ABOUT

Norwegian artist Susanna (1979) is the woman behind Susanna and the Magical Orchestra // Susanna // Susanna Wallumrød, releasing music since 2004 through independent labels like Norwegian Rune Grammofon and German ECM Records, and through her own label SusannaSonata since 2011. She is known for her transforming of songs by AC/DC, Dolly Parton, Thin Lizzy and Leonard Cohen among others, but also for her strong originals and her collaboration with artists like Jenny Hval, Ensemble neoN and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

17 albums so far (by 2022) – all highly acclaimed, 2020’s ‘Baudelaire & Piano’ is her first solo-album, piano and vocals only- with her interpretations of poetry by Charles Baudelaire. The album comes highly acclaimed with great reviews in The Guardian, Financial Times, Mojo and Uncut. In 2021 she released the album LIVE with her cousin David Wallumrød, with personal interpretations of songs by Joni Mitchell, Lennon/McCartney and Leonard Cohen. And in November 2021 Susanna released the demoes to her only Norwegian album so far “Jeg vil hjem til menneskene”. New this year is the Baudelaire follow-up ‘Elevation’ which has received much acclaim. Susanna has won numerous awards for her music, like the Norwegian Grammy award three times and several other honors as a singer, musician and composer.

Susanna has composed music on commission for Ladyfest, the Telemark Festival, Henie Onstad Arts Centre exhibition ‘We Live On A Star’ and the vocal ensemble Oslo 14, and collaborated with among others Tuva L. Syvertsen, contemporary dance ensemble Carte Blanche, Stian Westerhus, Jenny Hval, Tord Gustavsen, Swiss harpist Giovanna Pessi, Dutch artist Jessica Sligter, American artist Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and British multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones. She has received the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) 3 times in Open Category,  the Gammleng-award in 2012 in Open Category for rewarding participation in album releases, and the Radka Toneff Memorial Award in 2015. Susanna won the Kongsberg Jazzfestival musician award in 2016, called DNB-award, she composed the yearly commissioned work for Vossa Jazz 2017 and won the EDVARD-award as a composer for her album ‘Triangle’.