Artist in profile: Anna of the North
Anna of the North has been revealing glimpses this year of her Scandinavian synth-pop, at once icy and warm. She's closing out the year with a free download to thank fans, with more new music expected in early 2015.
Who?
Anna of the North -- full name Anna Lotterud -- is a 25-year-old singer from Gjøvik, Norway. She released her first-ever demo, "Sway," earlier this year, getting buzz for the initial track as well as a remix by The Chainsmokers. Among her other tracks is a quirky cover of Donna Lewis's "I Love You Always Forever."
Why the buzz?
Anna of the North's dreamy pop is a study in contrasts, evoking the snowy Nordic winter as much as the hazy summer sun, all centered around what The 405 called her "endearing, heart-melting vocals."
Reviewing debut single "Sway," released during the Northern summer, Pigeons and Planes wrote: "Her sound is bright but laid back. It's got a hot-summer-day vibe that makes you want to press the cool condensation of a fresh bottle of water against your neck."
Oblivious Pop said of the same track, "Anna's vocals have a brightness that shines through the clouds above and circles around your head. It's that bubble-gum pop meets ice princess track that will cool you down as the summer heat treks on."
"Oslo," meanwhile, comes in the thick of winter, and All Things Go wrote, "When you're caught up walking in a winter wonderland, this is the track you'll want stuck in your head. It's a whimsical synth pop daydream that will melt the frozen boombox in your chest."
What to listen to?
You can find the singer's music on SoundCloud, including "Sway" and its many remixes as well as new track "Oslo," which is available as a free download. A music video for "Sway" can be found on YouTube, and we're told new music is coming in the first few months of 2015.
Where to follow?
Find Anna of the North on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
