Bio

Runar Netland (born 1993) is a Norwegian drummer, musician, composer and producer based in Oslo. Originally from Western Norway, he grew up in Lærdal and Stryn, with strong roots in the Sogn region. He moved to Oslo in 2013 to study music and has since built a career as a freelance musician, working across jazz, pop, contemporary music and improvisation.

He has studied Performing Music at NLA University College in Oslo, completing his Bachelor’s degree in 2017 and Master’s degree in 2025. Alongside his studies, he began working professionally as a drummer, studio musician, arranger and bandleader.

Over the past decade, Netland has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists and projects, including Oskar Nordbø, Oh Blonde, Jens Andreas Kleiven Trio, Oddgeir Berg Trio, Aleks Grey, Joakim Solbakken and many more. His work moves freely between genres and settings, from intimate jazz ensembles and improvised music to pop productions, live bands and studio recordings. He has also worked as a musical director, arranger and producer, while occasionally playing piano, bass, guitar and vocals.

His approach to drumming is rooted in musicality, dynamics and interaction, with an interest in finding the right sound and feel for each project. On stage and in the studio, he plays a combination of Gretsch and Ludwig drums with Zildjian cymbals.

In 2026, Netland enters a new chapter with the release of his debut solo album, First, Everything, on Dugnad Rec. The album brings together his experience as a drummer, composer and producer in a personal project centred around rhythm, structure and improvisation.

The album weaves melodic structures with free improvisation, creating a listening experience that moves fluidly between stillness and transformation. Inspiration is drawn from natural rhythmic patterns and the cyclical processes of the surrounding world.

First, Everything unfolds as both an introspective and expansive statement. Netland’s distinct musical voice is evident across drums, piano and composition, grounded in a sense of clarity and restraint from which the music gradually develops. The album’s rhythmic and structural framework reflects this approach, allowing space for openness and reflection while engaging with the dynamic forces of nature and change.

Inviting attentive listening and presence, First, Everything resonates with both the pulse of the natural world and the quiet focus associated with mindfulness. Featuring contributions from Lyder Røed, Andreas Ulvo, and Mathias Marstrander, the album offers a thoughtful and exploratory journey within contemporary jazz.

All photos by Helge Brekke