In this conversation, electronic musician and visual artist True Cuckoo joins Nadia Struiwigh for a relaxed and thoughtful chat about his journey into music, from childhood improvisations to working with animation, live performance, and building a creative practice around hardware instruments.

They talk about early influences, finding inspiration through play, and how he approaches making music, performing, and creating content for his YouTube channel.

Early life and musical beginnings

What role did music play in your early years?

“Music was always around me. I have pictures of myself as a toddler playing my grandma’s piano. I loved singing and had a tape recorder filled with Swedish children’s songs. Though I never had formal musical training, I was fascinated by sound.

“At ten, I switched to a school with a music program. We had daily music lessons, which introduced me to sheet music, music theory, and choir singing. I played classical guitar, but I never liked the structured homework. I just wanted to create my own melodies.

“We had an electronic organ at home, which I loved improvising on. Then video games came along, and I started trying to play their music by ear. My mom enrolled me in an organ school, but again, I disliked the structured learning. I would quickly figure things out by ear and then return to improvising.”

That explains the nostalgic video game feel in your music!?

“Absolutely! Those sounds are embedded in my DNA.”

Artistic influence and education

Was creativity part of your upbringing?

“My parents divorced when I was two, so I don’t really remember us as a family. My dad was a set painter for a theater, and my mom wasn’t professionally artistic, but she loved decorating, knitting, and sewing. My brother and I were always drawing – we’d copy Disney characters and illustrations from Mad Magazine.

“I was torn between music and visual arts. When choosing a high school (gymnasium), I considered a music school, but thought, These guys seem like slackers. I’ll never get a job if I study music. So, I chose a technical school with vague ambitions of becoming an architect.

“Later, I attended a Rudolf Steiner school with a more artistic approach, encouraging independent learning. That helped prepare me for university, where I studied animation. Animation became my career, but music was always there in the background.”

Painting is still an activity for True Cuckoo, and you can view more of these on his Instagram account.

From animation to a music career

“I kept going back and forth between music and animation. I once considered applying to a composer’s university, but I wasn’t accepted. So, I pursued animation but kept making music for my own projects.

“Living in Norway, I got involved in the local music scene. A significant turning point was joining Jenny Hval’s band. I played keys, triggered backing tracks in Ableton Live, and even performed rhythmic solos using game controllers. We played around 35 concerts in a year, which was a huge learning experience.

“That period made me realize: I love performing. I need to do more of this.”

True Cuckoo's creativity (and sharing of it) is not to be missed – from sample packs to T-shirt designs, and much more.

Live performance and gear preferences

“Early on, I relied heavily on computers. But I had a nightmare gig where my laptop went to sleep between soundcheck and the show. The audio interface disconnected, and I had to restart the computer while the band had to leave the stage. That experience made me rethink my reliance on computers for live performances.

“I prefer hardware-based setups like the Octatrack, Digitakt, Digitone, or OP-1, all allowing for improvisation. I like working with a single instrument at a time rather than juggling multiple devices. The more I can play in real-time, the more engaging the performance feels.“

If someone is starting out, would you recommend the Octatrack?

“No, I’d suggest the Digitakt. It’s more beginner-friendly, whereas the Octatrack is complex. It doesn’t guide you – it asks, What do you want to do? If you don’t have a clear vision, it’s frustrating.“

If someone's an expert on the Digitone and Digitakt it's True Cuckoo – start here.

Process and creative approach

What’s your workflow when creating music?

“It depends. If I’m working on a recorded track, I usually start in Logic Pro, sketching ideas before transferring them to hardware like the Octatrack. This process helps me escape predictable songwriting patterns.

“For live sets, I focus on standalone devices to keep things fluid. I want to be able to surprise myself while performing. Too much pre-planning can make things feel static.”

Do you feel that live electronic music has changed?

“Fifteen years ago, seeing electronic music performed live was rare, and audiences were fascinated. Now, with YouTube and live-streaming, people are used to it. That changes how they engage with performances.

“Sequencers, especially Elektron gear, have revolutionized live electronic music. They allow for dynamic, hands-on performances rather than just pressing play.”

Watch True Cuckoo play his HIGH ENERGY tunes (for the first time live) at Jæger/ Oslo

YouTube growth and online presence

You have a huge YouTube following. How did that start?

“At first, I uploaded my animation work. No one watched. Then I posted music performances, but those didn’t gain traction either. Slowly, my OP-1 videos started getting attention.

“A major breakthrough was my song Goodbye, where I expressed doubts about continuing music. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which encouraged me to keep going.

“I never aimed for fast growth. I just make videos I personally find interesting, focusing on musical inspiration rather than just gear reviews.”

Check out a live version of the song “Goodbye” in this video

Balancing creativity and daily life

How does a typical day look for you now?

“Mornings start with breakfast and lunch pack routines, and getting my son ready catch the school bus. We recently moved to the country side, which is both wonderful and challenging. I used to walk to my studio in Oslo, and that would help me reset and get into the zone. Now with a smaller home studio it’s much harder to transition into work mode. I’m trying my best, but even the smallest distraction can throw me off balance.

“Some days, I focus on making music; other days, I shoot and edit videos. I try to play piano for at least 30 minutes daily. I also spend a lot of time engaging with my audience in comments.

“To help stay focused, I put my phone out of reach, and hide social media apps. Small tricks, but it helps minimise distractions. Social media is a lovely way for sharing, and interacting with followers and friends. But I’m just one person, so I need to be principled about how much time I spend on things.“

Any final thoughts for aspiring musicians?

“Explore. Be curious. Don’t feel like you have to follow the rules. Music is about finding your own voice.”

Check out True Cuckoo's latest album (as of this article's publishing) here: