Todd Terje

Todd Terje is the professional name of Terje Olsen, the Norwegian DJ, songwriter and producer best known for the 2012 house track “Inspector Norse.” His work in the mid-2000s, particularly a run of remixes and re-edits, brought him to wider attention in dance music. Mixmag called him the “King of the summer jams,” while Spin placed him among a “Holy Trinity of Norwegian disco.” His stage name pays tribute to house producer Todd Terry.

Born in 1981 and raised in Mjøndalen, Buskerud, Olsen initially trained as a pianist at a local music school, though the curriculum offered little jazz. He later studied physics at the University of Oslo. Dance music reached rural Norway during the early and mid-1990s through artists including the Prodigy and radio programming from DJs Olle Abstract and Pål “Strangefruit” Nyhus of Mungolian Jetset. Olsen also encountered recordings through his sister’s friendship with Tore “Erot” Kroknes, the producer associated with Telle Records and Annie’s “The Greatest Hit.”

As a teenager, Olsen made early house and jungle tracks on a cheap PC with his friend Dølle Jølle, playing them from cassette tapes at junior-high-school dances. His interest in disco sharpened after hearing Bjørn Torske’s 1999 track “Sexy Disco.” In 2001, he connected with Prins Thomas and was introduced to Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, who became a frequent collaborator. Drawing on disco re-edit culture, Terje began reworking older records before moving into his own productions.

Terje has performed live with his older brother, Olaf Olsen, the Bigbang drummer, who often plays drums in his shows. He and Lindstrøm appeared as headliners at Barcelona’s Sónar festival, and Terje recorded a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix in July 2013. Rolling Stone placed him at number 17 on its list “The 25 DJs That Rule the Earth.” His album It’s Album Time has also been referenced on Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 late-night show. “Alfonso Muskedunder” was used in an episode of Better Call Saul, and in 2017 the Four Tet remix of “Jungelknugen” received a Record of the Year nomination at the Electronic Music Awards. The original version of “Jungelknugen” had not been officially released as of August 2023.