BACKGROUND
Born in Seattle, independent singer-songwriter Erik Haakenstad has been making his brand of guitar- and violin- fueled melodic rock in and around Paris since 2001.
Initiated at an early age by his father's folk singing and furthered by his uncle's electric guitar sessions in the basement, Erik's life-long interest in popular music and songwriting has accompanied him on his wanderings over the years.
Largely self-taught as a musician, Erik has also had some formal training. He began in Seattle with the classical guitar, followed by the violin (his Norwegian grandfather's instrument) when he moved to Catalunya at the age of 10. He then turned to acoustic and electric guitar as well as piano when in high school in New Zealand.
As a singer, he did high school choir and musical productions, took voice and music theory classes upon his return to the U.S. as a student at the University of Oregon, and continued this training as an adult at IU Bloomington and in France at the local conservatory in Montrouge. He has sung in a variety of ensembles ranging from large oratorio choirs to amateur opera chorus to a cappella sextet.
Other experiences include singing country music, playing acoustic blues, doing solo gigs in coffeehouses and busking in Paris metro tunnels.
Although his first song dates from childhood (in the fourth grade), Erik's attempts at songwriting, recording and arranging did not fully materialize until he was in Oregon as an undergraduate.
Since moving to Paris, he has played the occasional bar and album release gig with his core collaborators, including the Emergenza springboard festival, while concentrating on recording songs from his catalogue.
Erik has managed to officially record and register around 40 songs so far.
INFLUENCES
Erik defines his formative songwriting influences as The Who, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Catalan singer Lluis Llach; he has a particular fondness for Roy Orbison, Steve Earle, Kurt Cobain, Neil Finn, Nick Cave and Ron Sexsmith, to name a few.
CURRENT STATUS
Erik returns to the recording studio in March 2026 to work on the next release.
Erik has released four self-produced albums to date: Fog and Fire over Oregon (2013), After the Crossing (2018), Along the Moraine (2021) and Borderlands (2025).
The latest Borderlands release is composed of material borrowing from different styles and genres written in parallel with the songs on previous albums.
The track selection and album titles for Erik's current and future releases are born of where and when the material was written.
He is unsigned and is not a music professional.
Erik is a registered member of the French SACEM, Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music.