Jarle Bernhoft

Biography

Jarle Bernhoft (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈjɑ̀ːlə ˈbæ̀ɳhɔft]; né Jarle Norman Bernhoft-Sjødin; born 21 June 1976), known professionally as Bernhoft (often stylized as Bern/hoft), is a Norwegian singer, musician and songwriter. 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.

Explicit Lyrics

Hailing from Nittedal, Bernhoft attended Rud Upper Secondary School in Bærum where he joined the musical scene. 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).

Span

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. In late 2023, the band announced reunion shows at Rockefeller Music Hall in February 2024, twenty years after the release of their debut album.

Other collaborations

Bernhoft has contributed on a number of recordings and concerts with mostly Norwegian artists, such as Hanne Hukkelberg, Dadafon, Bigbang and The Køhn/Johansen Sextet.
He also played in the band Green Granadas using the stage name Rod Hot.

Solo

Bernhoft released his first solo album Ceramik City Chronicles×Ceramik City Chronicles1 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1On Time3:492So Many Faces4:053Streetlights3:324Sunday5:415Fly Away4:096On Individuality2:047In the Street Where the World Passes Me By4:218Prayer to a Landlord5:169Rats & Raccoons4:1010Firm & Deep4:2511On Patience4:3712The One6:47 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×Solidarity Breaks2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Sing Hello & Some More4:272Choices3:493Stay With Me4:274Good Intentions4:015C'Mon Talk3:426A Bad Place to Reside1:557Control3:358Space in My Heart5:009Prophet4:3710Shout3:5511Buzz Aldrin5:1212In Tangerine3:3313The Light (demo)4:2514Choices (live)4:5115C'Mon Talk (live)4:16, was released the next year in January 2011. It topped the VG-lista, 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×Islander25 April 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Come Around With Me4:032Wind You Up3:273Freedom3:484Don't Let Me Go5:075Chale (skit)1:216Everything Will Be Alright5:047One Way Track4:368No Us, No Them5:419Arsy (skit)0:3610ESIWALK3:3911I Believe in All the Things You Don't5:09 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".
His album Islander was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for the 2015 Grammy Awards ceremony, held in February 2015.

In popular culture

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".
In July 2013 and again in June 2014, he was featured as a musical guest on Conan on TBS.
From 2023 to 2024, Bernhoft served as a coach on The Voice Norway, and returned after a one-season hiatus in 2026.

Albums

With Explicit Lyrics

1996: Fleshpulse (EP)
1998: Lipshave
With Span

2004: Mass Distraction
2005: Vs. Time
With Børre Dalhaug's Bigbandblast

2004: Bigbandblast! (Real Records)
Solo (studio)

Solo (live)

Singles

With Span
2002: "Baby's Come Back"
2002: "On My Way Down"
2003: "Found"
2004: "Don't Think the Way They Do"
2005: "Cut Like Diamonds"
Solo
2008: "Streetlights"
2008: "Sunday"
2009: "Fly Away"
2011: "C'mon Talk"
2011: "Choices"
2012: "Stay with Me"
2012: "Shout" (France: #187)
2014: "Come Around" (France: #181)
2015: "Everyone's A Stranger"
2016: "We Have a Dream"
2021: "Say It Isn't So"
2021: "C'mon Talk V2"
2021: "Call out Kids"
2021: "Clearly Confused"
2021: "All My Loving"