Ulrikke Brandstorp (born 13 July 1995), also known mononymously as Ulrikke, is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, musical actress, voice actress and television presenter.
Early life
Ulrikke Brandstorp was born on 13 July 1995 in Skjeberg, a district of Sarpsborg, to Jørn and Vigdis Brandstorp, being the youngest of three children.[1]
Her musical talents were first spotted when she won a local singing competition when she was eight, while she also participated in Villekula youth theatre in her native Østfold, starring in local productions of Pippi Longstocking and Reisen til julestjernen. Between 2011 and 2013, Brandstorp embarked on a Norwegian tour with The Show Must Go On and The Thrill of Michael Jackson.[2]
Career
Brandstorp made her national breakthrough when she participated in the seventh series of Idol in 2013, but was eliminated in the semi-finals.[3]
Brandstorp became a major household name in Norway in 2018, when she finished second in Stjernekamp [no],[5][6] and has subsequently appeared in four seasons of Allsang på Grensen, most notably in 2019, when she, together with Ben Adams, covered "Shallow".[7][8]
She also participated in the first series of Maskorama in 2020, performing under the name "Troll" and winning the competition on 12 December.[9]
Brandstorp participated in Melodi Grand Prix for the first time in 2017, finishing in fourth place in the final with "Places".[12]
She returned to Melodi Grand Prix in 2020, with the song "Attention".[13] Having been the odds-on favourite to win the competition, Brandstorp was selected as the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 on 15 February, and was viewed as one of the early favourites to win the contest in Rotterdam.[14][15] However, the contest was cancelled on 18 March, due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.[16] Brandstorp declined an offer of automatic qualification for the final of Melodi Grand Prix in 2021, citing a desire to find the right song for any potential return.[17][18] She accepted an offer from NRK to return as a guest in the final, performing a new version of "Attention" as the opening act and her most recent release, "Falling Apart", during the interval.[19]
Brandstorp participated in Melodi Grand Prix for a third time in 2023, with the song "Honestly". The song competed in the first semi-final on 14 January,[20][21] and subsequently qualified for the final on 4 February, finishing in second place.[22][23][24]
It was announced on 11 April 2023 that Brandstorp would present Bakemesterskapet, an upcoming television baking competition based on The Great British Bake Off. The series will premiere on NRK in early 2024.[29][30][31]
She took part in the 19th season of Skal vi danse, the Norwegian version of Dancing with the Stars, alongside professional dancer Tarjei Svalastog. [32] The pair finished in third place after accumulating less viewer votes than Aslak Maurstad and Marianne Sandaker, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final.[33]
Brandstorp has been in a relationship with Oskar Nordberg since April 2020, with Brandstorp writing the song "Love You to Love Me" as a declaration of her love for Nordberg.[34][35][36] The couple got engaged in May 2022.[37][38] They married in June 2024.[39]
^Hyttebakk, Jon Marius (7 February 2017). "Ulrikke". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^Hansen, Kristin W (29 May 2015). "Ulrikke er ute av "The Voice"". Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
^Magelssen, Vetle Granath (8 June 2018). "Ulrikke (22) klar for Stjernekamp". Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^ abHyttebakk, Jon Marius (6 January 2020). "Her er finalistene i MGP 2020!". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^Brenden, Markus; Ekker, Bjørn (8 May 2021). "Røyk ut: - Helt jævlig". Se og Hør (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^Svendsen, Maiken (18 March 2020). "Eurovision Song Contest avlyst". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^Magelssen, Vetle Granath (4 January 2023). "Ulrikke gjør comeback – klar for MGP". Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^Øby, Morten (14 January 2023). "Ulrikke er klar for finale". Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^Ekker, Bjørn (2 May 2021). "- Ville satse på hverandre". Se og Hør (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^Eriksson, Emma Cecilia (13 July 2020). "- Vi er kjærester". Se og Hør (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^Björlin, Sofia; Ludvigsen, Maria (2 May 2022). "Røper gladnyhet". Se og Hør (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.