Born in 1983, Dag Erik Knedal Andersen (often referred to as DEKA) planned to be an engineer until catching the jazz bug at the age of 15, going on to study at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim. After a brief period in Berlin, he moved to Oslo, soon becoming a ubiquitous figure on the Norwegian improvised music scene. His hyperactive take-no-prisoners approach to drumming won him the 'Talent of the Year' award at the 2010 Molde international Jazz Festival.