"Welcome to our cosmos - a place where you can slow down, tune in and get groovy"

ABOUT

We are Jan and Jannike, lifelong musicians with a hippie soul. Together, we form the heart of ALVA. Jannike plays piano and sings, while Jan handles the guitar and vocals. But beyond that, songwriting has been our shared passion since childhood. 

In our five-piece band, we craft a unique sound that sits somewhere between Arctic Monkeys and Kings of Convenience.

Our music blends sensitive singer-songwriter vibes with energetic indie pop. A driving rhythm section, rich two-part harmonies, groovy keyboard lines, and intricate guitar layers weave a colorful, immersive musical storybook into which you become more and more absorbed as you are turning the pages.

Our Vision

At our concerts, we aim to create a space where people can connect with one another in a kind and open-hearted way. We believe that acceptance and self-reflection lead to peaceful coexistence, helping make the world a better place. Our music serves as a bridge to bring people together.

OUR JOURNEY

The Beginning

Our story began in 2011, when we met while studying jazz. We first crossed paths in ear training class and soon discovered that we also lived on the same street. This led to shared concert outings, long practice sessions, and, as luck would have it, we were placed in the same semester band. From that moment on, we’ve been inseparable. Despite our deep personal bond, we each pursued our own musical projects at the time.

Ireland

Our love for the English language, Irish humour, and the country's warm hospitality brought us to Dublin, where we continued our music studies. We spent three incredible years there, but after graduation, the high cost of living led Jan to work an 8-to-5 job in a call centre. Evenings were dedicated to our true passion: composing, arranging, recording demos, rehearsing with the band, and organising gigs. The days were long and the nights short. Meanwhile, Jannike was finishing her studies while teaching at a music school. We both came dangerously close to burnout, until we made the bold decision to start fresh in 2018.

Lanzarote
We left everything behind and moved away from the hectic life in Dublin. After a revitalising holiday, we decided to start anew on the magical volcanic island of Lanzarote. It was here that we first began making music as a duo. Our performances in local cultural centres, bars, and hotels quickly gained attention, and soon an agency took notice, regularly booking us for gigs.

Our everyday lives completely transformed. Surrounded by nature, with music, meditation, and yoga as part of our daily routine, we rediscovered our roots and grew even closer.

 
Coming Full Circle

In 2020, during the Spanish lockdown, we began recording and releasing our first songs. The pandemic—and the drive to take our music to the next level—eventually led us back to Germany, bringing with us all the experiences we had gathered.

The magic of Lanzarote, our connection to nature, and a hint of the mystical are woven into our band name: ALVA comes from Old Norse, paying homage to Jannike's Swedish heritage. It means "fighting elf"—a blend of magic, gentleness, and strength, just like our music. And so, ALVA was born.

Photos: fokussiert.studio

VIDEO

LIVE

▼ Vergangene Konzerte

2024 Klimperstube, Freiburg - Schlosskeller, Emmendingen - Meinwärts, Lahr - Ruefetto, Freiburg
2023 Palais Noir, Reinach (CH) - Private Event, Northeim - Private Event, Wilhelmshaven - Private Event, Neuried - Private Event, Ihringen - Private Event, Lahr - Private Event, Konstanz - Private Event, Durbach - Private Event, Offenburg

2022 Private Event, Ettenheim - Private Event, Fulda - Private Event, Ganderkesee/Stenum - Private Event, Lanzarote (ES) - Private Event, Petersberg - Private Event, Baiersbronn - Private Event, Friesenheim - Private Event, Überlingen - Private Event, Wernigerode
2021 Burg Scharfenstein im Eichsfeld - Die Luke, Ludwigsburg - Kultur_Los! Festival, Freiburg - Altes Kloster, Haslach i.K. - Jazzclub Lippstadt Atelier T8, Lippstadt - Private Event, Kassel - Private Event, Friedeburg - Private Event, Petersberg - Private Event, Offenburg - Private Event, Offenbach - Private Event, Wiesbaden

2020 Art Café, Dublin (IE) - Freiwerk, Paderborn (DE) - Rösterei Kaffeekultur, Fulda (DE) - Centro Antroposófico, Lanzarote (ES) - The Volcán, Lanzarote (ES) - Lava Beach, Lanzarote (ES)