Sommerfeldt: "Making music while travelling gave me a sense of freedom"

For over a decade, Sommerfeldt has been a defining presence in Oslo’s club scene, establishing himself as both a respected DJ and a versatile producer. Across a wide range of aliases — including Sommerstad, Cocktail Sport, Sommerbad and De Fantastiske To — he has developed a distinctive sound rooted in minimal disco, deep house and warm, groove-driven atmospheres. His refined productions have found a home on acclaimed labels such as Paper Recordings, Midnight Riot and Full Pupp, while his remixes for artists like Way Out West and Amp Fiddler have further highlighted his ability to reshape and reinterpret electronic music with a unique perspective.

As Sommerfeldt, his releases on Badabing Diskos have earned international recognition and strong support from some of the most influential names in the scene, including Terry Francis, Nick Warren, Steve Lawler, Eli Escobar, Gerd Janson, Keinemusik and PBR Streetgang. Blending Oslo’s rich underground heritage with a timeless approach to dance music, Sommerfeldt continues to create music that connects the intimacy of the club with a wider global audience.

Looking at your journey under different aliases leading up to Sommerfeldt, what do you feel "Melodi" reveals about you today that your earlier work didn’t yet express?

"Melodi" is probably the closest I've come to expressing who I am as an artist. The last few years have really shaped me, both musically and personally.

I'm no longer interested in chasing trends or trying to be the next big thing. This album is about trusting my instincts and reconnecting with the sounds that made me fall in love with club music in the first place.

The album moves through ambient, new wave, balearic, and early 2000s trance influences. How do you maintain emotional coherence while navigating so many different sonic languages within a single project?

It's quite similar to how I DJ, so it feels natural to me. I've never been too concerned with genre boundaries.

I'm inspired by a lot of different music, and as long as it creates a certain feeling, it belongs. For me, the emotional thread is more important than stylistic consistency.

You recorded parts of the album while traveling, using hardware samplers and synths, and incorporated natural sounds like ocean waves and birds. How did these "real-world" elements change the way you approach production in the studio?

Making music while travelling gave me a sense of freedom. In the studio it's easy to fall into familiar routines, but working with limited gear forces you to be more creative and present.

Recording sounds from my surroundings added another layer of life to the music. I wanted those elements to feel subtle and organic rather than obvious—part of the atmosphere rather than the main focus.

You collaborated with artists like Embla Maria, Sigmund Floyd, and others contributing vocals, guitars, and percussion. How important was it for you to “let go” and share creative space with others on such a personal album?

Even though Melodi is a very personal record, collaboration was an important part of the process.

The people involved brought their own character and ideas to the music, often taking it somewhere I wouldn't have reached alone. I've learned that some of the best moments happen when you leave room for others to contribute and shape the outcome.

Your career includes remixes for artists like Way Out West and Amp Fiddler, and support from DJs such as Terry Francis, Steve Lawler, and Eli Escobar. How have these international connections and recognitions shaped your sound today, leading up to works like “Universos Paralelos”?

Meeting artists and DJs from different scenes has taught me the importance of having your own identity.

The people I've admired most have always followed their own path rather than chasing trends, and that's something I've tried to carry into my own work. Universos Paralelos reflects that approach—bringing together different influences while staying focused on creating a feeling rather than fitting into a specific genre.

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