{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hanne Hukkelberg | image = Hanne Hukkelberg at Bush Hall 2.jpg | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = Hanne Hukkelberg at Bush Hall 2 | background = solo_singer | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = | origin = [[Kongsberg]], Norway | death_date = | death_place = | genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[art rock]], [[Independent music|indie]], [[Experimental music|experimental]] | occupation = Singer-songwriter | instrument = | years_active = {{start date|2003}}–present | label = Hukkelberg Music | associated_acts = [[Emilie Nicolas]], [[Todd Terje]], [[Highasakite]] | website = {{URL|www.hannehukkelberg.com}} }}
'''Hanne Hukkelberg''' (born 17 April 1979) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter and producer from [[Kongsberg]], Norway.
Hukkelberg started singing and playing instruments at the age of 3. In her youth, she was a vocalist covering genres such as [[jazz]], rock, and [[free jazz]], and was also a member of the influential [[doom metal]] band [[Funeral (band)|Funeral]] 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]] in Oslo.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p703420/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Hanne Hukkelberg|last=Hoffman|first=K. Ross|publisher=[[All Media Guide|AMG]]|accessdate=15 May 2010}}</ref>
Hukkelberg graduated from the [[Norwegian Academy of Music]] 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 [[Spellemannprisen|Norwegian Grammy]] in 2007 and released to international acclaim, with the likes of Pitchfork,<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Matthew|title=Hanne Hukkelberg Rykestrasse|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9523-rykestrasse-68/|website=Pitchfork.com}}</ref> The Guardian<ref>{{cite news|last=Walters|first=John L|title=Hanne Hukkelberg Rykestrasse 68|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/30/worldmusic.shopping1|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and BBC leading press plaudits.
After extensive touring – including a series of UK/EU/US headlines, a full European run with [[Wilco]], and a special guest performance with [[José González (singer)|José González]] at New York's Bowery Ballroom – Hukkelberg released ''Blood From A Stone'' (2009). It generated steadfast press support and industry interest, including [[KCRW]]’s Chris Douridas and film director [[Andrew Adamson]], 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]]), with Hukkelberg's brazen confidence and steadfast individuality reaching "''airtight, impeccable''"<ref>{{cite web|last=Trussler|first=Meryl|title=Revies, Hanne Hukkelberg FEATHERBRAIN|date=March 2012 |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/08120-hanne-hukkelberg-featherbrain-review}}</ref> standards ([[The Quietus]]). 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]] and [[Bryan Ferry]] on ''Johnny and Mary''.
Hukkelberg's fifth studio album – ''Trust'' – was released by [[Propeller Recordings]] 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]] in Norway and distributed by [[Sony Music]] in the United States. ''Little Things'' is notable for its eclectic array of instruments and its use of [[found sound]]s, such as bicycle spokes, dish brushes, wine glasses, and rain.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bordal|first=Christian|title=Hanne Hukkelberg: 'Little Things'|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4792353|website=Npr.org|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/hukkelberghanne-little/|title=Hanne Hukkelberg: Little Things|date=1 September 2005|website=Popmatters.cpom}}</ref> The ''Observer'' called the album "subtle and moving."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/omm/reviews/story/0,13875,1507185,00.html|title=Hanne Hukkelberg, Little Things – OMM – The Observer|website=observer.guardian.co.uk}}</ref> The Sunday ''Times'' listed ''Little Things'' among the Records of the Year for 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/music-records-of-the-year-dmnnz9n65v7|title=Music: Records of the year|date=4 December 2005|website=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
==''Rykestraße 68''== After the success of ''Little Things'', Hukkelberg went to Berlin to compose songs for her next album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/30/worldmusic.shopping1|title=CD: Hanne Hukkelberg, Rykestrasse 68|first=John L.|last=Walters|date=29 March 2007|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref>
''Rykestraße 68'' was released in September 2006, and reviewers noted the expansion and maturation of Hukkelberg's talents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8r3n/|title=BBC – Music – Review of Hanne Hukkelberg – Rykestrasse 68|first=Martin|last=Longley|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The album contained a cover of "Break My Body" by [[The Pixies]] which became a staple of Hukkelberg's live shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2uptop.com/news/Album-Review:-Hanne-Hukkelberg/|title=2-UpTop – Album Review: Hanne Hukkelberg|website=2uptop.com}}</ref> ''Rykestraße 68'' won Hukkelberg an Open Class category [[Spellemannprisen]], the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy, in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=2006 Results|url=http://www.spellemann.no/index.php?option=com_winner&Itemid=29&year=2006|work=Spellemannprisen|access-date=30 March 2012|language=Norwegian|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019202629/http://www.spellemann.no/index.php?option=com_winner&Itemid=29&year=2006|archive-date=19 October 2014}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/gigs/26031/reviews/2001086- |title=Review / Hanne Hukkelberg @ Paradiso Bovenzaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 19/05/07 / Gigs // Drowned in Sound |access-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628020416/http://drownedinsound.com/gigs/26031/reviews/2001086- |archive-date=28 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Hukkelberg contributed a song, "Lucy," to the soundtrack of the film ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian]]'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Narnia: Prince Caspian Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|url=https://www.amazon.com/Narnia-Caspian-Original-Picture-Soundtrack/dp/B0015HZAP2|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref>
==''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]] as well as [[PJ Harvey]]. Although many reviews deplored the album's more straightforward approach,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/hanne-hukkelberg-blood-from-a-stone|title=Hanne Hukkelberg – Blood From A Stone – Album Reviews|website=Musicomh.com|date=19 April 2009 }}</ref> Pitchfork approved of the record as "a singer's album, highlighting Hukkelberg's voice above all else."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13023-blood-from-a-stone/|title=Hanne Hukkelberg: Blood From a Stone Album Review – Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com}}</ref> The singer was nominated as a Female Artist for a Spellemannprisen in 2009 for ''Blood from a Stone''.<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Results|url=http://www.spellemann.no/index.php?option=com_winner&Itemid=29&year=2009|work=Spellemannprisen|access-date=30 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911185651/http://spellemann.no/index.php?option=com_winner&Itemid=29&year=2009|archive-date=11 September 2011}}</ref> She also contributed vocals to Motorpsycho's 2009 album ''Heavy Metal Fruit''.
In early 2010, Hukkelberg toured Europe opening for [[Wilco]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dailyfreepress.com/blog/2010/02/17/hanne-hukkelberg-brings-dynamic-live-show-to-boston/|title=Hanne Hukkelberg brings dynamic live show to Boston |newspaper=[[The Daily Free Press]]}}</ref>
Hukkelberg spent four months in New York City during 2010, playing solo gigs and composing material for her next album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/hannehukkelberg#!/notes/hanne-hukkelberg/an-update-from-hanne/414221919510|title=Security Check Required|website=Facebook.com}}</ref> 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 (Norwegian band)|Shining]], whose vocalist [[Jørgen Munkeby]] played reeds on ''Little Things''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a-ha.com/news/articles/a-ha-talent-grant-update/|title=a-ha Latest News – Tour Dates – a-ha|first=Sugar Rush|last=Creative|date=5 November 2017|website=a-ha}}</ref>
In 2011, Hukkelberg contributed vocals to Huntsville's ''For Flowers, Cars and Merry Wars'' CD.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hubromusic.com/2012/index.php?cmd=12 |title=Hu-huuu-hu hu hu! |access-date=24 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225032128/http://www.hubromusic.com/2012/index.php?cmd=12 |archive-date=25 February 2013 }}</ref> She also sang backup for Norwegian band [[Heroes & Zeros]], on the track "Wistful Hands" from their 2011 CD ''Ghostly Kisses''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heroesandzeros.no/|title=Heroesandzeros.no – Musikk, retro artister og nyheter i skjønn forening|website=Heroesandzeros.no}}</ref>
==''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/08120-hanne-hukkelberg-featherbrain-review|title=The Quietus – Reviews – Hanne Hukkelberg|website=Thequietus.com|date=March 2012 }}</ref> The BBC Review commended Hukkelberg for the "boldness" and "daring" she displays on the album, saying that "she has elevated herself to greater heights."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/hxj9/|title=BBC – Music – Review of Hanne Hukkelberg – Featherbrain|first=Luke|last=Slater|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fivethousand.co.uk/music-for-occupy-featuring-hanne-hukkelberg/|title=Music For Occupy: featuring Hanne Hukkelberg|website=fivethousand.co.uk}}</ref>
==''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 Bryan 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=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Release details |- ! scope="row"| ''Little Things'' | * Released: 8 March 2004 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl |- ! scope="row"| ''Rykestraße 68'' | * Released: 4 September 2006 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl |- ! scope="row"| ''Blood From A Stone'' | * Released: 12 May 2009 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Featherbrain]]'' | * Released: 20 February 2012 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl |- ! scope="row"| ''Trust'' | * Released: 20 October 2017 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl |- ! scope="row"| ''Birthmark'' | * Released: 16 August 2019 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl |}
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Release details |- ! scope="row"| ''Cast Anchor'' | * Released: 9 May 2009 * Label: Propeller Recordings * Format: Digital download |}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Norway|Music}} {{Commons category}} * [http://www.hannehukkelberg.com/ Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414042044/http://www.hannehukkelberg.com/ |date=14 April 2012 }} * [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13023-blood-from-a-stone/ Pitchfork review] * [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p703420|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic overview] * [http://platformsmagazine.com/contents/?p=18 Interview on Platforms Magazine] * [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4792353 CD review and interview] by Christian Bordal on [[National Public Radio|NPR's]] [[Day to Day]], (8/9/05) * [http://www.ruadebaixo.com/hanne-hukkelberg.html Interview RDB – Portuguese Webzine]
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef | before = [[Nils Petter Molvær]]}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the Open class [[Spellemannprisen]] | years = 2006}} {{s-aft | after = [[Live Maria Roggen]]}} {{s-bef | before = [[Eldbjørg Raknes]]}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the [[Radka Toneff Memorial Award]] | years = 2013}} {{s-aft | after = [[Susanna Wallumrød]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hukkelberg, Hanne}} [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Norwegian songwriters]] [[Category:Spellemannprisen winners]] [[Category:Propeller Recordings artists]] [[Category:Musicians from Kongsberg]] [[Category:21st-century Norwegian women singers]] [[Category:Nettwerk Music Group artists]]