Norwegian female artists to follow closely
If we think about Scandinavian music, Sweden certainly has played an important role. But the other countries of the region in Northern-Europe are doing no wrong these days. Norway is a good example. There are international phenomenons like Kygo, Röyksopp, Alan Walker or Lemaitre, but there is also a bunch of very talented female artists that we should be following very closely. Below a good example of it.
Girl In Red
Marie Ulven Ringheim, known professionally as Girl In Red found out she was a lesbian at the age of 15 and she immediately felt the instinctive desire to describe this change in a song. Five years after that she is considered a queer icon for the extremely touching and natural way she deals with homosexuality in her songs.
With millions of views and streams on YouTube and Spotify, Girl In Red gained a fanatical fan base by delivering a dream pop in its most beautiful version telling her love ups and downs and mental health stories. Spontaneously fresh, energetic and very talkative whenever she takes the stage, it is no wonder that she is getting bigger and bigger really quickly.
Currently on tour, find out more about her and the tour dates here.
Mr Little Jeans
Born and raised in the woodsy, seaside town of Grimstad but currently based in Los Angeles, Monica Birkenes is better known by her stage name Mr Little Jeans which was inspired by Kumar Pallana’s character in Wes Anderson’s film Rushmore. With early influences ranging from Mariah Carey, PJ Harvey or Massive Attack, she sublimated and synthesized the ability to sing in a way that makes you freeze, as though time was momentarily stopped and you’re unsure whether you want to dance or ruminate. And like many other artists, it was thanks to a cover that people began to take notice of her.
With a stunning version of Arcade Fire's The Suburbs she racked up millions of views on YouTube. Her delicate voice mixed with electronic sounds captures you in some kind of mental state where you won't want to escape.
Find out more about Mr Little Jeans here.
Sigrid
Sigrid released her debut album Don't Kill My Vibe in 2017 performing at the iconic Glastonbury festival the same year. Shortly after she would win the BBC Music Sound of 2018. The 23 year-old artist is having a meteoric career and her highly contagious freshness and naturalness on stage is attracting thousands of people to her shows. She has toured supporting bands like Maroon 5 or artists like George Ezra.
Currently on tour, find out more about her and the tour dates here.
Aurora
Coming from a small town close to Bergen, Aurora has been a very precocious artist. She began creating melodies at the age of 6 and at the age of 9, she was already writing lyrics. Songs such as Running with the Wolves, I Went Too Far and Runaway were written in this early stage of her life. With such an impressive background no wonder she has become an international phenomenon despite being only 23 years old. Often compared to Björk or Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine), she has a very personal and unique style and a compelling presence on stage, and she has already played at festivals like Coachella.
Currently on tour, find out more about her and the tour dates here.
Jackie Charles
Compared to everything from David Bowie and the Cure to nowadays Ariel Pink and Alvvays, Jackie Charles seems to be a person itself. At least this is my theory. Or perhaps Jackie is each and every one of us. In any case, Jackie Charles is alter ego and love child of the Norwegian singer and songwriter Kaja Bremnes, who gives voice to a bunch of hypnotic melodies that transport you to your own inner world, with lyrics loaded of elements of depth that navigate dangerously through the borders of our own feelings and emotions.
Currently on tour, find out where to see them here. You can also read the conversation we had back in June here.
Smerz
Smerz produces an experimental electronic pop difficult to classify. With a hypnotic sound that goes from club music to R&B and interesting lyrics about the uncertainty of their lives, this female duo formed by Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt create, produce, and sing all their music being also responsible for all the visual content. They are currently signed to British label XL Recordings.
Follow the Norwegian duo and stay updated on any news and future shows here.
Dagny
29 years-old artist Dagny had her breakthrough debut single Backbeat in 2015, which its acoustic version was featured on famous TV series Grey's Anatomy. Daughter of two Jazz musicians, Dagny ́s music volleys between pop, electronic, indie and dance stylings. She is also very successful on Spotify with more the 200 million cumulative streams and currently belongs to Universal.
Currently on tour, find out more about Dagny and the tour dates here.
Okay Kaya
Born in Norway and Brooklyn based Kaya Wilkins, performs under the name of Okay Kaya. She delivers an experimental and intimate delicate pop with compromised lyrics and vocal melodies that lend a touching dimension to angst. Having spent time in a psychiatric center due to episodes caused by bipolar depression, she dives in her lyrics into her inner world singing about mental health and vulnerability like never before. Very recommended.
Find out more about Okay Kaya here.
Astrid S
Singer, songwriter and model Astrid Smeplass, known simply as Astrid S became famous after placing fifth in the Norwegian version of Pop Idol in 2013. Six years after that her music videos on YouTube collects millions of views and she is signed to Universal and has important collaborations and awards.
Astrid S is without any doubt the most typical major company pop artist of the names included in this article.
Find out more about Astrid S here.
Anna of the North
Anna Of The North is the artist’s name of Anna Lotterud and it comes from when she was a student in Melbourne (Australia) and started her musical career with the song Sway in 2014 which very quickly became an internet hit having the mega famous Chainsmokers making a remix of it.
I read once that people say her music is kind of ice-cold and fresh, and Anna would add that she feels there’s a lot of softness to it, like a warm hug and that’s what she wanted people to feel. Full of bright sounds, happy sad songs that reach to all sorts of situations Anna has been on tour with Kygo and is featured on an album with Tyler, The Creator.
Currently on tour, find out more about her and the tour dates here.
Listen to all these female Norwegian artists on the dedicated festnoise Spotify playlist
Cover photograph, Girl In Red captured by Maja Brenna for Øya festival
