Janove Ottesen

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Geir Zahl, Janove Ottesen (middle) and Terje Vinterstø in Copenhagen 2005

Janove Ottesen (born 1975, formerly Jan Ove Ottesen) is a Norwegian musician, born in Bryne, Rogaland. Norway. He specializes in vocals, guitar and barrels. Ottesen gave up his military training for the sake of his beloved pump organ. Janove is behind many of Kaizers Orchestra's songs. The energy he displays during shows has helped Kaizers Orchestra earn the reputation of being a good live band. Janove is always busy writing material for Kaizers Orchestra as well as for solo film projects and for his solo music career. He is married with two children.

1 History
2 Discography
3 External links

[edit] History

Janove was given a guitar by his grandmother as a young boy. Bryne, being the small town that it was, young Janove had nothing to do but play guitar and soccer. Janove and his friend Geir Zahl began writing music in his cellar. From this cooperation strange lyrics and songs emerged, most being recorded on a cheap tape recorder. From there Blod, Snått og Juling came into existence. In 1994 they produced their first studio tape En glad tunnel. Sadly only 50 copies were sold, but for their second album they sought to be more serious. Better studio equipment was used but still sales only reached 100 or copies.

Janove moved to Bergen in 1995 to study but still focused on his musical career. In 1996 he decided to join the army, but soon he regretted the decision and moved back to Bergen as a music teacher. When he returned Janove and Geir decided to change the band name to gnom. They released the album Mys in 1998. The album's first single Hemmelig Beskjed, an ompa song, was the most audience-shifting song. From then on they played more along the lines of folk music. The next folk music song, Bastard, was what set them in the direction that they are in now, also creating their new name for the band. In the song there is a line which is translated as: "I was taken care of by a certain Mr Kaizer. He is the proud owner of the world's heaviest Siamese." The name "Kaizers Orchestra" was derived from this obscure line of lyrics.

After 2 albums had been released by Kaizers Orchestra, Janove decided to launch a solo career while in the works of a 3rd Kaizers album (Maestro, released in 2005). His solo album, Francis' Lonely Nights, which was released in 2004, is entirely in English and contains 12 songs, two of which have their music videos playing in Scandinavia. Maestro was later released as a 2CD Bonus Tour Edition.