Astrid S's story is a familiar one—kind of. The 18-year-old singer first got noticed as an extremely popular contestant on Norwegian Idol. And while she didn't win—Astrid reached the semi-finals—she followed in the footsteps of runner-ups like Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken, parlaying that exposure into a thriving music career (Idol crown be damned).
Her latest single, "2AM," has been streamed in her home country over 100 million times, and despite its Scandinavian origins, sounds perfectly at home on American Top 40 radio. And speaking of charts, you can hear Astrid S's luxurious vocals on "Air," by Shawn Mendes, the Canadian teen sensation whose debut album just debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.
Below, we get to know Astrid S a little better.
How did your career get started?
When I participated on Norwegian Idol. Or, it really started afterwards, when I got my record deal with Universal Music and I started writing my own music.
What’s your next project?
I just released my new single “2AM” and plan to release more new music this year. I’m also going to play the well-known festival in Scandinavia, By:Larm. It’s my first real concert with a band and my very own music.
What are you most proud of so far in terms of your career?
I think I’ll have to say how I handled this whole being an artist and becoming famous thing. It kind of happened really fast and unexpected. I never thought I’d be an artist or musician, but I couldn’t be more happy.
What famous person dead or living do most wish you could have as a roommate?
Chloë Moretz. She seems cool, and is my age.
If you had to live in a past time, what do you think would be the most fun era and why?
The nineteenth century, for sure. It’s a very fascinating time, with a lot of revolutions. Especially in Europe. And the clothes! Just think of all the fun dresses I would get to wear. Females were very oppressed at that time though.
What activities do most enjoy doing alone?
Soccer! Not a lot of people know, but I used to study soccer and sports at school. Even though that’s not a thing you usually do alone, I almost always bring a football with me when I’m traveling.
How do you wind down before bed?
I never really wind down before bed. Makes it really hard to sleep. Maybe I should start with some of the stuff that everyone does: take a shower, have some tea, read a book.
What kind of person were you in high school?
This outgoing person with lots of energy. I’m lucky to never really have cared about what people think. I did my own thing and had lots of fun. Not to mention I was a sports geek.
Can you tell me a quality about yourself that you are genuinely proud of?
That I’ve got a big dose of self-irony. Not many girls my age have that, especially not in the music industry.
What are some new hobbies you would like to take on?
Boxing! I actually just started.
How do you hope to grow as a creative person?
Be a more daring songwriter and artist, not be afraid to do new things, and think outside the box.
