The party’s starting
Norwegian pop star Astrid S embarks on Party’s Over Tour with shows near you
Photo: Stian Andersen
Portrait of Astrid S taken in September 2014.
Molly Jones
The Norwegian American
Labeled “Scandinavia’s next breakout pop princess” by music blog Idolator, 20-year-old Norwegian singer and songwriter Astrid S is certainly on the rise—not just in Scandinavia but around the globe.
Finishing fifth in the Norwegian version of Pop Idol, Astrid Smeplass experienced her breakthrough into Norway’s music scene at the age of 16. The following year she moved to Oslo from her small hometown of Berkåk in Sør-Trøndelag to pursue her music career. And she has never looked back.
Astrid S released her self-titled debut EP in 2016, and her international fame flourished. The single “Hurts So Good” gained more than 136 million streams on Spotify, charted in 21 countries, and led to tours in Europe and North America with Australian singer and songwriter Troye Sivan.
Following sold-out shows in Los Angeles, New York, and London, in early June Astrid S announced her largest headline tour ever: the Party’s Over World Tour with over 30 concerts this fall in North America, Europe, and New Zealand. The five-track album Party’s Over was released on June 30, featuring the electro pop hit “Breathe.” The lead single was an instant hit, and the emotional song has already racked up more than 25 million streams worldwide.
“‘Breathe’ could be about that overwhelming feeling of being in love, but for me it’s about these moments over the past year that took my breath away, like having a hit single, going on my first tour, and playing some of the festivals back home in Norway that I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to pinch myself,” wrote the artist on her website.
She hopes that her music will instill a sense of belonging and joy in her listeners. “I want them to feel happy and just forget about all their worries for a bit. It’s nice to think that I have the opportunity to make someone’s day a little better. Because the focus for me is on bringing people together because they like to listen to my music and that’s where they feel like they belong,” she says.
The Norwegian will start her tour in Canada and the U.S., where she will be supported by 16-year-old British singer Jasmine Thompson, followed by a series of other countries and ending with almost a dozen shows in her home of Norway.
Tour dates:
Toronto, Ont.
Sept. 12, doors open 7:00 p.m.
Velvet Underground
Allston, Mass.
Sept. 14, doors open 7:00 p.m.
Brighton Music Hall
Philadelphia, Penn.
Sept. 15, doors open 7:00 p.m.
The Foundry at Fillmore Philly
Washington, D.C.
Sept. 16, doors open 7:00 p.m.
U Street Music Hall
New York, N.Y.
Sept. 19, doors open 7:00 p.m.
The Bowery Ballroom
Brooklyn, N.Y. (Sold Out)
Sept. 20, doors open 7:00 p.m.
Rough Trade NYC
Chicago, Ill.
Sept. 22, doors open 7:00 p.m.
Subterranean
Minneapolis, Minn. (Sold Out)
Sept. 23, doors open 4:00 p.m.
7th St Entry
Los Angeles, Calif.
Sept. 25, doors open 7:30 p.m.
El Rey Theatre
Santa Ana, Calif.
Sept. 29, doors open 8:00 p.m.
Constellation Room
San Francisco, Calif. (Sold Out)
Sept. 30, doors open 8:30 p.m.
The Independent
Visit astridsofficial.com to purchase tickets. Please note that several concerts are already sold out.
This article originally appeared in the Sept. 8, 2017, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
