Musician: Birds of Norway!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good Morning! Today we are looking into the gifted musician, Charlie Lowell also known as Birds of Norway! I was even lucky enough to ask him a few questions!

Charlie Lowell built a career on restraint, atmosphere, and emotional precision long before stepping into new sonic territory. As a founding member of “Jars of Clay”, he helped shape the band’s signature blend of folk, rock, and ambient textures in the 1990s. His keyboard work favored subtlety over flash, anchoring songs with tone and space rather than overt virtuosity. That sensibility became a defining trait across the band’s catalog, from early acoustic-driven hits to later, more experimental recordings.

Over time, Lowell expanded beyond the band format into composing and production work, particularly in film and television. This shift allowed him to explore instrumental storytelling without the constraints of traditional song structures. Moving away from lyric-driven writing, he focused on mood, texture, and gradual development, drawing from ambient and cinematic influences. His compositions often emphasize space and tone, using piano, synthesizers, and layered sound design to create immersive soundscapes.

While this direction marked a departure from his earlier work, it also revealed continuity in his artistic voice. The emotional undercurrents present in “Jars of Clay” remained, but were expressed through atmosphere rather than words. His ambient music known under the name “Birds of Norway”, leans into patience and restraint, inviting listeners to engage more interpretively. The transition reflects a broader evolution from collaborative songwriting toward more personal, composition-driven work.

Lowell’s career illustrates a steady progression rather than a sharp reinvention. With “Jars of Clay”, he contributed to a widely recognized sound that resonated across both mainstream and faith-based audiences. In his scoring and instrumental work, he carved out a quieter, more introspective path, demonstrating how the same musical instincts can adapt across different formats. The result is a body of work defined by consistency in tone, depth, and a commitment to craft!

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Who was your favorite music artist growing up?

Charlie: I listened to a huge variety of musical genres growing up. I took classical piano lessons, so Chopin was a favorite composer, but I loved British new wave, like Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode and the Cure.  Crowded House is still a favorite band from my formative years. And I did listen to some early ambient music from the Windham Hill record label.  

Giancarlo: Did you have any pushback from friends and family on wanting to become a music artist?

Charlie: I think my parents were a little nervous about me dropping out of college for music (I was in college studying music), but my band a the time (Jars of Clay) won a big competition in Nashville, so we had some interest there at least. This Birds of Norway project came to me once I came off the road after 20 years of touring with Jars, and needed to re-focus my creativity.  

Giancarlo: Which of the projects you’ve worked on are you the most proud of?

Charlie: This is a hard question! I’m so grateful to have made a life making music, and hearing from others at times that has an impact on them. I don’t very often listen back to much of my music, I’m more looking ahead. But when I reflect on it, I’m really humbled that I haven’t had to work too many non-music jobs in my lifetime, and that my family has supported me and cheered me on.

Giancarlo: What is your favorite aspect of “The World is Ours”?

Charlie: It was fun to go back and listen to this track, so thank you for drawing attention to it. I do really like when the “chopped up” rhythmic bits start, and then the beat comes in. It sort of feels like you’re on a boat listing around in a calm ocean. Bringing rhythm to ambient music has been a fun challenge for me, and this track is a great example of it.  

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Charlie: I had some mentors early on that modeled for me the idea that relationships are more important than ideas. This stuck with me, because you can have success or a cool season, but it’s really the people that know you and you know that will last and make life more bearable, or wonderful.  

Please check out his work on Apple Music, Spotify or wherever you listen!

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo