About

Stadium pop phenomenon NAKED KOALA is an empowering band operating in the pop-rock sphere with a strong emphasis on legacy music inspirations such as U2, Coldplay, and Mr. Mister. Embodying the essence of ambition and exploration, the band aims higher than ever before when embarking on their historic headliner year of 2025 – hosting a Pacific tour as well as the biggest show ever in the magical country of Papua New Guinea. This is also the year of their highly anticipated debut album, “Dream”, scheduled for release during spring season.

Breaking through the barrier of sound, Kyrre Waag and co-founder Even Askildsen worked tirelessly towards their dream of projecting original music onto a global audience throughout their 20’s, often resulting in nothing more than providing musical life support to projects that frankly sucked. Through persistency and luck however, the duo occasionally struck musical gold with their tools of choice – YouTube tutorials, grit, and the Roland JV-1010 synth module. In 2018 this resulted in the release of their breakthrough hit, “Right With Me”, a song created in collaboration with Jamaican singer-songwriter Olaf Blackwood. By 2019, the boys had gained significant traction in one of the most analogue countries in the world – Papua New Guinea.

As new opportunities emerged, parallel challenges followed. The boys, which at the time performed live sets as a DJ-duo, had long reflected upon what got them into music in the first place. In truth, this had been the rock star heroes of their parents’ generation, revolving around bands such as Toto, Genesis, and The Police. Not arguing with the gravity within their musical hearts, the duo now set their aim to become a global stadium band in the pop-rock genre. The hurdle? Finding a close nit group of ambitious musicians crazy enough to embark on this journey with them – and learning to rock.

As the first part of their wildest year yet is well underway, many alignments are surfacing for what is now becoming a true band. With ambitions miles higher than the mountains of challenges clearly laying ahead, front man Kyrre has taken on the role as leader of NAKED KOALA and its new musical path. Working closely with both the band and producer-mentor Berent Philip Moe, iconic aesthetics and soundscapes heavily influenced by the artistry of producer legend Daniel Lanois have entered the mix, revealing undiscovered levels of creative potential. Combined with heartfelt lyrics, human musicianship, and raw determination, all eyes are watching as NAKED KOALA is embarking on their bold voyage towards uncharted territory and a global stage presence this fall. The anticipation is tangible as they prepare to unveil their debut single, “When We Were Young”, the 22nd of March, marking the beginning of an extraordinary year.