Norwegian Female Musicians

Aurora is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, and dancer. Gifted from a young age, she began writing songs at the age of six! She began her career self-releasing her works. She received a favorable response from the audience and was soon able to establish herself as a popular singer. Her music encompasses electro-pop, folk, and art-pop elements. 

Girl in Red is an indie-pop music project by Norwegian singer-songwriter Marie Ulven Ringheim. She became interested in music and songwriting as a teenager. With her family’s encouragement, she began releasing Norwegian music and soon earned a decent following. She has also appeared in a TV program. She is openly queer and is considered a queer icon. 

The 1990s’ superhit dance track Barbie Girl made both the Danish-Norwegian band Aqua and its lead singer, Lene Nystrøm, international sensations. While Lene dated fellow band member René, she later married another band member, Søren. She later appeared in the Varg Veum film franchise and also reunited with her band.

Marion Raven is a Norwegian singer-songwriter best known as the co-founder of the pop duo M2M along with Marit Larsen. After they stopped performing together in 2002, Raven began a solo career and found success. She also contributes as a songwriter for other artists like Pixie Lott. Raven won the Best International Act award at the Musik Fach-Awards in 2015.

Liv Kristine is a Norwegian singer best known as an exponent of numerous subgenres of heavy metal music. Kristine is credited with pioneering gothic metal, which has since found many representatives across Europe. Over the years, Liv Kristine has contributed to the success of many bands like Theatre of Tragedy, Leaves' Eyes, and Atrocity. 

Lene Marlin is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, and musician. Marlin made an impressive debut when she released her single Unforgivable Sinner (1998) which became the fastest selling single in the history of Norwegian music. In 1999, she received the MTV Europe award for her stage performance in Dublin, Ireland. Marlin has also been nominated for prestigious awards including BRIT Awards.

Marit Larsen is a Norwegian singer-songwriter best known for forming the internationally recognized pop duo M2M with fellow musician and childhood friend Marion Raven. After they stopped performing together in 2002, Marit Larsen started a solo career and has won many prestigious awards, including three Spellemannprisen.

Maria Mena is a Norwegian pop singer best known for her songs Just Hold Me and You're the Only One. A successful singer, many of her studio albums have peaked in the top 10 of VG-lista. Maria Mena has won several awards including the Spellemannprisen, Norwegian Music Critics Award, and Norsk Artistforbund's Honorary Award.

Ane Brun is a Norwegian guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She is credited with founding her own record label, Balloon Ranger Recordings. Many of her works like A Temporary Dive and It All Starts with One have become chartbusters and multi-platinum albums.

Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen began playing the violin at age 3 and now performs at prestigious venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Barbican. She also often collaborates with her sister, cellist Håkon Samuelsen. She has also gained a huge following on YouTube, with videos such as Summer.

Brooklyn-born Norwegian-origin singer-actor Kaya Wilkins, better known as Okay Kaya, mostly sings about her own mental trauma, sexuality, and mental health. Known for hit tracks such as Psych Ward and Dance Like You, she has also starred in the Norwegian supernatural thriller Thelma. She considers songwriting her therapy.

Best known for co-writing Dua Lipa’s chartbusting track New Rules, Norwegian singer-songwriter Caroline Ailin has also written songs for stars such as Julie Bergan and Olivia Holt. The Norwegian MPA Award winner had started making music at age 12 and had moved to England to further her career at age 19.

Sami singer Agnete Johnsen led the teen punk band The BlackSheeps and also performed at Eurovision, representing Norway. She later emerged as the winner of season 10 of the Norwegian version of Dancing with the Stars, Skal vi danse. Icebreaker remains one of her best-known tracks.

Ida Maria, one of Norway’s top punk rockers, is a self-taught guitarist and had started performing at age 14. She soared to fame with the chartbusting track I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked and later followed up with songs such as I’m Busy. She apparently experiences synesthesia.

Anne Lilia Berge, better known as Annie, soared to fame with tracks such as The Greatest Hit and also rocked the DJ-ing scene in Bergen. Popularly known as The Norwegian Kylie, she got over the death of her boyfriend and collaborator Tore Kroknes and continued creating hit albums such as Don't Stop.

Internationally renowned concerto soloist Tine Thing Helseth was 7 when she began playing the trumpet for her school band in Oslo. She later scripted history as the first classical musician to win the Newcomer of the Year award at the Norwegian Grammys. She also leads the all-female ensemble tenThing.

Norwegian-Swedish singer Elisabeth Andreassen, also known to fans as Bettan, first gained attention when she participated in Eurovision with the group Chips. Known for experimenting with a variety of genres, such as pop, rock, and country, she also holds a joint record of the most participations in Eurovision.

Born Margrethe Jacobsen, Norwegian rock/metal singer Helena Iren Michaelsen changed her name at age 18. While she was initially part of the Dutch band Sahara Dust, she later formed the cross-border symphonic metal band Imperia, consisting of musicians from Norway, Germany, Finland, and Belgium. She has also performed for Trail of Tears.

Russian-origin Norwegian concert pianist Natalia Strelchenko, or Natalia Strelle, had started performing at concerts at age 12 and grew up to play at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall. She was strangled to death by her double bass player husband, John Martin, after being thrown down the stairs by him.

Born to a Norwegian mother and a Gambian father, Elisabeth Carew has grown up to be one of Nigeria’s best upcoming talents. She has been part of the Melodi Grand Prix in both 2010 and 2014. She is also the sister of Norwegian national team footballer John Carew.

Nigerian folk singer Sigrid Moldestad is best known for her mastery of the fiddle. The Norwegian Grammy winner has previously performed as part of Fjøgl and Spindel, and now has her own self-titled band. She is known for her fusion of contemporary and traditional styles of music.