Hanne Hukkelberg (born 17 April 1979) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter and producer from
Kongsberg
Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud, Viken county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production ...
, Norway.
Hukkelberg started singing and playing instruments at the age of 3. In her youth, she was a vocalist covering genres such as
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
, rock, and
free jazz
Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians during ...
, and was also a member of the influential
doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...
band
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect th ...
in high school, in which she contributed vocals on their second album, ''
In Fields of Pestilent Grief''. She earned her degree from the
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music (Norwegian: ''Norges musikkhøgskole'', NMH) is a university-level music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the co ...
in Oslo.
Hukkelberg graduated from the
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music (Norwegian: ''Norges musikkhøgskole'', NMH) is a university-level music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the co ...
in 2003, establishing herself as a vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist. It was there she met Kåre Chr. Vestrheim – a tutor who would later become one of Hukkelberg's closest friends and collaborators; also producing her ''Cast Anchor'' EP (2003) and breakthrough debut LP ''Little Things'' (2004).
In 2006 Hukkelberg released her second album ''Rykestrasse 68''. The album was awarded a
Norwegian Grammy in 2007 and released to international acclaim, with the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and BBC leading press plaudits.
After extensive touring – including a series of UK/EU/US headlines, a full European run with
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently dur ...
, and a special guest performance with
José González at New York's Bowery Ballroom – Hukkelberg released ''Blood From A Stone'' (2009). Notably Hukkelberg's darkest, most intimate album it generated steadfast press support and industry interest, including
KCRW
KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to programm ...
’s Chris Douridas and film director
Andrew Adamson
Andrew Ralph Adamson (born 1 December 1966) is a New Zealand film director, producer, and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, where he directed the Academy Award-winning animated films ''Shrek'' and ''Shrek 2''. He was director, executive prod ...
, who commissioned Hukkelberg for an original composition on
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian soundtrack.
After relocating to New York City Hukkelberg released fourth album ''Featherbrain'' to similar acclaim in 2012. The album was hailed a "''masterpiece''" (
The Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
), with Hukkelberg's brazen confidence and steadfast individuality reaching "''airtight, impeccable''" standards (
The Quietus
''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics.
Content
''The Quiet ...
). The corresponding album tour – yet another trans-Atlantic affair, including repeat-dates with Wilco – was followed by an extended live hiatus.
In 2014 Hukkelberg temporarily returned to the studio to pursue a series of commissioned works – including a guest collab with
Todd Terje
Terje Olsen (born 1981), known professionally as Todd Terje, is a Norwegian DJ, songwriter, and record producer. His stage name is a homage to house music producer Todd Terry.
Called "King of the summer jams" by '' Mixmag'', "one third of the H ...
and
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...
on ''Johnny and Mary''.
Hukkelberg's fifth studio album – ''Trust'' – was released by
Propeller Recordings
Propeller Recordings is a Norwegian independent record label, launched in 2003 in Oslo. It has grown into an influential label both in its home city as well as worldwide, and has now expanded to include a UK office based in London.
The label op ...
20 October 2017. Hukkelberg's newest album, Birthmark, was released on 16 August 2019.
''Little Things''
Her debut album ''Little Things'' was released in Norway in 2004 with a subsequent worldwide release in June 2005 by
Propeller Recordings
Propeller Recordings is a Norwegian independent record label, launched in 2003 in Oslo. It has grown into an influential label both in its home city as well as worldwide, and has now expanded to include a UK office based in London.
The label op ...
in Norway and distributed by
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...
in the United States. ''Little Things'' is notable for its eclectic array of instruments and its use of
found sound
Found objects are sometimes used in music, often to add unusual percussive elements to a work. Their use in such contexts is as old as music itself, as the original invention of musical instruments almost certainly developed from the sounds of nat ...
s, such as bicycle spokes, dish brushes, wine glasses, and rain.
The album earned enthusiastic reviews as critics lauded Hukkelberg for her originality and vocal ability. "Hanne Hukkelberg has delivered the kind of debut that heralds the arrival of a major new talent," said PopMatters. The ''Observer'' called the album "subtle and moving." The Sunday ''Times'' listed ''Little Things'' among the Records of the Year for 2005.
''Rykestraße 68''
After the success of ''Little Things'', Hukkelberg went to Berlin to compose songs for her next album.
''Rykestraße 68'' was released in September 2006, and reviewers noted the expansion and maturation of Hukkelberg's talents. The album contained a cover of "Break My Body" by
The Pixies
Pixies is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986, in Boston, Massachusetts. Until 2013, the band consisted of Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, vocals) and David Loverin ...
which became a staple of Hukkelberg's live shows. ''Rykestraße 68'' won Hukkelberg an Open Class category
Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen, often referred to as the Norwegian Grammy Awards in English, is a Norwegian music award presented to Norwegian musicians. The award was established by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an organizati ...
, the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy, in 2006.
Hukkelberg toured Europe extensively in support of ''Little Things'' and ''Rykestrasse 68'', and her unconventional live shows featured her small combo playing assorted instruments and found objects. Often she would play a metal trash can lid with a drumstick; invariably there would be an upturned bicycle onstage so Hukkelberg could strum the spokes.
Hukkelberg contributed a song, "Lucy," to the soundtrack of the film ''
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'' in 2008.
''Blood from a Stone''
In 2009, Hukkelberg released ''Blood from a Stone''. This album's guitar-heavy sound was a departure from the jazzy pop of her first two releases, recalling 80s alt-rock bands like The Pixies and
Bettie Serveert
Bettie Serveert is a Dutch indie rock band. The name translates to "Bettie Serves", or "Service to Bettie", which is the title of a book written by Dutch tennis player Betty Stöve, who made it to the Wimbledon Ladies Singles final in 1977.
...
as well as
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments.
Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined loca ...
. Although many reviews deplored the album's more straightforward approach, Pitchfork approved of the record as "a singer's album, highlighting Hukkelberg's voice above all else." The singer was nominated as a Female Artist for a Spellemannprisen in 2009 for ''Blood from a Stone''. She also contributed vocals to Motorpsycho's 2009 album ''Heavy Metal Fruit''.
In early 2010, Hukkelberg toured Europe opening for
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently dur ...
. With a regular band behind her, Hukkelberg's live sets began to de-emphasize the surreal performance-art aspect of her earlier shows and rely more on conventional rock band interplay.
Hukkelberg spent four months in New York City during 2010, playing solo gigs and composing material for her next album. Prior to her departure from New York in July, Hukkelberg made two brief trips to Norway to compete for an A-ha Talent Grant in June. She lost out to
Shining, whose vocalist
Jørgen Munkeby
Jørgen Munkeby (born 3 September 1980 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz and heavy metal musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, known as the frontman in the band Shining and former member of Jaga Jazzist.
Career
Munkeby formed ...
played reeds on ''Little Things''.
In 2011, Hukkelberg contributed vocals to Huntsville's ''For Flowers, Cars and Merry Wars'' CD. She also sang backup for Norwegian band
Heroes & Zeros, on the track "Wistful Hands" from their 2011 CD ''Ghostly Kisses''.
''Featherbrain''
Hukkelberg released ''
Featherbrain'', her fourth album, in February 2012. A less conventional-sounding record than the previous release, ''Featherbrain'' gained praise for returning Hukkelberg to her experimental aesthetic. "Hukkelberg’s brazen confidence swells within each song," remarked The Quietus. The BBC Review commended Hukkelberg for the "boldness" and "daring" she displays on the album, saying that "she has elevated herself to greater heights." After the release of ''Featherbrain'', Hukkelberg toured Europe and the UK. She opened for Wilco in several European cities.
Hukkelberg contributed a song to the
Occupy This Album compilation released in May 2012 to support the Occupy movement. The MP3 release of the set featured a previously unreleased track called "On My Wall," an alternate version of "I Sing You" from ''Featherbrain''.
''Trust''
Hukkelberg's fifth album ''Trust'' was released 20 October 2017 by Propeller Recordings.
''Birthmark''
Hukkelberg released her sixth album, Birthmark, on 16 August 2019. In her album she goes even more pop than she has before, inspired by a string of collaborations over the last few years with great songwriters and artists such as Emilie Nicolas, Highasakite and Bernhoft, as well as Todd Terje and Brian Ferry. The album was praised by the likes of BBC and Metro, stating it was "steadfast individuality" (BBC) and "no less than Epic" (Metro).
The album was recorded in her studio in Oslo, but was very much inspired by her trips to big cities like Berlin, Munich, London and Los Angeles.
The themes on Hukkelberg's album have a clear narrative and cover science, faith, love, loss and everyday life. Hukkelberg states, "I go from big existential matters to small everyday things on this album, just like in my own life. It’s about how I look at the world and how it is to live in it and all the relationships, troubles and joy this world can bring".
Discography
Albums
Extended plays
References
External links
Official Site
Pitchfork review*
Allmusic overview
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
Interview on Platforms MagazineCD review and interviewby Christian Bordal on
NPR's Day to Day
''Day to Day'' (''D2D'') was a one-hour weekday American radio newsmagazine distributed by National Public Radio (NPR), and produced by NPR in collaboration with ''Slate''. Madeleine Brand, Alex Chadwick, and Alex Cohen served as hosts. Topics ...
, (8/9/05)
Interview RDB – Portuguese Webzine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hukkelberg, Hanne
1979 births
Living people
Norwegian songwriters
Spellemannprisen winners
Propeller Recordings artists
Musicians from Kongsberg
21st-century Norwegian singers
21st-century Norwegian women singers
Nettwerk Music Group artists