kirkeng oslo