The Story Behind a Song – The Sky Above Us

For the attentive listener, there are some nature sounds and birdsong at the very beginning and at the very end. This element is a mix of a recording I made in Sicily in 2011 and recordings from my own garden in the spring of 2025.

The Sky Above Us has gone through several phases. It was first started in 2020. Back then, it was much shorter and simpler in arrangement than the finished version we can hear today. The original working title was “Lyrical Mood”. It was just a short and simple piano theme.

The song was revisited in 2023 for some further changes, before things really started moving in the spring of 2025 and a release was planned. The initial idea was to keep the production fairly “downscaled,” but I ended up doing the opposite and went for a full production. For the first time in my own work, I brought in live acoustic drums (Vegard Fossum) and electric bass (Rudolf Fredly). Until then, I had mostly relied on programmed/sample-based drums and synth bass.

Guitars were also added, and they turned out to play a central role in the final sound. Guitarist Kjell Harald Litangen (Finn Kalvik, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Maria Mena, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Naomi Scott, among others) has left a strong mark on the result!

What about vocals? Maybe we should have some – I thought. After some Googling and research, I reached out to Kirsten Jørgensen, known from the metal bands Evig Natt and Reism. Kirsten wasn’t given any lyrics but was asked to contribute with wordless vocals, so-called vocalise, partly based on the existing melody and partly improvised.

Josh Plotner (USA), a multi-instrumentalist on woodwinds, had previously contributed soprano sax and alto flute on When Echoes Fade (2019), and he joined in again this time, now on alto saxophone. Josh is based in New York, has played extensively on Broadway, on studio recordings with Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), and in films/series such as Babylon, Madam Secretary, and Candy.

My own daughter, Cecilie Welde, also contributed – both with French horn and as the photographer for the cover art.

For the attentive listener, there are some nature sounds and birdsong at the very beginning and at the very end. This element is a mix of a recording I made in Sicily in 2011 and recordings from my own garden in the spring of 2025.


Most of my productions I have mixed myself in my own studio. This time, however, I once again chose to go to ABC Studio and Kjetil Ulland in Etne. After working on a project for so long, it’s really refreshing and relieving to bring in new ears to the process. Kjetil is a skilled and experienced sound engineer who landed the project brilliantly, both with mixing and mastering.

Historien bak en låt – The Sky Above Us

For den våkne lytter høres det litt naturlyder og fuglekvitter i begynnelsen og helt i slutten. Dette lydelementet er en kombinasjon av et opptak jeg gjorde på Sicilia i 2011 og opptak fra egen hage våren 2025.

The Sky Above Us har  vært gjennom flere faser. Den ble påbegynt i 2020. Den var da mye kortere og enklere i arrangementet enn det ferdige resultatet vi kan høre i dag. Den opprinnelige arbeidstittelen var “Lyrical Mood”. Det var et enkelt og kort pianotema.

Låten ble tatt frem igjen i  2023 for noen flere endringer, før det våren  2025 for alvor ble fart i sakene og en utgivelse ble planlagt. Tanken var at det hele skulle holdes litt “nede” rent produksjonsmessig, men jeg  gjorde motsatt og gikk for en full produksjon, der jeg  for første gang i egne produksjoner tok i bruk akustisk slagverk (Vegard Fossum) og el-bass (Rudolf Fredly). Tidligere har jeg basert meg  på programmerte/samplede trommer og synthbasser.

Gitar skulle og med, og det skulle vise seg at gitaren fikk en sentral rolle i det endelige lydbilde. Gitarist Kjell Harald Litangen (Finn Kalvik, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Maria Mena, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Naomi Scott m. fl.) har i stor grad vært med å sette sitt preg på resultatet!

Hva med vokal? Kanskje vi skulle hatt litt vokal – tenkte jeg. Etter litt googling og research tok jeg kontakt med Kirsten Jørgensen, kjent fra metallbandene Evig Natt og Reism. Kirsten fikk ingen tekst, men ble bedt om å bidra med ordløs vokal, såkalt vokalise, delvis basert  på eksisterende melodi og delvis ad lib (fritt).

Josh Plotner (USA), multiinstrumentalist på treblås, bidro på  When Echoes Fade (2019) med sopransax og altfløyte  og ble også denne gangen med, nå med altsaksofon. Josh er basert i New York, har spilt mye på Broadway,  på plateinnspillinger med blant annet Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) og filmer/serier  som Babylon, Madam Secretary og Candy.

Min egen datter Cecilie Welde,  har også bidratt, med horn og som fotograf på coverbildet.

For den våkne lytter høres det litt naturlyder og fuglekvitter i begynnelsen og helt i slutten. Dette lydelementet er en kombinasjon av et opptak jeg gjorde på Sicilia i 2011 og opptak fra egen hage våren 2025.


De aller fleste av mine produksjoner har jeg mikset selv i eget studio. Denne gangen valgte jeg  igjen å dra til ABC-studio og Kjetil Ulland i Etne. Etter å jobbet så lenge med et prosjekt, er det veldig fint og avlastende å få nye ører inn i prosessen. Kjetil er en dyktig og rutinert lydmann som fikk landet prosjektet på en ypperlig måte, både med miks og mastring.

Release day – The Sky Above Us

I am happy to finally share the track “The Sky Above Us” with you.


A simple piano theme that, over time and with the help of outstanding contributions from talented collaborators, has evolved into something greater.

Kjell Harald Litangen – guitars
Kirsten Jørgensen – vocals
Josh Plotner – alto sax
Cecilie Welde – French horn
Vegard Fossum – drums and percussion
Rudolf Fredly – bass

Mixed and mastered by Kjetil Ulland at ABC Studio.
Cover photo by Cecilie Welde

photo: Cecilie Welde

Find the link to your preferred streaming service here

The track is also available for download at Bandcamp

August 8 – release date

The Sky Above Us will be out August 8.


The Sky Above Us” is an instrumental track that blends keyboards, guitars, live drums, electric bass, sax, french horn and voice to create a cinematic, emotionally rich soundscape. It marks a shift from my earlier synth-based work toward a more organic and expressive sonic palette. The piece is based on an idea written at the piano and has evolved over time, into a large sounding piece, where the guitars take center stage.

You can pre-save the track to your Spotify account now.

Kirsten Jørgensen – voice
Kjell Harald Litangen – guitars
Josh Plotner – alto saxophone
Cecilie Welde – french horn
Vegard Fossum – drums and percussion
Rudolf Fredly – bass

Christian Welde – producer/keyboards

Kjetil Ulland: mixing and mastering
Cecilie Welde: cover photo



The Sky Above Us

I’m excited to share that I’m currently deep in the creative process with a new instrumental track titled “The Sky Above Us”. It’s taking shape both in my studio and in collaboration with others.

What makes this track stand out from my previous work is a shift in sound and approach. For the first time, I’m incorporating live acoustic drums and electric bass guitar.

Contributing musicians are:

Josh Plotner: alto saxophone
Kjell Harald Litangen: guitars
Kirsten Jørgensen: voice
Cecilie Welde: french horn
Vegard Fossum: drums
Rudolf Fredly: bass
Christian Welde: keyboards