INTRODUCING: OH BLONDE

Today we’re joined by Oslo-based indie-pop newcomer Oh Blonde, who’s stepping into the spotlight with her dreamy new single Hot Air Balloon. Blending atmospheric synths with unguarded, emotionally honest songwriting — and drawing inspiration from artists like Holly Humberstone, Maggie Rogers, and Lana Del Rey — Oh Blonde is quickly carving out a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. From being moved to tears by Emilie Nicolas to touring Norway with Sigrid, her journey has been shaped by powerful moments and fearless vulnerability. With a debut EP on the horizon via Ripe Records, we caught up with Oh Blonde to talk new love, creative growth, and the stories behind her music.

1. “Hot Air Balloon” explores the excitement and fear that can come with new love. Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked the idea for the song, or did it grow more gradually over time?

There was definitely a specific experience that sparked the idea for the song. I don’t think I’d be able to write it, or enjoy performing it, if it wasn’t something close to my heart. At the same time, when I’m writing, I usually have to really dive into those feelings and sometimes even exaggerate them a little just to get across how it actually felt. We wrote the song around August, and the first hour or so was really just spent having coffee and talking about what we’d both experienced lately. I ended up telling my co-writer, Erlend, the story that runs through the song, and after that we started working on melodies and chords. Maybe because we’d already talked it through so much, the words came very effortlessly, which felt really good

2. Your sound blends atmospheric synths with very open, honest songwriting. When you’re creating, do you start with emotion, sound, or story — and how do you know when you’ve captured the right balance between them?

I pretty much always start with emotion along with a story or experiences. Even if it begins with a sound or a synth that I like, there has to be a feeling there pretty quickly or I’ll lose interest. Most of the time, the story comes along with that feeling rather than after it and it kind of grows together with the melodies. I think I know I’ve found the right balance when nothing feels like it’s trying too hard, and when the production supports the emotion instead of distracting from it. If I try to do too much or add too many elements to the arrangement too soon I easily get distracted from the feeling and lose interest a bit. So less is more for me when starting out writing!

3. You’ve spoken about seeing Emilie Nicolas live as a defining moment for you. Looking back now, how has that early emotional connection to music shaped the way you write and perform today?

It’s really important to me that there’s a nerve and a feeling in everything I write, and I think it was Emilie’s honesty and presence that caught my attention. Seeing how she brings those qualities into her performances was incredibly impactful, and it has definitely shaped the way I think about both writing and performing today, mainly underlining the importance of that kind of presence and honesty when performing. 

4. Supporting Sigrid on tour must have been a huge moment early in your career. What did that experience teach you about yourself — both as a performer and as an artist finding your voice?

I think the main thing I took from that experience was confidence. A big part of that was playing to an audience that wasn’t made up of my friends and family for the first time. The crowd was so welcoming and attentive, which made it really special. It felt like a real confirmation that the music could connect with people I didn’t already know, and that gave me a lot of belief in myself as a performer and an artist and I think my role as an artist became clearer to me.

5. As you build toward your debut EP, what do you hope listeners will understand about you as an artist after hearing this first body of work, and how does Hot Air Balloon set that tone?

I hope listeners get a real sense of who I am emotionally, and that they can see themselves in the songs too. I want it to feel honest and human, like these songs come from real moments and feelings – something people can relate to or find comfort in. 'Hot Air Balloon' sets the tone for the EP because it captures that mix of excitement and vulnerability that runs through a lot of the project: being open, taking emotional risks, and letting yourself feel things fully, even if that means being a bit silly at times, alongside the more vulnerable moments.