Martine Haugen
“Norway’s new Emmylou” and “The heir to Dolly” releases classic country debut album "Hardships and Hope"
The album was recorded at Farm Studio in Hemnes, Aurskog-Høland, with Thomas Nessheim as producer and engineer and Magne Hellesjø and Martine Haugen as co-producers. Nessheim also performs as a musician on the album. Other contributing musicians include notable names such as Tore Blestrud, Daniel Vidarson Gullien, Bjørn Haglund, Ivar Brynildsen (Country Heroes/A11), Freddy Holm, Elin Glende, and Krissy Mary.
The 26-year-old singer, whose voice has also drawn comparisons to Iris DeMent and Loretta Lynn, has made a striking debut with her solo album "Hardships and Hope".
Featuring eleven tracks – nine originals and two personal interpretations of songs written by Lee Clayton and Ernest Tubb – Hardships and Hope finds Martine Haugen firmly rooted in traditional country music while bringing a fresh, contemporary Americana sensibility to the album.
She makes no attempt to “modernize” country music to fit today’s pop landscape. Rather than embracing the polished sound of contemporary mainstream country, she reaches back toward something more timeless and organic.
Much of the strength of Hardships and Hope lies precisely in the sense that this record could have existed long before Martine herself was born.
The instrumentation, musicianship, arrangements and the space given to the songs all point back to the classic country tradition. The aim is not primarily to sound modern, but to sound authentic and timeless.
What sets Martine Haugen apart is that she isn’t chasing trends – she’s going back to the source.
