i'm doing a radio interview:) and th

i'm doing a radio interview:) and this guy wanted to be blogged

hey:) i've been in vienna now for tw

hey:) i've been in vienna now for two days and tonight we go to switzerland:) i'm happy:) how are you?

finally, some sun! Hey:) this is a p

finally, some sun! Hey:) this is a perfect saturday afternoon:) i'm out with my man and mother in-law and we're enjoying a coffee in the park. I'm leaving for vienna tomorrow around noon and on this trip we're visiting austria, switzerland and holland. So i won't be home for a week! It's nice to spend time with family before i leave. How's your weekend? Love, maria

today i'm on "senkveld"

yesterday i did "senkveld" (no it's not live:() i did an interview and i sang belly up live! it's a fun show to do so i'm excited for you to see it today:)
i can't believe the record's already gone GOLD!!!! thank you all so so much! a couple of months ago i was really worried about the norwegian record industry,,, some of this country´s most beloved artists didn´t sell very well and so secretly i prepared myself for a struggle once the album hit stores. i thought that since i´ve been away for almost three years- it wasn´t likely that i was gonna sell that much (i know -i´m a pessimist!)

anyway what i´m trying to say is THANK YOU SO MUCH! -maria

here´s the best review i got

yo! I've responded to some of your comments today:) just so you know! I'm so glad most of you understand my album and that you like it:) thank you so much for listening. I'm on my couch now...... Watching friends:) have a great evening. M

By the way, this is the best review I´ve ever gotten from the norwegian paper "Adressavisen". Hope somebody can translate it for the non-norwegians :) 6 out o 6!

Cd. Maria Mena: CAUSE AND EFFECT

Maria Mena tar oss med til sine mørkeste dyp og gir oss svimlende, euforiske opplevelser.

Blant unge norske artisters hop av wannabees og flinkiser har Maria Mena noe HELT spesielt. Maria er en fullblods popartist med ubestridelig talent i låtskriving, samtidig som hun utviser en hudløs tilstedeværelse som gjør det nesten umulig å forholde seg nøytral til det hun holder på med. Du føler det virkelig står noe på spill, og fingeravtrykket er tydelig i selve tekstene og låtene, men aller mest i fremføringen.
Hun involverer seg hundre prosent i sitt eget uttrykk, samtidig som basisen i, og talentet for, pur pop gjør at hun ikke faller i en dilettantisk dramaqueen-felle.
Det er ikke småtterier Maria setter i gang på dette albumet. Tekstene er skrekkgjennomganger av mørke betroelser, som tittellåtens marerittaktige spiseforstyrrelses-univers. Ei ung jentes selvforakt kommer godt frem også andre steder, og lite levnes til fantasien: «Self-hatred grows in me like cancer», for nå å ta et tydelig eksempel.
Men så på den andre side: «He allegedly fell for me/Through an open window», jenta har eleganse og humor så det holder, hun. Og dette er ikke akkurat noen gjennomsnittlig deppeplate.
Mange av oss hadde håpet på nok en hypersterk popplate med enkel struktur som forgjengeren.
I stedet får vi denne, der hun tar skrittet opp i Kate Bush-divisjonen av låtskrivere/utøvere. Hun minner litt om henne rent musikalsk også. «Cause and effect» er en viktig plate for Maria Mena, måten hun gjennomfører dette sterkt personlige prosjektet med en finstemt blanding av enkelhet og substans. I perioder av plata er hun så bra at denne lytter kjenner et skummelt sug i magen av noe virkelig farlig, samtidig som jeg blir euforisk svimmel av de dybder og høyder Maria tør ta oss med på, og at hun har talent nok til å komme helskinnet fra det.
Utrolig fint å bli påmint at popmusikk kan være sånn av og til. Når den er på sitt aller, aller beste.
HØYDEPUNKT: «I'm In Love», «Belly Up» og «All This Time» Anmeldt av OLE JACOB HOEL

i'm really tired! I have morning rad

i'm really tired! I have morning radio now and a day off tomorrow..... Can you tell i'm exhausted by the bags under my eyes? :) oh well! I feel strong today...... Over the weekend i got the "reactions" to my lyrics and to the album... the ones that critizised me for revealing too much and especially the ones that started analyzing their imagined understanding of me and my family`s history really got to me.... not because i didn´t expect anyone to react.... i( know better than anyone what i´ve taken the risk of revealing on "cause and effect").. but because i felt that by making this record i just gave you a FRAGMENT of what really happend! and i feel brave that i spoke out on an issue that really hasn´t only happend to me.- beacause somebody has to!!!!!!!! it must sound harsh to some people and refreshing to others, but whether you like it or not please be wise enough to not believe you know me or my family now! that might make the album easier on the ears! because the record only covers a small period in my life and is also (this is important!) -ONLY MY SIDE OF THE STORY -wich i was RAISED to feel like i had the right to express! i´m done explaining now.... i´ve said more than i thought i would... it´s a beautiful record with really well-written texts! if you don´t approve of the content! DON´T LISTEN! . peace

DSC00332

hey everyone:) how are you? Today's the day and honestly i feel really relaxed! For the first time i am able to keep work and privatelife separate and i go to work and leave work outside once i am home! I really needed this...... I've felt extremely pressured to maintain a proper image before and that doesn't feel natural. Anyway..... I felt like explaining the article that mentioned the german and dutch fanclub plus the fact that i saw matze in oslo the other day...... The term "stalker" is meant as a joke:) and i'm sorry if i offended anyone:) i love the fact that you vacationed in oslo and i only see it as very flattering:) have a great monday

hello:) how are you? I have been so

hello:) how are you? I have been so lazy with the blogging but so
Busy with promoting the album:) i'm sorry but i will make it up to you i swear:) i'm really happy with the reviews i have gotten..... In norway, they've been mixed and mostly really good. I got my first six out of six! And i feel great. All in all it is an album that's gonna cause reactions whether good or bad and i have been prepared for that:)
Right now i am on my way to band rehearsals and after the release party we had yesterday i think it's gonna be
A tough one:) i'm so happy you guys seem to like the album:) that means more to me than any stupid review:) make sure you buy it tomorrow! Take care

my baby! My fourth love-child (out o

my baby! My fourth love-child (out of wedlock) there's a rather large interview with me in vg tomorrow..... I've read it and i really like it..... But the headline will most likely be more "scandalous"than the interview itself! - you see i've decided not to comment on the song contents on this record! It is an album you need to listen to WITH the lyrics. hope you enjoy it! I'm sick today...... I sneeze a lot but that's ok, because i like sneezing and i have next week off! Take care

i can't sleep(picture taken from a p

i can't sleep(picture taken from a photoshoot i was lucky enough to be a part of, my Stylist linda wickman's contribution to a makeup-book.) I am watching the republican national convention...... I always find these extreme gatherings pretty cult-like, whether it be republican, democratic or just a cheese fair for fellow cheese-lovers for that matter. I guess i'm more drawn to individuality and i feel like once you are one of many your tend to drown in the crowd. that's why i don't consider myself very political...... I don't like being spoken for! But vote! If you can, because a president will be elected..... So Make sure you've done what you can to have a say in who that is. Take care, i'm getting up in 2 hours. M

the show went well:) now i deserve a

the show went well:) now i deserve a glass of cava:)

ok, i'm getting ready to go on stage

ok, i'm getting ready to go on stage! Do i have anything in my nose?

design hotel in helsinki:) i'm final

design hotel in helsinki:) i'm finally done after getting up at 5 this morning,
Going straight to soundcheck from the airport..... After that doing six interviews with a variety of finnish media and now, i have fifteen minutes to kill before the actual showcase! People here seem to like my new record and i feel a little better. Did i mention i woke up with a cold? Have a great afternoon:)

life's good:) i'm really happy..

life's good:) i'm really happy..... I've done a lot of longlead press lately and today was the last one...... for a little while (in norway) with dagbladet FREDAG.
i´ve also read through most of the interviews that i´ve done up until now and i really like them... the journalists have been talented and i´ve managed to not reveal too much about tha album content... it is pretty obvious once you hear it though. this week is one of the last weeks of RELAXSATION!before all hell breaks loose... i do have some commiements though.... tomorrow i have my first vocal-lession in six years.. i thought i´d learn some new secrets before touring norway and holland in october-november.... and on thursday i´m going to finland! to play as a quartet.. with elis, christian and bjarne.
i know that the video foa "all this time" is on youtube now.... so did u like it? i´m pretty happy with it.. i like the idea of me as a doll...
that´s all folks! m

my new best friend:-) kristina, we'r

my new best friend:-) kristina, we're having so much fun in oslo:)