Entertainment
Pianists of the World EP Marks John Vegard Schow’s Global Vision
Norwegian composer and pianist John Vegard Schow is set to release an EP that brings together musicians from across Europe. The professor of performing music has spent the past year collaborating with four European pianists on “Pianists of the World,” a project that highlights different approaches to contemporary classical and instrumental music.
Schow’s background in music started young. His mother sang to him, and he experimented with instruments as a child, eventually recording rock songs on a cassette player before teaching himself multiple instruments as a teenager. The foundation was set early for what became a varied career in composition and performance.
With a master’s degree in musicology from the University of Oslo and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from The Grieg Academy, Schow works across multiple genres. “I write music in different genres,” he says. “Jazz, pop, gospel, worship, children’s music, and music for film, theatre and TV.” He’s toured Europe and the US as a pianist, produced music for various artists, and composed for an animated series that’s been viewed in over 180 countries.
Asked to describe his music, Schow keeps it simple. “It’s peaceful music with strong melodies that invites listeners to dream, focus, and relax.” He hopes listeners find “inspiration, calmness, rest, revelations, new ideas and a lot of fun” in his work.
“Pianists of the World” pairs Schow with four established European pianists. The project started in September 2023, when Schow toured Europe with support from Music Norway and Musikkforleggerne, meeting each collaborating composer in their home studios.
The EP consists of four tracks, each a collaboration between Schow and a different European pianist. As of July 30th, 2024, three of the four singles have already been released, each making its own splash in the music world:
- “Swans of Bruges” featuring Tom Kristiaan from Belgium, released on May 25th, 2024
- “Fawns of Amersfoort” with Ron Adelaar from the Netherlands, released on June 13th, 2024
- “Lamb of the Midlands” collaborating with Christof R Davis from the UK, released on July 14th, 2024
(Access all currently released tracks via this Spotify playlist)
The final single, “Crane Dance of Närke,” a collaboration with Rasmus Høisgaard Thomsen (known as Højsgaard) from Sweden/Denmark, is set to drop on August 2nd, 2024, alongside the complete EP.
The project focuses on breaking down musical borders and exploring different pianistic styles. The Norwegian company Make Music Publishing AS holds publisher rights for all tracks on the EP.
The EP will be available on all major streaming platforms on August 2nd, giving listeners access to the full collaboration across Europe.
Schow is already working on what comes next. New solo piano pieces are taking shape for late 2024 and early 2025, along with a project based on the Song of Songs. He’s also composing 150 songs inspired by the Psalms. “There’s always more music to be made,” he says.
Schow’s music and updates can be found on Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. His official website, schow.org, offers more information about his projects and collaborations.
With “Pianists of the World” set to release on August 2nd, Schow continues to explore what’s possible when musicians from different countries collaborate. The EP documents what happens when five pianists from across Europe work together on a shared project.