Biography

Active: 2020s Formed: 2020 in Oslo, Norway Genre: Pop/Rock Styles: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Symphonic Rock, Fusion, Classical, Pop, Rock, Reggae, Blues, Jazz Group Members: Bjorn Øyvinn Bugge, Atle Rakvaag, Arne Martinussen, Jon Grimsby, Ann Helen Hjemli, Jon Ruder, Bente Mari Mortensen, Atle Fretheim

Composer, arranger, producer, and guitarist Bjørn Øyvinn Bugge is the creative force behind Zo Popi. Bugge has a strong interest in art and has collaborated closely with artist Sigurd Bronger to gain permission to use his absurd and imaginative jewelry art as cover art. He has also worked with designer Håvard Gjelseth, who has integrated art, text, and music into a conceptual whole.

The background for the band name Zo Popi comes from Bugge overhearing someone respond ironically after listening to the band’s music: “The music is just SO POPI, honestly.” That remark sparked the idea for the name Zo Popi.

Zo Popi recorded its first album in 1993, but the band’s vocalist died suddenly after the recording. When the band wanted to release the album a few years later, the digital master tape had disintegrated, and the album was therefore lost. The band dissolved, and the members continued their careers in other groups.

In 2020, Zo Popi restarted with the same members as before, strengthened by two vocalists and a saxophonist.

New songs were written, and the recording of the album “Do It Right Now” (2022) began on March 12, 2020. On the same day, many countries shut down all social gathering places, making live performances practically impossible in 2020 and 2021. Zo Popi was finally able to hold its release concert for Do It Right Now in April 2022.

Professor and music analyst Thomas Hylland Eriksen said the following about Do It Right Now: “… one of the cheekiest, most varied, warmest, and most sophisticated albums I’ve heard in a long time.”

American musician and producer Michael Blair, who has worked with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Lou Reed, offered this powerful praise: “Zo Popi is so creative, fun, intricate, well-thought-through. Impressive, indeed.”

Progressive Rock Central.com wrote: “Zo Popi’s album Do It Right Now (2022) presents a boldly inventive mix of high-spirited music that defies conventional genre boundaries. The band draws inspiration from a diverse range of influences, including the spirited music of Igor Stravinsky; the harmonic style of Joni Mitchell; and the delightful eccentricity of Frank Zappa. Furthermore, Zo Popi’s sound encompasses elements of 1970s folk-rooted progressive rock (reminiscent of Jethro Tull); the laid-back bossa nova Brazilian flavors of Astrud and João Gilberto; the emotional melodies of Jan Garbarek; and the atonality of Alban Berg, among others.”

The next Zo Popi album was recorded in 2023 and released in 2024: “Next” (2024).

Next (2024) was selected as the album recommendation of the month by music journalist Øyvind Rønning of Dagbladet. Rønning writes: “Zo Popi’s music lies in the tension between pop and contemporary music, alternating between balance and chaos, harmony and disharmony. The band creates shamelessly genre-transcending and playful music. Do you prefer art music, jazz, pop, or rock? With Zo Popi you don’t have to choose – let yourself be surprised.”

“A blissful mix of genres, indeed. I would argue there’s some funk in there as well, and the ‘environmental track’ Protect What Has Been Given For Free is mostly reggae. A little over a month ago, the second album from the band—who call themselves a music collective but are led by main composer and producer Bjørn Øyvinn Bugge (guitar)—was released. Vocals are provided by Jon Ruder and Ann Helen Hjemli, while the rhythm section consists of seasoned musicians Jon Grimsby (drums/percussion) and Atle Rakvåg (bass). Arne Martinussen plays Hammond organ, piano, and synth. Three horn players help ‘complete’ Next.

You could safely say the music has matured over time. Okay, for example, was first performed as part of the jazz-rock opera Hr. Lieps at Kristiansund Jazz Club in 1985 and finalized for this album, while the instrumental opener Frank’s Frustration was finished in 20 minutes. Exciting music, often with rapid tempo changes that give me a bit of a Zappa vibe. Another is truly different from the rest of the album, sounding like a cross between a ballad a prog-rock band might have released 50 years ago and a fairly recent musical-theatre song. The same goes for the following track Running, something Andrew Lloyd Webber could have done with a jazz band, while the closing Non Plus Ultra is slightly pompous hard rock with a 1970s twist. Timeless music, indeed!”

The EP “To the Point” (2025) consists of three compositions. Bugge categorized Sigurd Bronger’s art into three main expressions. The idea resulted in a commissioned soundtrack for Bronger’s major exhibition at one of Europe’s most important museums for contemporary art, DIE NEUE SAMMLUNG | DESIGN MUSEUM in Munich during the spring and summer of 2024.