Susanne Sundfør
Susanne Aartun Sundfør (born March 19, 1986, Haugesund, Norway) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She is granddaughter of the acclaimed and disputed professor Kjell Aartun. She currently resides in Bergen.
Career
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 been involved in English literature and Art studies 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 November 29, 2006. Eventually it was released also in CD format. Her first album was released on her birthday March 19, 2007. She is associated with acclaimed record producer and musician Geir Luedy and Your Favourite Music.
The internet radio station KGRL featured her as their “Flower-Powered Artist” for October 2007.[1] The feature includes an exclusive interview, Susanne Sundfør CD review, photos, and a collection of KGRL exclusive live performance videos streamed on-demand.
In January 2008 Sundfør covered Bob Dylan's Masters of War at Store Studio, NRK. [2]
In February 2008, she was awarded Spelleman Prize for best female performance. However, she spurred nationwide debate when she, upon receiving the price, stated: "I am first and foremost an artist, and only, secondly, a woman".[3] By this, she was referring 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.
Discography
Susanne Sundfør (2007)
- I Resign
- The Waves
- Dear John,
- Walls
- Gravity
- Moments
- The Dance
- Morocco (feat. Odd Martin Skålnes)
- Torn To Pieces
- Day Of The Titans
- After You Left
- (Secret Track)
Music
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.
Trivia
- The Norwegian artist Kristin Austreid has made the critically acclaimed cover-art on Sundfør's debut album.
References
- ^ Flower-Powered Artist - October 2007. KGRL. October 2007. Retrieved 01 October 2007.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQKV0VTmHWw]. [[youtube.com]. February 2008. Retrieved 07 February 2008.
- ^ http://wap.dagbladet.no/kjendis/2008/02/03/525792.html]. Dagbladet.no. February 2008. Retrieved 07 February 2008.