Biography
Øwi (a.k.a. Øystein Wika) is a Norwegian guitarist, composer, and music producer known for blending hard rock and metal with progressive elements. With over 25 years of experience in digital media and educational technology, he is currently focused on reigniting his music career after a two-decade hiatus. Øwi’s creative output includes his personal solo artist project and his work as the founder of soundlib.io, an artist-driven production music library.
Chin Up! DEMO OUTTAKE (1990)
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born on April 26, 1968, in Aurskog-Høland, Norway, Øwi moved to Mosjøen in the northern parts of Norway as a child. The son of two music teachers, Øwi’s musical journey began early, with classical piano lessons at age six. By the time he picked up an electric guitar in 1981, his path toward rock music was clear. During his teenage years, Øwi played in local bands, covering everything from AC/DC to Queen, all while writing his own original music.
Øwi later pursued Musicology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, while continuing to develop his distinctive guitar style. Between 1989 and 1995, Øwi worked to establish himself as a solo recording artist, crafting and releasing his original instrumental compositions. In 1990, he formed an instrumental trio, which marked a key period in his creative exploration. Though much of his music from this time remains unreleased, it laid the groundwork for his ongoing musical journey.
Transition to Digital Media
In 1996, as Øwi faced the challenges of recording and releasing music, he began exploring the emerging world of digital media. Early on, he became one of the first in Norway to experiment with tools like Macromedia Director and Flash, establishing himself as a pioneer in the country’s multimedia development scene. His digital media journey eventually led him to work on several government-funded interactive projects in the EdTech field. Notably, in 2004/2005, he oversaw the development of the application system for Norway's National Tests in Mathematics. He later created a custom platform for running placement tests in mathematics, which became the most widely used digital assessment platform in Norway’s public K12 schools.
Although Øwi stepped back from full-time music, he never fully left it behind. He continued composing, and in 2011, with a home recording studio in place, he returned to music production. Now, after two decades of focusing on digital media, Øwi is revisiting his extensive archive of compositions, bringing these pieces to life for the first time.
Music Career Highlights
Bands & Projects:
- 2020 – Present: Founder and composer at the artist-driven production music library Soundlib.io. Releasing past instrumental music and preparing releases for bands formed between 1988 and 1994.
- 1988 – 1994: Guitarist in Madboy, Electric Saints, and Sonic Cult.
- 1982 – 1987: Lead guitarist for Meanstreet, a hard rock band from Mosjøen.
Øwi is currently working on restoring and digitally transferring his archive of 4-track cassette demos recorded between 1985 and 1997. These songs will be re-produced and released for the first time under his own label, Wika Musikkforlag.
Digital Media Expertise
In addition to his music career, Øwi is the founder and owner of WIKA Media, a digital media company specializing in educational technology (EdTech) and multimedia development. Over the years, he has contributed to numerous digital media projects, including the development of Norway’s National Tests in Mathematics.
Øwi’s experience in both tech and music gives him a unique perspective on how these two worlds intersect, and he continues to explore how digital platforms can empower independent artists.
Education
- 2001-2003: Media Studies, University of Oslo (UiO)
- 1990-1994: Ethnomusicology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Current and Future Work
After 25 years in digital media, Øwi is focusing on music once again. His personal hard rock/metal project WIKA is a testament to his passion for music and dedication to the craft. He is also the creative force behind Soundlib.io, a production music library for sync licensing, where all the music is written and produced by him.
With a unique blend of skills from both the music and tech industries, Øwi is excited to explore new creative opportunities, pushing the boundaries of what independent artists can achieve in today’s digital landscape.
Øwi
