Erik Hillestad was born in Oslo on 12 December 1951. He is the son of the priest and hymn writer Olaf Hillestad and Sigrid Engeset, and is the grandson of the hymn writer Sigvard Engeset. His family background in church life and hymn writing formed an important personal context for his later work at the intersection of music, religious culture and contemporary artistic expression. He married Marianne Lystrup in 1971 and is the brother-in-law of musician and songwriter Geirr Lystrup.
Hillestad began his principal professional work in 1974, when he founded Kirkelig Kulturverksted, a Norwegian record company and label devoted to artistically ambitious music with links to church culture and wider social concerns. He served as the organization's leader and manager from its establishment until 2024, apart from a temporary exception in 2008, and produced a large proportion of its releases. He has worked as a record producer, lyricist, initiator of cultural projects and facilitator of collaborations across musical, religious and national boundaries, producing recordings for artists including Bjørn Eidsvåg, Kari Bremnes, Sigvart Dagsland, Sondre Bratland, Carola and Ole Paus. He has also written song lyrics, librettos, translations and individual songs for numerous performers, including Sigvart Dagsland, Karoline Krüger, Anne Vada, Grethe Svensen, Anita Skorgan and Mighty Sam McClain. In 1982 he became the first Norwegian producer to receive the Spellemannprisen's producer award. In 2000, Kirkelig Kulturverksted established Kulturkirken Jakob in Oslo, a permanent venue for concerts, theatre, visual art and other experimental cultural activities in a former church. Hillestad's later producing work increasingly emphasized music as a means of dialogue, peacebuilding and human-rights advocacy. Projects associated with this direction include Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (2001), Lullabies from the Axis of Evil (2004), Songs across Walls of Separation (2008) and A Time to Cry (2010), as well as recordings with artists from the Middle East, including Mahsa Vahdat of Iran and Rim Banna of Palestine. By 2025, Kirkelig Kulturverksted had released more than 500 records under the leadership he established and developed.
Founded Kirkelig Kulturverksted in 1974 and developed it into one of Norway's major independent record labels for artistically ambitious music.
Produced more than 500 records and helped disseminate Norwegian music internationally while giving a platform to artists from marginalized and conflict-affected communities.
Established Kulturkirken Jakob in Oslo in 2000 as a permanent venue for concerts, theatre, visual art and experimental cultural projects.
Developed international music projects addressing peace, dialogue and human rights, including Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Lullabies from the Axis of Evil, Songs across Walls of Separation and A Time to Cry.
Became the first Norwegian record producer to receive the Spellemannprisen producer award in 1982.
Hillestad has described his work as rooted in the belief that art can open doors between people, cultures and religious communities. His projects have treated music as a vehicle for dialogue, peacebuilding and human rights, while his work with Kirkelig Kulturverksted has sought to bring contemporary artistic experimentation into conversation with church culture.
Hillestad's most significant documented professional connection is with Kirkelig Kulturverksted, which he founded and led for fifty years. He also collaborated extensively with Norwegian and international singers, songwriters and musicians, particularly through projects concerned with religious expression, intercultural dialogue and human rights.
