Unni Wilhelmsen's debut album, released in 1996.

All songs written by Unni Wilhelmsen, except 'Can't Stop' written by Unni Wilhelmsen, Marius Brovold, Tor Haugsnes. Rearranged by Unni Wilhelmsen & Jens Bugge Wesseltoft.

     

Vocals & Guitars: Unni Wilhelmsen
Synths & programming: Bugge Wesseltoft
Drums: Tore Wildhauer
Bass: Kyrre Sætran
Guitar: Fredrik Sager
Strings: Vertavo
Additional vocals: Paal Flaata & Tor Arne Sæterholen

 

Unni's words

«I never dreamt of releasing a record. My relationship with music was a private one. I wrote stuff, but I never played in a band. I didn't make demos for record companies or attend talent competitions. In fact I started playing the guitar a year and a half before these recordings were made.

The lyrics are reflections, experiences, people and memories that I needed to take a closer look at or just didn't want to forget. So I tried to put them in a beautiful private place. Like in a musical diary.

I chose Bugge Wesseltoft to be my producer. Together with my hand picked band, we made an album I'm still proud of. We recorded in the basement of Bugges home and in a micro studio (in a chocolate factory in Oslo) called Bugges Room, which couldn't fit both me and a drum kit at the same time. I had to wait in the hall during drum sessions.

The Vertavo String Quartet and my old friend and fellow dish washer from Rikshospitalet's main kitchen, Thor Arne Sæterholen, are guest starring.The songs came out varied, the production energetic, - the band opens it up. I couldn't have hoped for a better debut.

My very first single, Won't Go Near You Again, was the song that made Ole (I'dole) Evenrud offer me a record contract. I played the song to him in his office. He made the offer on the spot. I had low expectations and a curious mind sneaking into this business as the album title indicates. But the audience embraced both the single and the album.

Paal Flaata (Midnight Choir) sings gorgeously on the second single, This Means You To Me Now, which still stands. After signing the deal we went recording the album, and the next thing I knew I was performing live on National TV. I had scarcely played live before. All at once I was on top of things and the real learning process had begun.»

 

Additional info

To Whom It May Concern achieved two Norwegian Grammy Awards (Spellemannprisen):

    - Female Artist of the Year
    - Album of the Year

The album also achieved the Golden Record of Sales.
 

Recorded & Produced by Bugge Wesseltoft at Bugges Room
Mixed & Mastered by Alar Suurna
Mixed at Oslo Lydstudio
Mastered at Polar Studio AB Sweden
Svenna Mohaugen & Njål F. Lie are secretly involved
Tore Wildauer plays dw drums & Zabian cymbals

Foto: Bjørn Opsahl
Cover Design: Publicis FCB
Illustrations & writing: Unni Wilhelmsen

 

Fun stuff

If you let the last track continue to play after the song is over and everything is quiet, you'll discover that 'Wont Go Near You Again' suddenly starts playing again.