About
Popkanon write and produce songs for music artists.
It started with three childhood friends from Norway who as teenagers shared a common dream of creating music. During the lockdown they had time to virtually reconnect, as they now live on different continents, and continue the path they once started some thirty years ago.
Popkanon is the result.
MORTEN COLLIER GABRIELSEN
Morten was born in 1976 and grew up in Asker, Norway.
After many years in the IT industry, he decided to make a change in his life, and now he co-manage and run a film and audio studio creating digital content for businesses.
He likes sports, travel and socializing. He is a learner of life and appreciates variety and frequent change of scenery. This keeps him inspired, energetic and happy.
The former drummer enjoys the creative process of making music, writing lyrics, playing the guitar and singing.
Popkanon is an amazing project that have brought him closer to his childhood friends. It has also had a positive, therapeutic role for Morten helping him through a long grieving and recovery process after losing his beloved wife in 2016. This reflects many of the lyrics he has written.
“Losing my beloved wife in 2016 has been a big influence and inspiration source to many of the lyrics I have written”
PAAL BAY BRAATHEN
Paal was born in 1976 and grew up in Asker, Norway.
He played all kind of sports growing up, but at age of 15 he had first guitar lessons and began to write songs and recorded at home on tape recorders.
He studied in United States and played soccer for Northern Illinois University, before he completed his master’s degree in finance and International Banking in Scotland. Today Paal lives outside Chicago with his family.
He knows a song is good if it feels right and it touches something inside you. Song writing can’t be forced. You need to feel inspired to begin with a song. But, from there it usually is a lengthy process to finalize it. It is a balancing act to keep the original character of a song vs. perfecting it.
He believes that one of the most important ingredients of PopKanon and their song writing process, is the high tolerance for trial, error, and candid feedback. Let’s try something new. Maybe try something out of the box. A song can suddenly take a turn you didn’t expect. Sometimes it hurts to hear when the other collaborators dislike or have another angle than you to a song. Sometimes it is hard to tell someone that you don’t like a melody, an instrument or idea to a song you are working on. Or even worse, to scratch a song all together. But this makes the result so much better in the end.
“A song is usually at it best after rounds of laughter, tears, arguments, attention and love ”
TOMAS JENSEN
Tomas was born in 1976 and grew up in Asker, Norway.
He is a true craftsman and works with his hands.
Tomas loves the outdoors and to be one with nature, hikes in the mountains or snowboard or ski in the winter. In addition to music, he is passionate about the environment and people.
He sings, plays guitar, bass and the trumpet. His best musical attributes are his good listening ears and his capability to work relentlessly and patiently towards a visual artwork.
He always attempts to entangle himself from genres and defined boxes. Does everything have to be so correct? Tomas thinks it’s better to feel the way and pay attention to what feels right instead.
“It’s no competition. Nobody cares who plays the fastest. It’s about hitting the sweet spot….YOU!”
