Sigrid: Pop music is what touches me the most

Even though she's been singing for years, Scandinavia's latest pop star says she only decided to concentrate on music full time very recently.

Sigrid, 20, from Norway, says she originally wanted to be a lawyer but was signed at the end of 2016 by Island Records.

"I didn't think it would be possibly for me to do music professionally," she says.

"I was afraid to speak up and say I wanted to become a musician."

Watch the acoustic version of Sigrid's debut single.

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Her debut single, Don't Kill My Vibe, was MistaJam's Hottest Record on Radio 1 and was released on the same day as Katy Perry's Chained To The Rhythm.

"I don't think she noticed," laughs Sigrid.

"When I first heard my song on the radio I started crying. My baby was out there and it all became very real. I think we're all a bit perfectionist, so it was important it was completely perfect."

Sigrid is from Alesund which, when captured at sunset, looks picture perfect

Sigrid is from the town of Alesund, on the western coast of Norway.

"I think it's the most beautiful place in Norway. It consists of five islands, so it's essentially in the ocean and surrounded by amazing nature and huge mountains.

"The weather is cold and windy and stormy, so I actually like the rain when I come to London."

Her brother is a musician too and she's appeared in his live shows.

She was signed after a gig she did in Bergen, Norway's second city. It was one of the first public gigs she'd ever done.

Her influences include Coldplay, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young... and Adele.

"She is such a good songwriter," she says. "Her songs work on piano as well as in full production and that's what triggers my emotions.

"Pop music is what touches me the most. You know you have music that you really like? When you hear good pop music and it's feel good. You have a pre-chorus, then a chorus and then it explodes."

The reaction to Don't Kill My Vibe has been almost universal praise.

One reviewer compared her to Lorde and another said her "gravelly rasp which sets her apart from any other pop singer out there".

Inevitably, that means the hype has already begun. But she says she's got it nailed.

"I can't do anything else apart from be myself. It's pressure but it motivates me, so I try not to think about it too much.

"The support from Island is amazing and we're part of a beautiful family and I'm very lucky to have such a good team around me and I could never ask for something better."

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