Eye II Eye, a band started in the early ‘80s, was inspired by Pink Floyd, U2 and Foreigner, among other bands.

Today, reduced to a duo, Eye II Eye has emphasized making themselves public with a will.  At the same time, they are presenting themselves with a production, actually made without use of a studio, proving that it is possible, if one wants to, to satisfy an audience with minimal overhead cost.  The band played all their own instruments, Lars E. Helland (41) on guitar and Jan T. Johannessen (42) on drums.  Besides the careful use of synth and sound through a PC.  Sound mixing and production is one hundred per cent Eye II Eye – sound.

SmsMP3
The band has started its “second carreer” by launching SmsMP3.no, a site that will be a downloading site for mp3 files, payable via SMS.  They were drawn into “Midt i trafikken” on P4 with their inovativity, and was noticed.  That was all in the summer of 2000.  After a repeated attempt to return to P4, the chose to do something that no one had ever done before them: they gave away CDs.

On TV and radio
Because of its free CDs, the band, in the duration of the Autumn, has been on NRK Østfold, TV Østfold, Radio Tango, and Radio Moss.  In addition, Eye II Eye has sent interviews on CD to other local radios.

Free CDs and criticism
To give away CDs, especially when production and sound are perhaps not at the level of a ratio station’s requirements, is not an easy task.  On Eye II Eye’s web site you will find many critical comments and, besides that, the band is an avid topic of discussion on VG-Nett’s music forum.  The band has heard many critics, but also simultaneously Eye II Eye has received much praise for its ‘go-ahead’ spirit.  Since Spring 2002 until now, almost 900 CDs have been given away, and have also promised to give away 1000 more CDs!

The fact that they have not given up has also, in the meantime, led to comments from producers on the radio, music critics, and others, who, at the same time, gave positive feedback, like, “We take notice of you and wait for you to persevere.”  Implied: Keep up the good work!

Grand Prix (Eurovision Song Contest in Norway)
In the Fall, the duo sent in every contribution they could to the Grand Prix.  They understood that the chance was small and had plans ready in the event of the unavoidable turndown: “We will start our own competition!”  Moreover, MP3 Grand Prix has involved about 30 other artists in the positive sprit of Eye II Eye.

The Record Industry
The boys have placed themselves in an important position to the record industry and its assault on websites for downloading music.  They have also placed themselves critically to the industry’s chosen critics, knowing that the industry can very well say they “are crying over their sick mother”.  They say its only about one thing: to act with their customers as a team and deal with their suppliers (the artists) with respect.

Sweden
After having asking the record industry about a colaboration of publication without receiving a single reply, Eye II Eye once again took tmatters into its own hands.  Thursday, February 13, the CD was mastered together with Tommy Lydell in Stockholm.  Lydell is jointly responsible for 4 contributions to the swedish Melodifestivalen 2003 of 32 semifinalists.  Lydell has played live with Tomas Ledin and Lisa Nilsson, among others at the Rocktåget-tours that devastated summer Sweden in the ‘80s and ‘90s.  Lydell runs Trigger Studio together with Bobby Ljungberg, and is, among others, working together with the music publishing house Warner Chappel.  The CD will be printed by Digitalfabriken in Sweden, that, among others, could tell the group that they had heard of the band, SmsMP3, and MP3 Grand Prix.  Helland tells that they were greeted with respect in the music world in Sweden for what they are trying to accomplish.

That, our dear audience for ‘80s inspired rock & pop, is the same day as the norwegian Melodi Grand Prix finals (Eurovision Song Contest)!

You can order the CD in the online store.

If you want to see the rest of Eye II Eye’s history, you can to to the band’s homepage.

This is norwegian music history you can’t miss!