This post is sponsored by Warner.
Get to know 22-year-old rising pop star Julie Bergan – one time table tennis champion who used to work in a supermarket – who’s now both a staple of music festivals in Norway and one of the musicians performing alongside the Norwegian Grammy Awards. Here are ten things you can keep in mind when listening to her new single “Blackout”.
Videos by VICE
JULIE BERGAN IS STILL HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO 90S ICON SHANIA TWAIN
“I listen to Shania Twain a lot. Her songs are just amazing, and I always make sure one of her tracks is in my playlists.”
IN THE ALL-FEMALE COVER OF KARPE DIEM’S SEMINAL “ATTITUDEPROBLEM”, JULIE BERGAN MAKES A CAMEO AS A STATE OF THE ART RAPPER, BUT IT IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME SHE’S EVER RAPPED
“I made a rap song some years ago for fun. It was about how I was ‘the shit’ and that I was ‘the real deal’”, she explains while laughing. “When I entered the studio to record my verse for “Attitudeproblem” I suddenly didn’t feel like ‘the shit’ anymore. But after warm up, I overcame my initial fears, and it was so much fun. I’ve always wanted to rap!”
AS A YOUNGSTER JULIE BERGAN WAS A TABLE TENNIS CHAMPION
“Yes, I won a championship in table tennis. I thought it was quite fun at the time, and I really had the knack for it. But I also played football, danced four or five times a week and attended gymnastics, too,” she says, making all our futile attempts at honouring a new year’s resolution of working out seem bleak in comparison.
HER NEW SINGLE “BLACKOUT” IS AN EXERCISE IN EXISTENTIALISM
“The song focuses on the feeling of wanting to hide sometimes, to disappear from all the negative stuff surrounding you. In the music video, I’m locked up in a room without doors or windows. That’s a metaphor for being unable to escape your problems.”
THE BEST PRESENT JULIE BERGAN EVER GOT WAS AN AXE
“What can I say, I love chopping wood.”
RIHANNA’S DRIVER ONCE DROVE BERGAN FROM MALIBU TO HOLLYWOOD
“I was at a party at her place in Malibu, celebrating with some 20 people affiliated with the production of her album. Upon leaving the party, turns out the driver was going the same way, so he offered to take me home.”
“ARIGATO MOTHERF***” IS INSPIRED BY HER FRIEND’S SHITTY BOYFRIEND
“A lot of people my age plan to study abroad or travel the world, but getting a partner tends to throw a spanner in the works. This happened to one of my friends, and when her boyfriend stopped her from following her dreams, I wanted to make a song that said ‘I don’t need a boyfriend to protect me from the world, I want to learn stuff on my own terms and I don’t wanna be stopped by another person.’”
BEFORE WORKING AS A PROFESSIONAL SINGER, JULIE BERGAN WORKED AS A CASHIER
“I used to daydream I would be a musician some day.” Oh, how faith works in mysterious ways!
NO ONE HAS EVER BROKEN JULIE BERGAN’S HEART
“I’ve never had a boyfriend, so needless to say I’ve never experienced a break-up. But I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to have one’s heart broken!”
JULIE BERGAN CAN’T SLEEP IF SHE’S NOT WEARING A ONE-PIECE
“I’m very fascinated by tracksuits and one-pieces. I always sleep with one on. I’m just a sucker for it.”
“Blackout” is out now via Warner.
