Image: Isak Jensse
Rising Norwegian singer, songwriter and producer, girl in red, has today released the first song off her untitled debut album. rue sees the musician navigate ideas of escapism, while exploring darker sonic sounds than her previously released music.
The singer, whose real name is Marie Ulven, said of the release, “I wrote this song for my loved ones who are affected by my mental health. i will always try my best to get better for them, and i am forever grateful for their presence in my life”. Ulven began writing the track while testing out acoustic guitars in a Guitar Centre in Times Square. There, she happened upon the chord progression the track finds its feet upon. Lyrically, the track takes its inspiration from the parallels the singer drew between herself and the character of Rue in HBO’s Euphoria.
“She is a drug addict, which I'm not,” says Marie. “But a lot of the stuff she's felt and is trying to escape from is shit I'm dealing with all the time.” Returning to Norway, she began to construct a far bigger arrangement. The song sees Marie battle with mental health struggles. “That's some heavy ass work,” says Marie. “It's not physical work but it feels like it because it's so hard.”
Directed by Niels Windfeldt, the music video opens with Ulven in what seems to be a therapy session. In her mind, she escapes to the woods, running to escape the spotlight that is following her.
Ulven is passionate about starring conversations around mental health and queerness with her songs sparking feelings of hope and solidarity throughout her fanbase. “People lack knowledge and don't understand that your mental health isn't necessarily who you are. You can be depressed but that doesn't mean you don't want to go outside or you don't have feelings. To me it's not taboo at all to talk about mental health. Everyone has a mental health. I don't see talking about sex as a taboo thing either.”
rue is out now. Watch the music video below!
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