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 Aselund, 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 in order to study jazz, and during that time, she fell under the mentorship of guitarist Jon Eberson. After college, Munroe appeared with the Tub Quartet on their 2004 debut album Red Shoes Diary. Several more jazz-related projects followed, including recording dates with Eberson, as well as sessions with rootsy singer/songwriter Christer Knutsen. In 2008, Munroe (still going under the name Kjersem) released her debut solo album, A Killer for That Ache, on Rune Grammofon. Recorded after a period of self-discovery, during which time she ended a troubled first marriage and rethought her creative direction, 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, followed by If We Make It to the Future in 2013. It was around this time that Hilde Marie Kjersem adopted the stage name Marie Munroe, a choice that opened up even more creative avenues. In 2015, she released the '80s-style synth pop single "Like a Drumbeat." Munroe's fourth studio album, the Roar Nilsen-produced Under My Skin, was slated for release in 2016. ~ Matt Collar