Susanne Sundfør

Susanne Sundfør is a Norwegian singer-songwriter and producer from Haugesund. She works across alternative rock, art pop, chamber pop, dream pop, electronic and electropop, and is associated with a style that combines chamber folk, electronic pop and dance music. She releases music through Sonnet Sound Limited.

Career

Sundfør begins to attract attention in Norway in 2005, when she tours the country supporting Tom McRae. In 2006 she tours with Madrugada and performs their song “Lift Me,” which the band had previously recorded with Ane Brun. Later that year she releases her debut single, “Walls,” digitally, and it reaches number three on the Norwegian singles chart.

Her self-titled debut album follows in 2007 and reaches number three in Norway. In 2008 she issues the live release Take One, and her debut album wins the Spellemannprisen for Best Female Performance. She questions the gender-specific nature of the award when accepting it.

Her 2010 album The Brothel reaches number one on the Norwegian album chart, helped by the title track. In 2011 she releases the all-instrumental A Night at Salle Pleyel, featuring jazz keyboardist Christian Wallumrød and members of Jaga Jazzist. In 2012 she releases the single “White Foxes” and the album The Silicone Veil, and later that year collaborates with Morten Myklebust on “Away” and with Röyksopp on “Running to the Sea.”

In 2013 she works with French electronic group M83 on the Oblivion soundtrack, and her back catalogue is then issued in the UK for the first time. She also makes her production debut on Bow’s Each Other. Her fifth studio album is preceded by “Fade Away,” and Ten Love Songs follows in 2015, reaching the top of the Norwegian charts and receiving strong critical attention. In 2017 she releases Music for People in Trouble, led by “Undercover” and including a guest appearance from John Grant on “Mountaineers.” In 2019 she releases the concert album People in Trouble: Live from the Barbican, recorded in London the previous year.

Her early sound is compared to Stina Nordenstam, Depeche Mode, Tori Amos and Radiohead, and she develops from a folk-influenced debut towards a denser electronic style in the 2010s. She remains an active Norwegian singer-songwriter associated with alternative, art-pop and electronic music.