DJ and producer duo Mentum are firming themselves as one of the Nordic dance scene’s most exciting breakout stories. Formed of Tim Terkelsen and Finn Eriksrud, the pair have amassed tens of millions of streams with tracks like ‘Fell In Love With An Alien’ and ‘Antidote’. They’ve earned DJ support from heavyweight tastemakers including David Guetta, R3HAB and The Chainsmokers.
Following the duo’s recent release, ‘Breathe’, we caught up with Mentum to find out more.
You’ve both carved out your identities as DJs and producers, but as Mentum you operate as a single creative force. How did the project first take shape and what do you individually bring to the project?
It actually started in the most unglamorous way possible – at a house party in 2014. We were just passing the aux back and forth, playing club tracks and trying to outdo each other with IDs. That energy kind of stuck.
By 2016 we officially launched Mentum, but it didn’t feel like a “big launch” at the time. It was more like, “Okay, let’s take this seriously.”
Tim brings a very visual way of thinking about music. He builds drops almost like you’re designing a space – tension, colour, texture. Finn comes from a melodic and emotional place, also driven by visual imagination – and songwriting, storytelling, the human side of it. Together it just feels balanced. Technical but emotional.
Your new single ‘Breathe’ is made for the club! What was the production process like for this one? From idea to final track.
‘Breathe’ started from a feeling more than anything. We wanted that moment on the dancefloor where everything kind of pauses before it explodes.
It began with a simple vocal melody, and then we built it out from there. Because we do everything in-house, it’s quite fluid – one of us will spark something and the other immediately pushes it further.
We spent a lot of time on tension. Making sure the drop actually feels earned. And then at the end, we stripped things back so it still feels raw and not overproduced.
‘Breathe’ suggests stillness and release, yet your production is layered and dynamic. Was the title the starting point, or did it emerge after the track’s atmosphere revealed itself?
The title actually came later.
When we were building the track, we kept talking about that moment where you almost need to take a breath before everything hits. It felt like that word summed up the whole energy of the track.
There’s something powerful about contrast – calm versus chaos – and that’s kind of the space we love working in.
We’d love to hear more about your experience writing and producing for other artists – how do you approach these sessions? Making sure you capture another artist’s idea.
When we’re writing for someone else, we treat it like stepping into their universe.
We’ve worked with artists like R3HAB and Gabry Ponte – and every session is different. Some come in with a clear vision, others just have a vibe. Our job is to translate that into something that feels authentic to them. The majority of the work though, is pitching songs we think are cool to other artists and hope for the best.
How has writing and producing for others helped to shape your creative process when it comes to Mentum releases?
It sharpened our instincts massively.
When you’re working behind the scenes for bigger names, you learn very quickly what works in a club, what works on streaming, and what just feels flat. You also learn to be efficient.
And just the fact of growing up in the industry – when we come back to Mentum, there’s less second-guessing. We trust our ears more. And we’re clearer about the direction we want to go in.
Norway isn’t always the first country people associate with electronic music dominance. How has growing up in the Norwegian scene shaped your sound and work ethic?
In Norway there isn’t really a big scene for the music we currently make yet – and there’s less hype culture. So we looked outward towards other cultures. That gave us patience. And discipline – And we were forced to try to think differently. However, Nordic music in general tends to carry emotion. Even when it’s high-energy, there’s depth underneath. That’s definitely shaped us.
How do you see the local scene evolving? Are there emerging artists or collectives from your homeland that international audiences should have on their radar?
There’s a lot of exciting producers and songwriters coming up – technically strong, but also creatively bold. I think the next wave from Norway will surprise people.
The global electronic scene is saturated with releases every week. What sets Mentum apart right now, and what risks are you willing to take to avoid creative complacency?
We’re not chasing viral moments. That’s important.
We’ve been building this for over a decade, so it’s about longevity and authenticity. What sets us apart is our diversity through experience, and that emotional layer. Even when it’s high-energy house or EDM, there’s always something human in it.
In terms of risk – launching our own imprint, LOCO MOTIV recs, is a big one. It’s us saying, “This is the direction.” We’re willing to double down on our lane instead of watering it down for trends.
When you’re not in the studio or behind the decks, how do you both like to spend your time?
Tim gets inspired by visuals – art, design, architecture and photography. Finn spends more time on psychology, cultural trends, and shaping new and different melodic ideas.
And honestly, just being in different cities and cultures helps. Something opens up in you when you open up to all kinds of people. Observing how people connect with music in different places is always inspiring.[Text Wrapping Break]
When you think about the next chapter for Mentum, what’s the vision you’re working towards?
2026 feels like a turning point.
We’re not trying to prove that we exist anymore – we’ve done the groundwork. Now it’s about defining our lane properly. High-energy house and EDM with emotional gravity.
It feels like things are aligning now – we’re finally clear in our vision. But it took some time, hah.
The vision is simple: build something concrete that lasts. Not just big drops – but real connection. And we believe our music in 2026 and beyond will support that.
Mentum online:
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Soundcloud
