T H O M A S B E R GER SEN I L L U S I O N S 1 ABOUT THOMAS BERGERSEN Best-selling composer Thomas Bergersen Thomas’ compositions have been featured in his partner, Nick Phoenix which produces was born and raised in Trondheim, Norway. some of the biggest motion picture music for motion picture advertisement By the age of 6 it was obvious that Thomas campaigns in the world, such as Avatar, campaigns. Thomas’ extensive and highly had little interest in playing existing music, Pirates of the Caribbean, Twilight, Narnia, specialized knowledge of digital but would rather come up with something Harry Potter, Da Vinci Code, The Mummy, The orchestration and sample libraries, himself, much to the dismay of his piano Dark Knight and 100s more. He co-owns a combined with his musicality puts him at teacher. Fast forward some decades and company called “Two Steps From Hell” with the top of the world in his craft. HOW ILLUSIONS CAME TO BE ”Illusions” has been my pet project for the last 3 or so years. Every These girls have inspired me so tremendously. I truly could not have time I wrote a piece of music I felt was a little more special than my done this without them. Music is all about expression. To me, music usual output, I would put it aside for this album. theory is an obstruction. I wanted to create a musical soundscape that I love composing music because it liberates me from transcended all ethnic boundaries, combining traditional social conventions and authorities. It is pure freedom to me. western orchestras with folk music culture from around the The last thing I want to be doing is follow academic world. guidelines and rules that directly inhibit my creative freedom. The purpose was to bring all the wonderful musical Music is my sanctum and theory has no access. wonders of the world together in a big collective hug. That is “Illusions” reflects this 100%. why you can hear traces of folk music, from my Norwegian “Illusions” has taken me three years to complete and has been heritage, to the mystical voices of the middle east, to the a long journey that has required more patience than I thought I ethereal voices of the Bulgarian people, to the amazing lyrical had in me. woodwinds in Armenia. I spent so much time searching around the world for new The list goes on. The amazing technology of today unique ideas, musical instruments and most importantly could not be overlooked, so I incorporated a lot of organic inspiration, but little did I know that it was the truly synthesized sounds into the music. It is the year 2011 after incredible vocalists that I would encounter in my venture all, and I wanted to acknowledge that and pay my respect that would shape the musical outcome. to the musical advancement in the technological field as To everyone of you, I am proud, blessed and eternally well. grateful for your amazing musical contributions. I could not In the end, though, it is the wonderful voices from have done this without you. So without further ado, allow me around the world that really glue “Illusions” together. to introduce the singers featured on “Illusions”. THE VOCALISTS Vladislava Vasileva incredibly powerful, unique and with a for her percussion work and vocal From Bulgaria, the wondrous voice of sense of rawness to it that comes from the performances, authentic to the bulgarian Vladislava Vasileva featured on both “Rada”, heart. folk lore sound. Her voice is bright, sparkly, “Dreammaker” and “Femme Fatale” incredibly controlled and magically completely captivated me in a very Elitsa Todorova. Another surprise along my beautiful. I feel blessed to have had the profound way. Not only is her voice delicate way was Elitsa Todorova, a young vocalist chance to work with such a talented woman. like a leaf in the wind, but at the same time from Varna, Bulgaria. Todorova is well known Elitsa is featured in “Soulseeker”. 2 Merethe Soltvedt anything I’ve ever heard and I am absolutely Heaven”. Without her contribution the piece Norwegian Merethe Soltvedt has the most thrilled to have her contribute on my album. would be nothing. angelic voice I have ever heard. Her voice is You can hear her in “Hurt”, “Merchant Prince” like sunshine, it inspires you, makes you feel and “Illusions”. Tina Guo wonderful. It is for good reason that her Tina Guo is one of the most gifted musicians voice is featured on “Ocean Princess”, “Gift of Jenifer Thigpen I’ve ever met. She plays her cello like it is Life”, “Merchant Prince”, “Promise”, “Immortal” Jenifer Thigpen was introduced to me part of her, and she embodies everything and “Remember Me”. through a fellow composer and good friend, that music is about. An amazing woman and Colin O’Malley, and wow, am I glad he did! an amazing musician. Listen to her in Kate St. Pierre Thigpen has an incredibly pure and sweet, “Promise” and “Gift of Life”. Kate St. Pierre is not from this world, yet powerful voice that cuts through even although she’s been known to work with the loudest orchestral parts without ever So as you can see, I once again find myself earthlings like the good folks at Cirque Du becoming strident. She can go from the graced by the enigma of the fairer sex! Soleil! She has the ability to bring even the softest parts to the loudest operatic strongest man to tears. It is more powerful, sections without effort. Thigpen gave her With musical regards, more passionate and more unique than heart in her performance on “A Place In Thomas Bergersen 3 6. GIFT OF LIFE (3:22) 7. RADA (4:35) 8. A PLACE IN HEAVEN (4:13) Featuring Tina Guo (Cello) & Merethe Featuring Vladislava Vasileva (Vocals) Featuring Jenifer Thigpen (Vocals) Soltvedt (Vocals) Rada, Rada “Please don’t sing sad songs for me, We are surrounded by such unbelievable Beautiful Rada Forget your grief and fears, beauty. Life is enigmatic. Life is delicate. Life Why you are so sad For I am in a perfect place is painful. Life is inspiring. Life is love. Life is While you are walking you’re crying Away from pain and tears the tears we shed in joy and in sorrow. Life is You’re crying... magical. Life is the greatest Gift. It’s far away from hunger And hurt and want and pride, I have a place in Heaven With the Master at my side.” 9. MERCHANT PRINCE (2:26) Featuring Merethe Soltvedt (Vocals) & Kate St. Pierre (Vocals) “Merchant Prince” Poem by Annie O’Halloran “I know it is time. My angel to guide me My demon to fight. May God give me strength to trust in my light. I am Prince, I am warrior And my time to stand is here.” 4 1. AURA (7:43) 2. STARVATION (4:26) Lion Guard and the horned gatekeeps that Au·ra/’ôr?/Noun This Bulgarian folk choir driven piece takes a defended that city. The distinctive atmosphere or quality that step into new musical territory, blending They say surrender was a word not known to seems to surround and be generated by a two separate worlds with ethnic percussive the Katan, and that no prouder or more person, thing, or place. flavors, western orchestra and modern stubborn folk has ever lived. Three times synths. This piece of music was based on the thirty the sun rose and fell over the white This piece is a blend of everything from old Bulgarian folk song Aishinko (which cliff city, with no word or letter passing the modern trance music to classical operatic means “little bird”). walls. Their own supplies fading, the and folk music. generals of Tauri commanded a storm on the A driving rhythmic ostinato in the strings “Ruin of the Hungry Ghosts” by Espen Von horned gatekeeps. Truly profound was their propel the piece forward throughout and Hirsch Kummeneje: amazement when they faced the Katan Lion creates a sense of mystique and motion. Guard, still standing to defend their sacred Close your eyes and listen. What colors do “The white cliff city of Katan was under home. Great songs are forever sung about you see? What is your Aura? siege, its port blockaded by the vast Tauric that battle. armada and all farmland put to fire. Despite Yet they pale compared to the dirges sung possessing about the starvation of Katan, forever after thrice the men, the generals of Tauri held known as the Ruin of the Hungry Ghosts.” the attack; such was their fear of the Katan 3. DREAMMAKER (4:17) 4. HURT (1:43) 5. OCEAN PRINCESS (2:52) Featuring Vladislava Vasileva (Vocals) Featuring Kate St. Pierre (Vocals) Featuring Merethe Soltvedt (Vocals) “Dreammaker” Poem by Roy Storey I wanted to create a piece of music that “Ocean Princess” Poem by Annie O’Halloran illustrates our deepest human feelings of “On a night despair, suffering, hurt, heartbreak, loss and “I am myst when the moon is brit tragedy for which words don’t suffice, so I I am dawn i will come for you told Kate St. Pierre to sing like she was I kissed truth we will dance in your dreams. crying. Kate is singing in a spontaneously And fought the dark. over mountains, valleys, streams. made-up language that came to her there But you will not know me. In distant lands, and then, straight from her heart. When we Only two may see me... to rock and roll bands. hurt the most, words cannot comfort us.