Monica Heldal

Monica Heldal grew up in Tromsø, a Norwegian town north of the Arctic Circle. That northern landscape seems to have settled into her music, which often carries a quiet, spacious quality. Her 2013 debut album included the song 'Boy From The North,' which became a signature piece for her.

She has released several albums since then, including 'A Thousand Nights' in 2016 and 'The One You Start Over With' in 2021. Other songs like 'Follow You Anywhere' and 'Waiting On The Fire' show her leaning into a folk-inflected sound that feels both intimate and slightly removed, like watching a scene through a window.

Her work has drawn collaborators like Bon Iver and Damien Rice, artists who share her preference for atmosphere over bombast. She has also spoken about gender inequality in the music industry, though her own music tends to avoid direct statements, preferring implication and mood.