
You may have first come across a young Jarle as lead singer of rock power quartet Span. He lived in North London where he enjoyed critical acclaim and a cult following. After they disbanded in 2005, he went solo, and soul, as Bernhoft. He employed live looping techniques, using a loop pedal to layer his vocals and instrumental parts, creating intricate and dynamic arrangements. The single "C'mon Talk," became a viral sensation showcasing this, earning Bernhoft millions of views on YouTube and introducing him to a global audience. This culminated in the international success of ‘Islander’ (2014), an album that explored themes of identity and self-discovery, blending elements of folk, pop, and R&B.
The album received critical acclaim and further solidified Bernhoft's reputation as a musical innovator. He became the first non-American to be nominated for the Best R&B Album Grammy.