Biography

Born in 1995, Thomas Lossius started his training in music at the age of 11, learning classical guitar from Torbjörn Wiberg. He soon grew fascinated with the electrical bass, and started playing regularly both in rock bands and at church. He then attended Kongshaug Upper Secondary School of Music, studying under Ole Amund Gjersvik, who sparked his interest in traditional jazz and Cuban music, as well as introducing him to the double bass. During this period, he was active in various musical groups, and would perform weekly. He went on to study jazz at Sund Folk High School and was soon accepted for the bachelor jazz programs in Bergen and Oslo.

He chose the Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen, studying under Magne Thormodsæter and several other prominent Norwegian jazz musicians. He started several new bands and organised tours with them, as well as published some of his early albums with Damaskus, Klunks, Julian Misic and Laila Linde Lossius. He played tours with Briotrio and Damaskus, played with singer songwriters Tone Rose Bratland and Julian Misic, played extensively in different kind Christian communities.

He also got in touch with respected African musicians such as Hassan El Bouzidi, Sanjally Jobarteh and Adama Barry. This, along with curiosity from his upbringing in Namibia sparked a curiosity for exploring the various kinds of music found in Africa. The following year, he studied at the University of Cape Town, immersing himself in South African jazz and neotraditional African music. He has a master’s degree in performing music and a degree in Pratical-Pedagogical Studies from the University of Bergen.