| Susanne Sundfør | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Born | March 19, 1986 Haugesund, Norway |
| Website | susannesundfor.com |
Susanne Aartun Sundfør (born 19 March 1986, Haugesund, Norway) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She is the granddaughter of language researcher Kjell Aartun. She currently resides in Oslo.
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During summer 2005, she supported Tom McRae. In 2006, she rose to national fame performing under the by:Larm branch festival in Tromsø, followed by high acclaim and enthusiastic critiques in Norwegian media. She appeared with Madrugada during their spring 2006 tour as a stand-in for Ane Brun. In November 2006, she performed on the God Morgen Norge! Show on National TV 2. She has also supported Marit Larsen and Minor Majority. Susanne Sundfør has also studied English and Art at the University of Bergen.
During winter 2006-2007, Sundfør's single "Walls" topped every Norwegian radio and iTunes lists. Being the most anticipated and, eventually, the most acclaimed performance during by:Larm 2007, Susanne established herself in national media, now backed by a full band (guitar, bass, drums). Her iTunes-exclusive debut single Walls was released on 29 November 2006. Eventually it was also released in CD format. Her first album was released on her birthday 19 March 2007. She is associated with record producer and musician Geir Luedy and Your Favourite Music.
In January 2008, Sundfør covered Bob Dylan's Masters of War at Store Studio, NRK.[1]
In February 2008, she was awarded Spellemannprisen for best female performance. She spurred nationwide debate when she, upon receiving the price, stated: "I am first and foremost an artist, and secondly a woman".[2] By this, she was referring to a chauvinist introduction of the 2008 female nominees in the context of an on-going debate whether having a gender-differentiated "artist of the year" prize was archaic or not.[3]
In February 2008, Sundfør appeared with a track on Norwegian Crown Princess Her Royal Highness Mette Marit's album Sorgen og Gleden (The Sorrow and the Joy). Sundfør's contribution was the Norwegian folktune/psalm "Ingen Vinner Frem til Den Evige Ro" (No One Reaches the Eternal Calm), by Lars Linderot and Gustav Jensen.[4]
In 2010, her third album "The Brothel" was released to great acclaim in Norway, and ended up becoming the second bestselling album of the year. Dagbladet, a daily Norwegian newspaper, wrote that Sundfør was so good that other young Norwegian artists would start crying when hearing her -- both because she is several leagues above them, but also because her music is so moving and beautiful.[5]
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | SWE | ||
| 2007 | Susanne Sundfør | 3 | — |
| 2008 | Take One | 32 | — |
| 2010 | The Brothel | 1 | — |
| 2011 | A Night At Salle Pleyel | — | — |
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | SWE | DEN | |||
| 2007 | "Walls" | 3 | — | — | Susanne Sundfør |
| "I Resign" | — | — | — | ||
| 2010 | "The Brothel" | 2 | — | — | The Brothel |
| "It's All Gone Tomorrow" | — | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "Turkish Delight" | — | — | — | |
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | SWE | DEN | |||
| 2011 | "Kapitulera" (Timbuktu featuring Susanne Sundfør) |
12 | — | — | Sagolandet |
Mastering both jazz and classical music, Susanne Sundfør has developed a hybrid, combining elements of both with intimate and powerful lyrics. She plays the guitar and the piano. Although new on the Norwegian popular music scene, she is already well known and often compared to internationally acclaimed musicians like Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Her most prominent inspirators are Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Radka Toneff, Ane Brun, Fleetwood Mac, Beyoncé and Thomas Dybdahl.