Espen Lind

Biography

Espen Lind (born 13 May 1971) is a Norwegian record producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is one half of the production team Espionage, and together with his long time professional partner Amund Bjorklund he has written and/or produced songs for artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Train, Jennifer Hudson, Emeli Sandé and Selena Gomez. Espen has also been a mentor on the Norwegian version of The Voice.

Solo records

Espen Lind released his first solo album, Mmm...Prepare to Be Swayed, in 1995 under the moniker "Sway". Only released in Norway, it received mixed reviews and sold approximately 5,000 copies. His commercial breakthrough came in 1997 with the single "When Susannah Cries×When Susannah Cries1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1When Susannah Cries (single version)3:432When Susannah Cries (acoustic version)3:45", which was a hit in several European and Latin American countries, including Norway, where it was number one for six weeks. His second album Red went on to sell more than 100,000 copies in Norway, and 350,000 copies worldwide, earning Lind three Norwegian Grammy awards (Spellemannprisen) in 1998, including Artist of the Year.
2000 saw Lind releasing his third album, This Is Pop Music×This Is Pop Music2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Joni Mitchell On The Radio3:282Black Sunday4:133Coming Home3:564Everything's Falling Apart4:155Everybody Says3:476The Dolphin Club3:267I Want You5:178This Is The Time! This Is The Place!3:489Life Is Good4:0210Pop From Hell4:56, and the singles "Black Sunday×Black Sunday2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Black Sunday (Radio Edit)3:582Black Sunday (The Fruitmunch Version)4:243Black Sunday (Instrumental Version)3:58" and "Life Is Good×Life Is Good2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Life Is Good (album version)4:042Life Is Good (acoustic version)3:453Life Is Good (instrumental)4:044Where the Lost Ones Go4:23". The album also contains a duet, "Where the Lost Ones Go×Where The Lost Ones Go2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Where The Lost Ones Go2One Day3He's A Lot4Where The Lost Ones Go (Instrumental)", with Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø. The album reached gold status in Norway but was generally perceived to be a commercial disappointment compared to its predecessor. After a 3-year break Lind released a new single, "Unloved×Unloved10 December 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Unloved3:562Hold on To Me4:00", in December 2004, followed by the album April×April28 February 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Million Miles Away4:262Unloved3:473Look Like Her4:074Driving Your Car3:555Life Will Turn Around3:516Pride4:027Stay Away Tonight3:178Happy3:349Truth Hurts4:2210Movie Star4:13, in January 2005.
In 2006, Lind, together with fellow Norwegian artists Kurt Nilsen (World Idol winner), Alejandro Fuentes and Askil Holm released the concert album Hallelujah Live×Hallelujah Live2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hallelujah3:22, featuring songs from the foursome's solo records as well as several songs by other artists, most notably a cover version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".
Lind released a new single, "Scared of Heights×Scared Of Heights9 May 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Scared Of Heights3:27", in May 2008. His fifth album titled Army of One×Army of One1 January 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Sea of Love2:562Clearly You Are Falling in Love3:463Sweet Love3:264Childhood Fields of Clover3:315Scared of Heights3:266Army of One4:177Hopelessly Happy3:138The Music Takes You There4:229Nightrider4:1610I Don’t Let My Heart Be Trouble2:23 was released on 23 June 2008.
In January 2009, he received the award "Årets Spelleman" (artist of the year) at the Norwegian Grammy Awards.

Writing and producing

Espen Lind has written and produced music for a number of artist, such as "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé and "Drive By" and "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. Together with writing partner Amund Bjørklund in the production team Espionage he has also written and/or produced songs for artists Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and Leona Lewis. Morten Harket covered Lind's "Scared of Heights×Scared Of Heights9 May 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Scared Of Heights3:27" for his album Out of My Hands. In 2025, Lind composed and produced the soundtrack for the TV-show "Requiem for Selina".

Selected credits

"Enough" – Emeli Sandé
"Sing Together" – Train
"Mermaid" – Train, No. 12 Billboard Adult Pop Songs
"Bruises" – Train, No. 79 Billboard Hot 100
"50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – Train, No. 20 Billboard Hot 100
"Drive By" – Train, No. 10 Billboard Hot 100
"Brick By Brick" – Train
"Hey, Soul Sister" – Train, No. 3 Billboard Hot 100
"Half Moon Bay" – Train
"Can't Stop the Rain" – Jennifer Hudson
"Pastime" – Lionel Richie
"My Little Secret" – Cavo
"Ghost" – Cavo
"I Need a Girl" – Trey Songz – No. 6 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
"Irreplaceable" – Beyoncé – No. 1 Billboard Hot 100
"With You" – Chris Brown – No. 2 Billboard Hot 100
"Angel" – Leona Lewis
"Now You Tell Me" – Jordin Sparks
"Just for the Record" – Jordin Sparks
"Go On Girl" – Ne-Yo
"One Word" – Elliott Yamin
"I Don't Wanna Care" – Jessica Simpson
"The One That Got Away" – Johnta Austin
"Underdog" – Jonas Brothers
"The Very First Night" - Taylor Swift
"I Will Be With You" – Sarah Brightman/Paul Stanley
"The Last Goodbye" – Atomic Kitten
"Cry" – Kym Marsh
"Come Back To Me" – David Cook – No. 6 Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks
"Life on the Moon" – David Cook
"Lie" – David Cook
"It's Gotta Be Love" – Lee DeWyze
"Stay Here" – Lee DeWyze