Paul Inge Vikingstad (FOH Engineer)

[iconiclight]

Paul Inge Vikingstad

Sometimes referred to as "Pi" - Mr. Paul Inge is an accomplished musician and performer and is now (since 2014) the FOH Engineer (The "front of house"  engineer focuses on mixing audio for the audience) for AURORA and the band! He can be seen in many group photos of the band when they're off stage or traveling.

Band photo: Paul Inge Vikingstad is pictured on the far right [1]

also pictured from left to right, Magnus Skylstad, Selma Stang, O. Martin, Aurora Aksnes, and Alf Godbolt.

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Paul Inge was a member of Orbo & the Longshots, the bass player for the award winning album "High Roller" 2008 ("High Roller" was awarded the Norwegian equivalent to the American Grammy Award, Spellemannsprisen)! You can watch and hear the video from this bluesy group called High Roller (really really good!), with Paul playing bass here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsGFhuvrLo0

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Paul has become a familiar face to AURORA fans everywhere thanks to the many photos posted of the band during touring and travels on social media!

photo: Paul Inge pictured on the far left [2]

To Paul's right is Silje Grimstad (lighting designer), Aurora, Selma Stang, Alf Godbolt, and O. Martin. (Magnus Skylstad is behind the camera).

Paul Inge is also mentioned in the linear notes of ALL MY DEMONS GREETING ME AS A FRIEND by AURORA wherein she writes: "Thanks to my band (O.Martin, Magnus, Selma and Alf - Pi and Silje)"

CONNECT with Pi:
www.facebook.com/paul.vikingstad
www.instagram.com/piviking/

references/sources
[1] www.facebook.com/iamAURORA/
[2] www.instagram.com/magnusskylstad

[iconiclight]

Did you know? Paul Inge Vikingstad, AURORA Sound Engineer, is in the Guinness Book Of World Records for Most concerts performed in 24 hours? Wow! Many achievements this talented fellow!

www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-concerts-performed-in-24-hours

Paul provided us a wonderful photo of AURORA, Magnus Skylstad, and O. Martin at Glastonbury 2016 --> Music HISTORY!



source(s): www.instagram.com/piviking/ www.instagram.com/auroramusic/ iconiclight.tumblr.com/post/146548387061/auroramusic-instagram-july-26-2016-yesterday

[iconiclight]

Paul Inge Vikingstad has provided many famous ICONIC photos of our beloved AURORA to fans…

“Took a sneak picture of Aurora and Manchesto, her latest and best friend. True love. #aurora #manchesto #truelove“

source: iconiclight.tumblr.com/post/146549936941/paul-inge-vikingstad-has-provided-many-famous

[likkevrom]

Jun 27, 2016 12:17:54 GMT iconiclight said:

Paul Inge Vikingstad has provided many famous ICONIC photos of our beloved AURORA to fans…

“Took a sneak picture of Aurora and Manchesto, her latest and best friend. True love. #aurora #manchesto #truelove“

Slightly larger version posted by Paul today (when AURORA played Manchester again) (image):

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb0YH5hsaya

Caption:

Aurora & Manchesto❤️, 2.2.2016, Manchester, England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #aurora #auroramusic #manchesto 📷 by Paul Inge Vikingstad

And I'll take this opportunity to tag dwp I hope you are well and just wanted to say thank you for all the great posts in the past. Your posts still bring joy to this day. The same goes for all the others who post or have posted here, thank you all!

Back ontopic, I believe Paul Inge Vikingstad's Facebook has brought many good photos to light in the past. Currently they are also active on Instagram as aurorabackstage.

[likkevrom]

I know this is band info, but maybe it can also serve as a place for general photos made by Paul Inge Vikingstad.

Feel free to move to the general photo thread, if it's better there.

One around the time of Lollapalooza 2016:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIjk_x8joIk

Caption, August 1 (image):

Aurora found herself in Chicago🙏

Photo: Paul Inge Vikingstad

The one taken at Glastonbury 2016, already in the thread, larger from his Facebook:

Caption June 25:

Rett på neste konsert.

[likkevrom]

Old interview with Paul Inge Vikingstad at Midtsiden:
www.midtsiden.no/han-serverer-lyden-av-aurora

Also in the forum here.

Title: Han serverer lyden av Aurora (He serves up the sound of Aurora)
Written by (Norwegian): Kjetil Vasby Bruarøy
Photo by: Kjetil Vasby Bruarøy
Published: March 25, 2016, 18:51

Photo link:

SPOILER: Click to show

https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ahcmq7tx/production/e925edb7c59a8adfc89948bd614a9a63c3b97037-1140x760.jpg?q=100

Han serverer lyden av Aurora

Det starta med at Paul Inge Vikingstad sendte ei åtvaring til Aurora. No reiser han verda rundt som lydmann for stjerna frå same bygd.


Paul Inge Vikingstad, her under Aurora-konserten i Oseana i februar. (Foto: Kjetil Vasby Bruarøy)

Kjetil Vasby Bruarøy
fredag 25. mars 2016 18:51

«I've attended way over a thousand concerts in my life (so far) and after that you learn to appreciate good sound during a concert. Well, tonight was one of those nights I couldn't believe my ears» skriv den nederlandske musikkmeldaren Peter Heuts på Facebook.

Heuts er ikkje åleine om å dela ut skryt til Aurora sin lydmann, Paul Inge Vikingstad, også han frå Os.

«Lyden er omtrent så perfekt som det går an å få til – ikke minst takket være hennes faste lydmann Paul Inge Vikingstad som strengt tatt er et uunnværlig anonymt medlem av bandet» skriv Engelen i BT i sin rapport frå rekordkonserten i Oseana i februar (sjå video frå konserten).

Men korleis fekk Paul Inge og Aurora kontakt?

«Ikkje signér med den første og beste»

Det er berre litt over tre år sidan Aurora si første låt blei lasta opp på Urørt og to år sidan ho fekk terningkast 6 av VG for Bylarm-konserten. Det var etter denne riksdekkande merksemda at Paul Inge Vikingstad blei del av bandet til Aurora. Men første dialog var litt i forkant av dette.

Paul Inge sat heime i huset sitt på Lekven og sendte ei melding via Facebook. Årsaka var at han hadde sett eit videoklipp av unge Aksnes som spelte gitar på ei skuleavslutting.

– «Eg synest du er flink. Ikkje signér med den første og beste. Eg har kontaktar» skreiv eg. Ho sendte meg svar der ho takka høfleg, og har heldigvis kome under gode vinger, men det er nok ikkje takka vera denne meldinga, seier Paul Inge og ler.

Vikingstad, som blant anna har fartstid som bassist i det tidlegare Os-baserte ORBO-bandet The Longshots, hadde for to år sidan nyleg byrja å jobba som fast lydmann på Madam Felle. Nærmast samtidig tok to musikarar han kjenner, og har spelt med før, Odd Martin Skålnes og Magnus Skylstad, kontakt. Dei ville ha god lyd til den gryande stjerna dei hadde byrja å spela for. Dermed blei han ein fast del av bandet.

Via Kristiansand til Os

30-åringen Paul Inge kjem frå Karmøy og har alltid vore opptatt av god lyd, men ikkje på det tekniske plan.

– Eg blei tidleg opptatt av kvalitet på lyd i form, men ikkje på anna nivå enn kva som kom ut av høgtalarane. Det var først med Orbo at fagkunnskapen tvang seg fram. Vi brukte mykje pengar på lydmenn i situasjonar der det ikkje var naudsynt. Så blei det til at det ansvaret stadig oftare blei mitt bord.

Heilt utan teoretisk musikkunnskap er han likevel ikkje. Vikingstad sette seg tidleg som mål å leva av musikk, til foreldra si store fortviling. Han fekk ikkje lov å velja musikklinje, i staden blei det matte, fysikk og kjemi.

Men så kom han inn på Kristiansand Musikkkonservatorium. Han speler fleire instrument, men bass har alltid vore hovudinstrumentet.

Etter at han tok bachelorgrad i Kristiansand gjekk turen til Bergen. Vikingstad hadde blitt invitert med i bandet til Odin Staveland, som seinare blei del av Vamp. Så sto The Longshots for tur og Paul Inge flytta til Os.

På fulltid

Heilt frå han var eit par og tjue år har musikk vore hovudinntektskjelda, dei siste tre åra har musikk vore fulltidsgesjeft.

Paul Inge rakk å spela Rikskonsertar med William Hut før han fekk fast jobb på Madam Felle, ein jobb han «teknisk sett» framleis har.

Han bur framleis på Lekven og set pris på utsikta mot Folgefonna og atmosfæra i Os når han, stadig sjeldnare, er heime for eit pust i bakken før ny tur med Aurora. (Nei, han sit ikkje og ser på Fonna i påsken, han er på oppdrag på ein festival i Sogn).

– Ei takknemleg oppgåve

Etter TV-suksess på Jimmy Fallon og to smikkfulle suksesskonsertar i Amsterdam og Berlin går turen snart til USA igjen for start på Aurora sin meir eller mindre utselte turné på tre veker.

– Er det skummelt å ha ansvar for lyden til ein musikar som har blitt så stor?

– Det kan vera krevjande når du i tillegg til eit stort ansvar kjem til nye rom og nytt utstyr.

– Men Aurora syng så reint og klart at det er ei takknemleg oppgåve!

«Superb drums, superb bass, superb vocals and even superb silences (no buzzing or humming: just silence). Oh: the concert was superb too. Norwegian, very young, AURORA. No wonder she sells out so many places. Unforgettable!!!» held nederlandske Peter Heuts fram.

– Aurora og resten av bandet og apparatet rundt er ein fryd å vera på tur med. Vi har det veldig kjekt saman anten vi er i Montenegro eller Island. No ser eg berre fram til nok ein USA-tur, seier Paul Inge Vikingstad.

Rough translation:

He serves up the sound of Aurora

It started with Paul Inge Vikingstad sending a warning to Aurora. Now he travels around the world as a soundman for the star from the same village.


Paul Inge Vikingstad, here during the Aurora concert in Oseana in February (Photo: Kjetil Vasby Bruarøy)

Kjetil Vasby Bruarøy
Friday March 25, 2016, 18:51

"I've attended way over a thousand concerts in my life (so far) and after that you learn to appreciate good sound during a concert. Well, tonight was one of those nights I couldn't believe my ears" wrote Dutch music critic Peter Heuts on Facebook.

Heuts is not alone in praising Aurora's sound man, Paul Inge Vikingstad, also from Os.

"The sound is about as perfect as it is possible to get - not least thanks to her regular soundman Paul Inge Vikingstad, who is strictly speaking an indispensable anonymous member of the band" writes Engelen i BT in his report of the record-breaking concert in Oseana in February (see video from the concert).

But how did Paul Inge and Aurora get in touch?

"Don't sign with just anyone"

It is just over three years since Aurora's first song was uploaded to Urørt and two years since she received a 6/6 score by VG for the Bylarm concert. It was after this national attention that Paul Inge Vikingstad became part of Aurora's band. But the first dialogue they had was a little before that.

Paul Inge was sitting at home in his house in Lekven and sent a message via Facebook. The reason was that he had seen a video of young Aksnes playing guitar at a school graduation.

- "I think you're good. Don't sign with just anyone. I have contacts," I wrote. She sent me a reply thanking me politely, and has fortunately landed well, but it's probably not thanks to this message, says Paul Inge with a laugh.

Vikingstad, who among other things has experience as a bassist in the former Os-based ORBO band The Longshots, had two years ago recently started working as a permanent soundman at Madam Felle. At almost the same time, two musicians he knows and had played with before, Odd Martin Skålnes and Magnus Skylstad, contacted him. They wanted good sound for the rising star they had started playing for. So he became a permanent part of the band.

Via Kristiansand til Os

30-year-old Paul Inge comes from Karmøy and has always been interested in good sound, but not on a technical level.

- I became interested early on in the quality of sound in form, but not at any other level than what came out of the loudspeakers. It wasn't until Orbo that expertise forced its way in. We spent a lot of money on sound engineers in situations where it wasn't necessary. Then that responsibility increasingly became my responsibility.

However, he is not entirely without theoretical musical knowledge. Early on, Vikingstad set himself the goal of making a living from music, much to his parents' dismay. He was not allowed to choose a music course; instead he chose maths, physics and chemistry.

But then he was accepted at the Kristiansand Music Conservatory. He plays several instruments, but bass has always been his main instrument.

After completing his bachelor's degree in Kristiansand, he travelled to Bergen. Vikingstad had been invited to join Odin Staveland's band, which later became part of Vamp. Then it was The Longshots' turn and Paul Inge moved to Os.

Full time

Ever since he was a couple of decades old, music has been his main source of income, and for the last three years music has been his full-time occupation.

Paul Inge managed to play national concerts with William Hut before he got a permanent job at Madam Felle, a job he "technically" still has.

He still lives in Lekven and appreciates the view of Folgefonna and the atmosphere in Os when he, increasingly rarely, is home for a breather before a new trip with Aurora. (No, he doesn't sit and watch Fonna at Easter, he is on assignment at a festival in Sogn).

- A rewarding task

After TV success on Jimmy Fallon and two stunningly successful concerts in Amsterdam and Berlin, Aurora will soon be heading back to the US for the start of their more or less sold-out three-week tour.

- Is it scary to be responsible for the sound of a musician who has become so big?

- "It can be demanding when you have new venues and new equipment in addition to a huge responsibility.

- But Aurora sings so cleany and clearly that it's a rewarding task!

"Superb drums, superb bass, superb vocals and even superb silences (no buzzing or humming: just silence). Oh: the concert was superb too. Norwegian, very young, AURORA. No wonder she sells out so many places. Unforgettable!!!" said Peter Heuts from the Netherlands.

- Aurora and the rest of the band and the surrounding apparatus are a delight to be on tour with. We have a great time together whether we're in Montenegro or Iceland. Now I'm just looking forward to another trip to the USA, says Paul Inge Vikingstad.