Susanne Sundfør / Susanne Sundfor

Coming onto the international scene like a rich, delicate mix of Stina Nordenstam, Depeche Mode, Tori Amos, and Radiohead, Norwegian singer/songwriter Susanne Sundfør rose to fame in her homeland beginning in 2005. It was that year she toured the country opening for English singer/songwriter Tom McRae, while in 2006, she joined Madrugada on tour, performing their song "Lift Me," a duet the band originally recorded in the studio with singer Ane Brun. Late that same year, she digitally released her debut single, "Walls," which would climb to number three on the Norwegian singles chart. It was the same position her debut, self-titled album would climb to on the album charts when in was released in 2007. The live effort Take One would follow in 2008, which was the same year that her debut won the Spellemannprisen for Best Female Performance. Sundfør accepted the award with some hesitation, stating her work represented her as an artist first, and a woman second, bringing into question whether the Norwegian Grammy board was acting archaically with such gender specific awards. Two years later her album The Brothel would climb to the top of the Norwegian album charts thanks in part to the success of its title track. Jazz keyboardist Christian Wallumrød and members of Jaga Jazzist would appear on her 2011 effort, the all-instrumental A Night at Salle Pleyel. In 2012 she released the single "White Foxes" along with the album The Silicone Veil. She ended the year collaborating with Morten Myklebust on the track "Away," along with electronica duo Röyksopp on their single "Running to the Sea."