In Scandinavia, Sweden has been known to rule the pop scene, starting with chart-topping artists like ABBA, Roxette, and Ace of Base to more recent hits from Robyn, Lykke Li, Icona Pop, Avicii, and Tove Lo. Meanwhile, neighboring Norway has showcased a more modest number of transatlantic crossovers, ranging from A-ha, whose presence is relevant in karaoke bars across the globe, to the cooler electronic music leaders Röyksopp; and then there’s the comedy duo Ylvis, whose “anti-hit” song “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)” proved its success in YouTube numbers—779,067,026 views to be precise (at the time of this article).
Norway. A country of Fjords and Vikings, of salmon, trolls and fairy tales. A country of oil seepages, high prices and cross-country skiing. A place where traditionally German tourists traveled the countryside with their enormous caravans. Nowadays those icons seem to be replaced by foreign music producers, bands and artists seeking inspiration and ideas.
One of those artists is ‘Cecilie’. Her new album, ‘FEARLESS’ is available now. Check out the Official Lyric Video below:
Exposed Vocals Score: 8.8/10
Cecilie is a singer and songwriter from Norway. Her debut album Fearless and her first single The Spell was released in 2018. She has a gentle, vulnerable, new age style that includes elements of pop, folk and Celtic music.
Cecilie titled her debut album Fearless because she wants to encourage people everywhere to be true to who they are and not let their fears control them. The album is about releasing what is holding you back, being present and listening to the world around you until you find your true path and direction.
She sings with an angelic voice and heart-breaking honesty about love, relationships, inner feelings and personal tales of the trials and tribulations of life. She is backed by top Norwegian musicians and the music is arranged and produced by John Inge Knudsen, with Cecilie co-producing five tracks.
Although this is her first musical album, Cecilie has a wide variety of life experiences that include getting her medical degree and serving as physician for several years as well as on-going experimenting in the arts (choirs, musical theater, dancing, musical performances and songwriting). She was born in Oslo and still lives close to the capital with her family.
“The first thing that really hit me musically was when I was six-years-old and started listening to the original recording of the musical ‘Phantom of the Opera’ with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, and soon I could sing all the words. I still love musicals”
She wrote her first song in 2002 after a year on ‘folkehøgskole’ (alternative school year after high school) “Usually I find a melody by singing, then the lyrics come after that, and finally I use the piano to find chords to frame my melody with a simple arrangement”
One of her biggest inspirations has been Rolf Lovland, the Norwegian keyboardist, composer and producer who is half of the highly-successful new age music duo Secret Garden. “Finding myself in a musical desert I went to his music for inspiration, and I wrote lyrics to one of his melodies. That was the beginning of the last part of the journey that led to me find the courage to make this album. I believe most people would be happier with their lives if they would listen to their heart, let it give them direction and then do what it tells you…..fearlessly,” states Cecilie. A lot of times we are controlled by fears that do us no good, and that keep us away from our dreams and our true purpose. It is healing in working through our fear and not letting it control us. “That’s why I called my album Fearless, because it is the most fearless thing I’ve ever done.
“What I wish for is that my music will touch someone on any level. I want people to take something away after hearing my music. Hopefully I can move someone, or they can relate to something I sing, and maybe find a new idea or help in some way ”
Cecilie held her first releaseconcert in Kulturkirken Jakob in Oslo, Norway May 2018
Fearless is available at online sales sites such as Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody and many others. The music also can be heard (and this artist can be followed) at many major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal and more.
