Me, me, me
My name is Stian Fjelldal, and for years I released music under my own name. It started in a fairly traditional way: Norwegian-language singles, radio, and eventually album releases—among them work released through Warner—before I continued independently.
But around 2022 I had an uncomfortable (and, in hindsight, liberating) realization: after my fifth album Hus, I was surprised to feel… finished with my own momentum. I had to ask myself a blunt question: do I actually like my music as a listener—not just as the person who made it?
That became the starting point for Birds are better. I began writing in English and found a new voice—less shaped by the idea of who I “should” be, and more driven by instinct, melody, and the simple joy of songwriting. The project’s debut arrived in the spring of 2023.
The music is still me, but the palette is wider now: folk brushing up against power-pop and synthy indie, with a soft spot for big choruses and small details that carry the story.
Going forward, I want to release a lot of new music—often and steadily—and I want this website to be the main place to follow along. Less chasing social media, more calm, more content, and more music (and lyrics) gathered in one place. If you’d like to stay in the loop, the newsletter is the surest way in.