Born in Arendal, Norway, Sauvik moved with his parents to Tanzania when he was three years old, as they worked with development agency NORAD.

In 2009, Vinni took part in the Norwegian TV 2 channel's reality television program Det store korslaget, a competition of choirs.

[2] Vinni also took part in the reality television program Hver gang vi møtes[3] also on TV 2, with well-known singers competing by performing hits of the other participants.

In 2012, Vinni had a huge success with the single "Sommerfuggel i Vinterland" that he performed initially during Hver gang vi møtes.

This top selling single was replaced by yet another of his Hver gang vi møtes performances, namely "Godmorgen Norge" which also reached No.