Erik Norlander

Erik Norlander (born 26 July 1967) is an American musician known for his work in the progressive rock genre. From 2007 to 2014, he was the touring and recording keyboardist for Asia Featuring John Payne.

Erik Norlander
Background information
Born	(1967-07-26) 26 July 1967 (age 56)
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Progressive rock, symphonic rock, electronic music, hard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, sound designer
Instrument(s)	Keyboards
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Think Tank Media
Website	www.eriknorlander.com

History

Starting in 1993, Norlander's earliest releases were with his band Rocket Scientists. He also collaborated in multiple roles on albums released by Lana Lane, his wife.

In November 2007, Norlander was announced as the keyboard player for the Asia spin-off, Asia Featuring John Payne.^[1]

In 2009 Norlander was involved in a group named Roswell Six, who record album accompaniments to the work of science fiction writer and lyricist Kevin J. Anderson. Norlander produced and composed the music for the group's album Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon.^[2] The album featured a variety of guest vocalists including James LaBrie, John Payne, Michael Sadler of Saga and Lana Lane.^[3]

Norlander also toured in Europe in 2009 with vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and the band Big Noize, featuring bassist Phil Soussan, guitarist Carlos Cavazo and drummer Simon Wright.^[4] In 2011, Norlander again played with Big Noize, reformed with drummer Vinny Appice.^[5]

In 2014, Norlander played Hammond organ on the blues rock album by Alastair Greene, Trouble At Your Door.^[6][7]

Norlander worked extensively with the non-profit organization, the Bob Moog Foundation, from 2009 to present as both artist and advisor.^[8][9]

In 2016, Norlander joined heavy metal band Last in Line as their touring keyboardist, debuting with the band in Miami, Florida, on 20 January 2016 with Vivian Campbell, Jimmy Bain, Vinny Appice and Andrew Freeman (musician).^[10][11] It was also announced that Norlander had joined the rock ballet production Heart of Storm with live dates in 2017 announced.^[12] He is also involved in the duo, Dukes of the Orient.

Norlander was also a key designer of the IK Multimedia UNO Synth.^[13]

Discography

Solo albums

Studio albums

• Threshold (1997, re-released as a 2-CD package in 2003 as Threshold Special Edition)
• Into the Sunset (2000)
• Music Machine (2003, 2CD)
• Seas of Orion (2004)
• Hommage Symphonique (2006)
• The Galactic Collective (2010, re-released as a 2-CD and DVD package in 2012 as "The Galactic Collective - Definitive Edition")
• Surreal (2016)

Live albums

• Stars Rain Down (2004)
• Live in St. Petersburg (2006, CD and DVD)
• The Galactic Collective: Live in Gettysburg (2012, 2-CD and DVD)

Rocket Scientists albums

• Earthbound (1993)
• Brutal Architecture (1995)
• Earth Below and Sky Above: Live in Europe and America (1998)
• Oblivion Days (1999)
• Revolution Road (2006)
• Looking Backward (2007)
• Supernatural Highways (2014)
• Refuel (2014)

Lana Lane albums

• Love Is an Illusion (1995)
• Curious Goods (1996)
• Garden of the Moon (1998)
• Echoes from the Garden (1998) Japan only
• Live in Japan (1998) Japan only
• Ballad Collection (1998) Japan only
• Queen of the Ocean (1999)
• Echoes from the Ocean (1998) Japan only
• Best of Lana Lane 1995 – 1999 (1999) Japan only
• Secrets of Astrology (2000)
• Ballad Collection II (2000) Japan only
• Ballad Collection – Special Edition (2000)
• Project Shangri-La (2002)
• Covers Collection (2003)
• Winter Sessions (2003)
• Return to Japan (2004)
• Storybook: Tales from Europe and Japan (DVD, 2004)
• Lady Macbeth (2005)
• 10th Anniversary Concert (DVD/CD set, 2006)
• Gemini (2006)
• Red Planet Boulevard (2007)
• Best of Lana Lane 2000 – 2008 (2008) Japan only
• El Dorado Hotel (2012)
• Neptune Blue (2022)

Dukes of the Orient albums

• Dukes of the Orient (2017)
• Freakshow (2019)

References

1. . Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2008. announcement November 20, 2007.
2. "Roswell Six (roswellsix) on Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
3. "ROSWELL SIX - Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon (2009)". Progarchives.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
4. "Big Noize | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos".
5. . Bignoizemusic.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
6. "Erik Norlander | Credits". AllMusic.
7. "Home". Agsongs.com.
8. "You searched for norlander". Moogfoundation.org. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
9. "Latest Music, Gear & Equipment News & Musician Interviews".
10. "Vivian Campbell/Last In Line Touring Members Announced". Deflepparduk.com. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
11. "LAST IN LINE Announce California and Nevada Show Dates". Melodicrock.com. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
12. "Heart Of Storm: Das Rock Ballett feat. Doug Aldrich, Glen Sobel, Rudy Sarzo u.a. zum ersten Mal in Deutschland". Time-for-metal.eu. November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
13. "Erik Norlander On Designing The IK Multimedia UNO Synth". Synthtopia. Synthtopia. July 24, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2021.

External links

• Official Erik Norlander's website
• Erik Norlander NAMM Oral History Interview (2009)