Naked Koala

Naked Koala

Producer- songwriter- and dj-duo NAKED KOALA consists of members Kyrre Waag (28) and Even Askildsen (28). Growing up in music loving families, the boys quickly got introduced to a variety of impactful musical influences, such as TOTO, Bryan Adams, Backstreet Boys, Savage Garden, Sting, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. The confusing, but hit-oriented mixture of pumping drum grooves, catchy hooks, playful lyrics and divine human emotion, set the tone for what would become the foundation of their musical journey. Today the duo has reached a milestone of 20 million streams worldwide, as well as a #1 on Apple Music in Papua New Guinea, with their hit song Right With Me, a collaboration with Jamaican singer and songwriter Olaf Blackwood. 

 

After befriending each other during their high school years in Kristiansand, Norway, the boys aimed for two completely different careers. While Kyrre went on to study economics in Oslo, Even moved to the small city of Verdal, to study the art of sound. In late 2015, however, they managed to start a band, featuring only the two of them. Using the tools at hand, willpower and YouTube tutorials, the duo set out to write and produce their first song ever, which led to the release of their debut single, Eyes of Gold. Today collaborations include artists such as Matthew Schuler, Alejandro Fuentes, and billboard producer Philly Billy. Musical influences range between the calming sound of A R I Z O N A to the soulful writing of Tracy Chapman.