Jenny Hval

Jenny Hval
Background information
Birth name Jenny Hval
Also known as Rockettothesky (2006-2008)
Born (1980-07-11) 11 July 1980
Tvedestrand,[1] Norway
Genres Avant-garde, art pop, electronic, experimental folk, gothic metal (early)
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, writer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, Synth
Years active 2003–present
Website www.jennyhval.com

Jenny Hval (born 11 July 1980 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian musician, singer, songwriter, lyricist and writer. She has released six albums - two under the moniker Rockettothesky - and four under her own name.

In 2015, Hval released her fifth studio album, Apocalypse, girl, to widespread critical acclaim. The following year, she released Blood Bitch, a concept album influenced by vampires, menstruation and 1970s horror films.

Music career

Until 1999, Hval was the vocalist of a gothic metal band called Shellyz Raven.[2]

She studied at the University of Melbourne, Australia, specializing in creative writing and performance. While studying, she was vocalist in Australian bands iPanic and Folding For Air with Thomas McGowan releasing an EP "Are you afraid of heights?" in 2004.

Moving back to Norway, she released her debut EP Cigars in 2006, and was nominated for a Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian equivalent of Grammy awards) in the "best newcomer" category. Adopting the name Rockettothesky, she was signed to Trust Me Records, releasing two studio albums - To Sing You Apple Trees in 2006, and Medea in 2008.[3]

Following the release of Medea, she went back to using her birth name. Signing on the label Rune Grammofon, she has so far released the albums Viscera (2011)[4] and Innocence Is Kinky (2013). In 2015 she released her third album, Apocalypse, girl on New York City's Sacred Bones Records. Her solo music has been described as avant-garde,[5] art-pop,[6] and "a kind of experimental folk music,"[7] among others terms.

She has also collaborated with Håvard Volden, as Nude on Sand, releasing a self-titled album, Nude on Sand, in 2012, and with Susanna Wallumrød, which resulted in a 2014 album Meshes of Voice (released on the Norwegian SusannaSonata label). She supported St. Vincent on a tour.

In 2016 she released the album Blood Bitch where she collaborates with Lasse Marhaug.[8]

Writer

Jenny Hval published her novel Perlebryggeriet (Pearl Brewery) in 2009, and has also published article works in journals and anthologies, after studying literature and working as a freelance columnist and writer.

Discography

Studio albums

Solo

Jenny Hval as Rockettothesky at the Øya Festival 2008
Album and details Peak positions
NOR
[9][10]
To Sing You Apple Trees
  • Credited to: Rockettothesky
  • Date released: 2006
  • Record label: Trust Me Records
 
Medea
  • Credited to: Rockettothesky
  • Date released: 2008-10-13
  • Record label: Trust Me Records
20
Viscera
  • Credited to: Jenny Hval
  • Date released: 2011
  • Record label: Rune Grammofon
 
Innocence is Kinky
  • Credited to: Jenny Hval
  • Date released: April 2013
  • Record label: Rune Grammofon
31
Apocalypse, girl  
Blood Bitch  

Collaborations

As part of Nude on Sand (with Håvard Volden)
With Susanna Wallumrød
With Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Kim Myhr

EPs

References

  1. "Jenny Hval (in Norwegian)". snl.no. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  2. "Jenny Hval Website". JennyHval.com. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  3. Wallace, Wyndham (2010-01-12). "Jenny And The Jets: The Musical Universe of Rockettothesky". TheQuietus.com. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  4. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (2013-04-18). "Singer Jenny Hval: 'I'm so cruel'". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  5. Rolling Stone
  6. The Guardian
  7. The New Yorker
  8. "Jenny Hval: Blood Bitch Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  9. "Rockettothesky discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  10. "Jenny Hval discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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Awards
Preceded by
Susanna and Ensemble Neon
Recipient of the Open-Class Spellemannprisen
2014
Succeeded by
-
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