Singer/songwriter Frida Amundsen (born September 9, 1992) from the small town of Vaksdal in Norway landed a recording contract with EMI Music in the autumn of 2009, after the recording company received a demo she had recorded with help from producers Lars Hustoft and Yngve Høyland.
At the time, Frida was studying music in high school in the town of Voss, on the west coast of Norway. EMI Music travelled to Voss only a few days after receiving the demo and signed the young girl with the big voice on the spot.
Frida started working in a recording studio, writing songs and recording tracks, all whilst completing high school.In May 2011, whilst Frida was sitting her final exams, her first single, “Closer”, was released.
Her evocative lyrics and unforgettable voice has been spellbinding radio listeners since.«I would describe “Closer” as a light, summery song about young love, and let my listeners interpret it as they wish.
But essentially the song is about having feelings for someone who does not reciprocate», explains Frida.“Closer”, written by Frida and produced by Lars Hustoft and Yngve Høyland, quickly made its way to the top of the official radio charts in Norway and became the most played Norwegian song on radio in 2011.
In the autumn of 2011, Frida moved to Oslo to work full-time on her forthcoming album, recording songs in Rainbow Studio and Propeller Studios. Frida writes all of her own lyrics, and has collaborated with Lene Marlin, Simone Larsen, Thomas Kongshavn and Martin Sjølie on the album, in addition to Lars Hustoft.
«I want to write songs that people will recognise parts of themselves in, so it will be a personal album. It is important to me that all the songs come from me and that it’s real», says Frida.“Closer” quickly received attention in the rest of Scandinavia and in Europe and the track will be released in Italy, Germany, Sweden and Denmark in 2012.
A new music video, directed by André Chocron, has been recorded to coincide with the European release.«With “Closer” topping the radio charts in Norway, I have had a taste of how incredible it feels to connect with listeners.
It has been such an exciting year for me – so many things have happened and so many things have changed.»Fridas second single, “You Are Not Alone”, released in Norway in January 2012, is a ballad that shows a more sombre side of Frida.
Fridas debut album, entitled September, will be released on the 20th of April 2012 and will contain both up-tempo pop songs like “Closer” and gentler ballads. The album title represents the melancholy of the changing seasons – the fight between lightness and darkness, sadness and happiness.
Frida is ready for the adventures that 2012 will bring. «I am very open to new things and take all the chances I am given. This is all incredibly exciting. Of course it’s a lot of hard work, but this is what I want to do.
I have so much to look forward to.»
