Biography

Norway's Marie Munroe is soulful, jazz-trained vocalist, whose albums display a sophisticated mix of rock and electronic pop. Born Hilde Marie Kjersem in Aalesund, Norway in 1981, Munroe (her stage name) grew up in a musical family and by her teens was singing in local rock bands. After high school, she enrolled at Norges Musikkhøgskole to study jazz. After college, Munroe appeared with the Tub Quartet on their 2004 debut album Red Shoes Diary. Several more jazz-related projects followed, as well as sessions with rock/pop singer- and songwriter Christer Knutsen, with whom she later formed the duo Munroe/Knutsen. In 2008, Munroe (Kjersem) released her debut solo album, A Killer for That Ache, on Rune Grammofon. Recorded. A Killer for That Ache showcased Munroe's transition away from jazz and toward a more nuanced pop sound. Three years later she delivered her sophomore album, Let's Let Go, 2011, an album she wrote through a difficult period trying to manage the break-up of a troubled first marriage. The album rethought her creative direction, and also gave her two grammy nominations the following year. During the time aftermath of If We Make It to the Future, 2013, Kjersem adopted the stage name Marie Munroe, as her record deal with Warner now opened up to more venues outside of Norway. In 2015, she released the '80s-style synth pop single "Like a Drumbeat", followed up with Munroe's fourth studio album, Under My Skin, in 2016. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi