Frøya / Froya

Frøya is a Norwegian country music singer who broke through to mainstream success in 2009 with her second album, Jenta Fra Landet. Born Frøydis Skinnarland, she resides on a farm in the Norwegian countryside and cites musical influences that include American country singers such as Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and Martina McBride as well as Norwegians such as Carola, Anne Nørdsti, and Lasse Stefanz. In 2007 Frøya made her full-length album debut with Summersun on the label Piraya Music. Billed to Frøydis Skinnarland, the English-language album spawned a minor hit with "Dance Tonight," for which a video was filmed. Upon signing to the Warner Music Group affiliate label Mariann in the wake of "Dance Tonight," she simplified her name to Frøya and made her major-label album debut with Jenta Fra Landet (2009). A Top Ten hit on the Norwegian albums chart, Jenta Fra Landet spawned a series of singles including "Sorgfulle Barn" as well as the title track, a Norwegian-language cover version of Gretchen Wilson's 2004 American country anthem "Redneck Woman."