Stine Andreassen is one of those singers who will leave a smile on your face, even if you were in a terrible mood before. Trust me. Or don’t, and watch these videos and see what happens. She just loves singing and the joy of it is bound to give off on you. The Norwegian band leader and songwriter of The Northern Belle is currently working on new music to follow up on 2024’s Bats In The Attic and, judging on the first unreleased song she plays in this session, it’s something to look forward to.
Before filming another session with Silver Lining (watch here), Andreassen recorded new song There’s A Party Tonight – which gives off similar vibes to the more recent work of likeminded songwriters Michaela Anne and Caroline Spence – and covers of Guy Clark’s She Ain’t Going Nowhere and Summer’s End by John Prine.
Andreassen grew up in Tromsø, close to nature, the midnight sun and their family’s cabin at Senja. “All the relationships stay with me, and I write a lot about memories and the people who have shaped me. It’s a primal force that I never think will leave my body. Oslo has been my sanctuary. Where I’ve been able to flourish and work with what I love. I love this city with all my heart. My way of making music is characterized by our own tradition in folk music, viser (Norwegian/Swedish language song tradition) and Scandinavian pop that is intertwined with the music I love from England and America and more. I grew up with Sami, Kven, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and it’s just part of our culture.”
“One of the most vivid memories I have is singing Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da at an event in primary school, and being so nervous that I couldn’t even look at the audience. My parents filmed me and I was looking down at the ground the whole time! Another nice memory is when we used to walk around the schoolyard singing Abba songs at the top of our lungs. It felt so free and nice! I also loved having music on when I went to bed. It was Celine Dion, Abba, Espen Lind, Enya. When I was very little I also got a cassette recorder with a microphone. I walked around with it and had fun. I was a showgirl from an early age!”
‘John Prine saw people in an incredible way.’
“Shania Twain is a hero and an eternal inspiration. I love the way she combines country and pop, and how shameless she is. I also find it inspiring to see her back on stage in recent years. I had CD’s by her, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Lene Marlin, Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, Whitney Houston and more. I was “Sporty Spice” so the era when Shania Twain performed on stage in tracksuits was a highlight! I also had access to my mom and dad’s music collection and there I fell in love with The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Abba.”
“An album that shifted the way I hear music could be Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. And more recently it’s Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour, Gillian Welch’s Soul Journey and The Cardigans’ Long Gone Before Daylight.”
She started working at a record store in her early twenties and was completely captivated by Americana and country. “It hit me right in the heart! I already knew Hank Williams, Dolly Parton (whom I have always loved) and more through my grandmother. She is my own Dolly! In my twenties, it started with artists like Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt. Then I discovered Guy Clark, since he was friends with Van Zandt, and it was love at first listen.”
“I discovered John Prine through Iris Dement. He is the songwriter’s songwriter. He saw people in an incredible way. And he was so good at descri