About

Øystein Skar is a Norwegian pianist and composer.

Starting classical piano lessons at the age of six, Øystein honed his improvisational and compositional skills under the guidance of his mentor, the legendary ECM pianist Misha Alperin, at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, where he studied jazz and improvisation. After completing his studies, he spent years touring and recording with various projects and bands, primarily in the realms of jazz, contemporary, and experimental music, before shifting his focus towards experimental electronic music, pop, and studio work.

Skar then spent over a decade in the pop industry, touring extensively around the world with the renowned band Highasakite and earning multiple Norwegian Grammys and platinum albums. He collaborated, toured, and recorded with pop artists such as Aurora and Sigrid, as well as key jazz figures like Jon Eberson. With Highasakite, he sold out Oslo Spektrum, performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, and toured alongside bands such as Of Monsters and Men and London Grammar. His work has encompassed both national and international projects, contributing to over 40 releases.

In 2023, Øystein supported Dutch pianist Joep Beving in Oslo in collaboration with Live Nation. The following year, he released his new album Hem, meaning "Home" in his local dialect, on the Canadian label Moderna Records. This album marks his debut as a solo pianist under his own name. Hem received glowing reviews in the international press and was accompanied by live performances and interviews, including appearances on Germany’s Radio Eins and Deutschlandfunk Kultur. The album also gained significant international radio play, with features on renowned stations such as KEXP (USA), ByteFM (Germany), and Radio Canada. It also climbed high on the Apple Music classical charts in several countries. The release was celebrated with a concert at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.

As a composer, Øystein has collaborated with many of Norway’s leading dance and theatre companies, scored music for television, and created numerous commissioned works. He has received several grants and awards in Norway for his work.

In the fall of 2025, Øystein will release the EP Stories for A, a deeply personal project written for his daughter.

Currently, Øystein is focused on developing new solo works that continue to explore the intersection of acoustic and electronic expressions.