Biography

A powerful multi-cultural creative force and true musical citizen of the globe, singer songwriter Therese Ulvan is an inspiration to every young girl who ever dreamed of sharing her innate gifts with the world. When she was growing up on Hitra, a small island of 4,000 inhabitants just off the coast of Norway, there was no music school for her to attend but she joined a blues-rock band at 13—an age where she had to be accompanied by her parents just to get into the clubs!

Inspired by everyone from Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Wonder to Sting, Gloria Estefan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, the young performer showed immediate promise but could have scarcely imagined that one day, her heartfelt songs and dynamic voice would lead her thousands of miles away, to a Los Angeles recording studio to work with some of the world’s best known jazz artists. Over the past year, Therese has been writing and producing tracks for her upcoming debut album with L.A. based keyboardist and vibraphonist Roger Burn, well known on the local circuit as the leader of the fusion band Shapes. Other famed musicians contributing to this eagerly anticipated project are legendary Yellowjackets members Russell Ferrante (keyboards) and Jimmy Haslip (bass), Shapes members Andy Suzuki (sax), Reggie Carson (double bass) and Tollak Ollestad (harmonica), drummer Dave Derge, percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and smooth jazz guitar great Richard Smith. The albums co-producer is the well known Wayne Cook, former keyboardist to Alice Cooper, Jackons Brownie and Steppenwolf. Also the man behind the hit song “Baby Come Back”. Cook has a long merit of 15 golden albums.

“It’s so incredible having the opportunity to work with these guys, who are the best at what they do,” says Therese, who currently divides her time between the U.S. and Norway, where she has a full schedule of directing amateur children’s and adult choirs, teaching voice and piano, and touring and conducting voice seminars. Therese has also performed numerous times in America, England, Norway and Mexico.

“My goal in life is to continue to touch and inspire people with my voice, and with these musicians, I feel like I’m in the middle of something incredible, receiving gift after gift that they give me. Not only are they sharing their talents with me, but they are imparting creative and career advice and entertaining me with stories of their lives in music. It’s a rewarding experience in so many ways, and I can’t wait to share the incredible songs we’re creating together with the world.”

The musical giants involved in creating Therese’s solo debut are, in turn, finding joy in the process of working with an up and coming artist of her talent and emotional depth. Therese likes to use the gypsy expression “Flies in your Blood” (which they say when it’s time to move on to the next place) to explain the intense wanderlust that has driven her multiple passions over the years.

She discovered her true calling while attending a singing course known as LIPA at Paul McCartney’s music school in Liverpool. After attending the Nordic Institute for Scene and Studio for a time, she enrolled at the University of Leeds in England, where she received a Bachelor of Jazz. She formed Royst there in 2002 with three other Norwegian natives; rather than compete with each other as individual vocalists, the idea was to help each member develop their own unique voice talents. In addition to a busy schedule of touring and hosting seminars, the group released its debut album Nordic Initiative consisting of an array of contemporary sounds that draws from jazz, Norwegian folk and world music, in 2004.

Therese’s desire to pursue a solo career led her to move to the U.S. in late 2004 and enroll in an Encore course at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood; she later continued her education privately, studying with well known jazz pianist John Novello. She met Roger Burn at one of the MI class seminars and was immediately impressed with his honesty and integrity. She gave him a demo a short time later during one of Shapes’ gigs at The Baked Potato in North Hollywood and he immediately saw potential in the young singer; she in turn was excited about the music of Shapes and told him that it was her goal to sometime work with “guys like you.” Burn told of all the ups and downs of the music industry and filled her in on the intricate details of making a record, then suggested that he could help her develop her potential as a songwriter and also produce her first album.

Therese—who likens herself to a “jazzy Carole King, a bluesy version of Norah Jones” and performs a colorful blend of uptempo and midtempo songs and ballads--explains that a few tunes very dear to her. All of Therese’s original songs are inspired by real life experiences, including “Too Late,” about a chance encounter with an ex-boyfriend who wanted to get back in touch. “Turnaround,” which features Russell Ferrante’s piano solo and Richard Smith on guitar, is based on her father’s experiences of losing his boat building firm a few years ago, yet turning the loss into an opportunity to create a more thriving business and life for himself. “You Could Never Chain Me” was written after witnessing her friend’s breakup before her eyes: “Her boyfriend told her they’d be perfect if she’d only change, but I wrote this to let her know she shouldn’t be tied down to that kind of person!” “See You In Everything” touches on being so madly in love with someone that you visualize that person in everyone else’s face, while “Not What I Want” is about the perils of always seeking the answers to your life’s longings outside yourself when they’re really right inside. “People simply need to listen to the silence in their own hearts,” she says.

Therese is also including a few unique cover songs in the mix: Jimmy Webb’s little heard “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress,” which she is recording as a tribute to the tragic late Bulgarian jazz singer Radka Toneff, who once recorded it; and Todd Rundgren’s irrepressible mid-70s chestnut “Hello It’s Me,” which features Richard Smith on mandolin.

“Music is my life, my mission, passion and love,” Therese says. “It keeps me going day in and day out. Through music I’ve had magical moments both onstage and in studios and I’ve been able to tour many countries. I’ve been very blessed with meeting fantastic people who later became co-workers and friends. My world is filled with creativity, inspiration and miracles. Life is amazing and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes I feel a bit nervous when I’m working here in the U.S. so far from my home and family, but I have many good friends here and I am very committed to taking this great risk because I know it’s what I am here to do. There’s so much for me to explore, and I’m enjoying the process of making my dreams come true.”