Astrid Smeplass, widely known as Astrid S, is taking significant strides as she embarks on a new chapter of her music career. After nearly ten successful years with Universal Music, the Norwegian pop star’s contract has officially come to an end, as confirmed by Bjørn Rogstad, the director of Universal Music Norway.
Having signed with Universal Music back in 2015, the same year her music began to gain widespread recognition, Astrid has been on quite the musical rollercoaster. Hits like "Hurts So Good" and "Think Before I Talk" have solidified her place as one of Norway’s beloved artists. Recently, she was also praised for her rendition of “Det regner i Oslo,” which was featured on the popular Norwegian television show, 'Hver gang vi møtes'.
Rogstad described their collaboration over the past decade as “a wild, fun, educational, and fantastic ride.” He added, “Astrid is a rare and unmistakable star. It has been pure joy, but all good things must come to an end—naturally and undramatically. The contract period is over. Just like football players and coaches transfer clubs, so do artists switch record labels.”
The conclusion of her contract marks both the end of one significant era and the dawn of another for Astrid S. Her fans recently got a taste of what’s next when she dropped “Det regner i Oslo” on December 30, which now belongs to her newly launched label, Joyride. With this song, Astrid is making waves—just as her first release under Joyride debuted at the top of Spotify's daily updated chart.
Indeed, the song emerged as the most streamed track across Norway following its official release. After only one full day of monitoring on Spotify post-premiere, it reached the impressive number of 49,200 streams and was ranked sixth among songs from the latest episode of 'Hver gang vi møtes’. On the day after its debut, Friday, Astrid’s single received 89,400 streams, proving its popularity among the audience.
“So much fun!!!” she exclaimed on her Facebook page, capturing the excitement surrounding this new chapter. It's undeniably clear—Astrid S is not slowing down.
Among the other performances spotlighted on 'Hver gang vi møtes', Kjartan Lauritzen’s version of “Fanga av ein stormvind” secured the fifth spot with 68,200 streams. Meanwhile, Ina Wroldsen’s take on “Främling” maintained the 12th place with 42,500 streams.
The show continues to highlight the journeys of these artists, and as the next episode approaches, Astrid will also pay tribute to Wroldsen with her own interpretation of “Symphony”, originally written for the British band Clean Bandit and Swedish singer Zara Larsson. This 2017 hit boasts over 1.6 billion streams on Spotify alone.
Astrid Smeplass's career has blossomed since she first burst onto the scene following her win on the talent show "Fame Factory" back in 2003. Over the two decades since, she has earned her stripes as not only a performer but also as a source of inspiration to countless fans. Her ability to connect with emotions through music makes her stand out even more.
The news of her separation from Universal might seem like the end of something significant, yet it can equally be viewed as the beginning of what seems to be even greater opportunities. With her creative vision and distinct voice, both fans and industry insiders alike are on the edge of their seats, eager to see what her next moves will be.
With over ten years of captivating memories behind her, there’s no doubt Astrid S will continue shining brightly on the music scene. The prospect of new projects and collaborations is thrilling—who knows, this split could very well herald the start of something monumental. Fans can hardly wait, and neither can we!