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 college band. From that moment on, we’ve been inseparable. Despite our deep personal bond, we each pursued our own musical projects at the time.

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 to resalise that this way of life was not what we were aiming for. That’s why, at the close of 2018, we made the bold decision to start fresh.

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.

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, we are ALVA was born.