Martine Haugen

There are high expectations surrounding Martine Haugen’s debut album, following the significant attention she first received at the age of 14, when she portrayed June Carter in a Johnny Cash tribute band and toured Norway with them. She has also released an album with the band Gone North, featuring original material (Another Place in the Sun). This release led to the band being nominated for “Newcomer of the Year” at the Fjording Awards in 2023.

Despite her young age, Martine Haugen has already collaborated with established artists such as Kenneth Norum, Jesse Tomlinson, The Salmon Smokers, Country Heroes and Claudia Scott, and has performed concerts at venues including Herr Nilsen, Tryckhallen in Falkenberg and Kulturhuset in Halden.

Martine Haugen was described as “the strawberry on the cake” in Egon Holstad’s review of her contribution to the album by Jesse Tomlinson and the american Mike Beck considers her a blend of Iris DeMent and Loretta Lynn. Now, her solo album is set to be released—a meeting point between traditional country and modern Americana, characterized by Haugen’s warm vocals and strong songwriting craftsmanship. She writes and composes all the songs herself, with the exception of two cover tracks included on the album: “Border Affair” (Lee Clayton) and “Try Me One More Time” (Ernest Tubb).

The album was recorded at Farm Studio in Hemnes, Aurskog-Høland, with Magne Hellesjø as producer and Thomas Nessheim as engineer and co-producer. Nessheim also performs as a musician on the album. Other contributing musicians include notable names such as Tore Blestrud, Daniel Vidarson Gullien, Bjørn Haglund, Ivar Brynildsen (Country Heroes/A11), Elin Glende, and Krissy Mary.