Tommy Fredvang: From ‘X Factor’ to Finding Himself – The TV Years and Beyond

STAVANGER / OSLO: Artist Tommy Fredvang (41) became “common property” when he participated in the singing competition “X Factor” on TV 2 in 2009. There he finished in fifth place.

– We are getting married in five weeks

Fredvang had barely landed, much less laid out a plan for his musical career, before the following year he was a participant in yet another TV 2 program – namely “Skal vi danse”.

Now he tells about the TV years, which did not end quite as he would have liked.

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– “What the hell am I doing”?

Se og Hør meets the musician in his hometown of Stavanger, where he has again gained full momentum in his career through his own solo projects and not least the band Stavangerkameratene, which in addition to himself consists of three other guys who have also participated in singing competitions on TV: “Idol” and “The Voice”.

In addition, the 41-year-old has started a family and got engaged.

Have become a father

He remembers the time before he moved from Oslo to Stavanger – in 2015.

– I realized after a few years that I was watching a little too much TV. “Masterchef”, “Shall we dance” and God knows what. Finally I thought, “What the hell am I doing?” he says to Se and hearbefore continuing:

– I did it to keep my career alive, but what was I actually selling? That’s when I decided to quit TV and rather go home to Stavanger and just focus one hundred percent on the music.

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Was terrified

Today, 13 years after “Shall we dance” and 14 years after “X Factor”, it would probably be different – if it was now that he took part in TV programmes.

“Idol”-David: – It was overwhelming

– I think I did it too soon. But: You have to be careful about regretting too. If it hadn’t happened then, I wouldn’t have become part of the Stavanger comrades either. At the same time, it is now that I could do “Every time we meet”, because now I actually have a large catalog of songs. Now I would do TV because it’s fun to do, not because I want to stay current.

HOME AGAIN: Tommy Fredvang moved from Oslo to Stavanger in 2015. Then he was no longer so concerned with chasing TV and attention anymore. Photo: Carina Johansen / Dagbladet Show more

Let’s turn back the clock to when Fredvang appeared one night a week in prime time on TV in “X Factor”, the music program that was to take Norway by storm and which was described as a continuation of “Idol”.

In the beginning, everything was just fun. The then 28-year-old and talented musician thought that this was where he would realize his full potential.

He knew that music, he had steely control over that.

– But then I was terrified. When that light came on… Things happened behind the scenes. I knew it was a competition and that TV is TV, but what I didn’t quite understand was that it was about forces bigger than my little journey. And then I started following exactly that.

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– Empty in the eyes

– What happened behind the scenes?

– Ha ha, now I have to be a little careful here. But I saw that there was some pulling on the rope, if you understand? In retrospect, you can say that I have done enough TV to realize that this is how it is. It is about those who make the program having visibility in the media, which they get through the participants. And that’s perfectly understandable!

This is how it went with the forgotten “Idol” winner

– So how did it affect you?

– For my own part, I went in there with a lot of confidence. But in the middle of the competition, something strange happened. I can watch those recordings on YouTube today and see for myself – I am completely blank in my eyes and full of anxiety and horror. And then one or two rounds went by, then I was out. I went from odds favorite to singing so badly at the end that it’s almost impossible.

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Got help

In 2021, his band, Stavangerkameratene, took part in the Melodi Grand Prix. Fredvang had grown up, and entered the singing competition with a completely different attitude.

ESTABLISHED FAMILY: Tommy Fredvang has grown up, more confident in himself – and happy with life. Now he is also getting married. Photo: Carina Johansen / Dagbladet Show more

– I often think of those who are 16-17 years old and participate in programs such as “Idol” and “X Factor”. It’s bone tough. And I was 28! At the same time, I am glad that I have experienced it, because I can tolerate much more now. MGP was something completely different, I went in with low shoulders. Probably because of previous experiences, he believes.

According to the previous TV profile, something happened during “Shall we dance” in 2010, which over the years has contributed to him finally finding himself and his place.

– It was completely insane, I had “The Ugly One on my back” and I was out of place at all. It ended up that someone in production gave me a coach to get me out of it. Suddenly, two more coaches appeared. They tumbled into my life.

During Bebe Rexha’s concert on Sunday, things go wrong for the artist, when an audience member throws what appears to be a phone onto the stage. Video: @giiikondrackiii via Specte. Reporter: Anabelle Bruun/Dagbladet TV Show more

– Traumatic

Fredvang knew he could. At the same time, his head was about to lose hope, which settled into his psyche.

– I had so many thoughts in my head that just destroyed me completely. I have so much to thank those coaches for.

HAPPILY IN LOVE: Tommy Fredvang and Tara Shahimi met each other in 2017, and fell head over heels for each other. Photo: Rune Havn Show more

– What has your head been telling you all these years then?

– I have always walked around with the thought that everyone is so much smarter than me. And it is enormously amplified when you are fairly new to the game, go on a stage and know that one million people are going to see you on TV. It is traumatic, and if you have a small wound there before, it quickly ends in a large cut.

Raser: – What will be next?

– For ten long years afterwards, I delved deep into everything I could find on this topic. I came to terms with myself, my traumas and what you might call childhood illnesses. I cleaned up, and experience something completely different today.

Tommy Fredvang is traveling on a summer tour with his Stavanger friends this summer. In the autumn, he goes on a solo tour.

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