A Voice Like a Siren: Astrid S and the Spell of Sound

Photo by Michael Angeles

The voices of our favorite artists have a way of transporting us, sometimes back to moments from our past, other times to places we’ve never even seen. One song might place you in a smoky bar, sipping something on the rocks, when in reality, you’re just in your kitchen, dicing an onion to the sound of your favorite Louis Armstrong track. Or maybe you’re more of a Radiohead or Nirvana fan, and suddenly you’re on a rainy city street or back in your teenage bedroom, even though you’re really just driving to work.

This sense of escapism is one of the most captivating threads in music’s rich tapestry. Every artist brings their own distinct style, evoking unique tones, scenes, and emotions, and few embody this more vividly than Norwegian singer-songwriter Astrid S.

With over a billion streams and an “Artist of the Year” win at Norway’s equivalent of the Grammys, Astrid S’s rise has been nothing short of impressive. Her aesthetic, imaginatively painted in icy blues, faux fur, hanging vines, and tiny disco balls, has captivated fans across Eastern and European markets, though she has yet to break through in the U.S.

This month, however, more eyes have turned her way, thanks to her recent performance of the Norwegian national anthem at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, which sounded like something straight out of Narnia (but no, Norway’s national anthem is just that beautiful). 

This match made in heaven—a dance between singer and song—caught fire on social media in the days following the performance. The video quickly racked up millions of views, and soon, others began using the audio as a soundtrack to highlight Norway’s breathtaking beauty, pairing Astrid’s vocals with sweeping shots of icy fjords, rolling hills, and magnificent sunrises.

Like the song of a siren, her voice has left people utterly transfixed (myself included). TikTok user @janeroam said it best: “Just Norway casually asking a goddess to sing the national anthem.” 

And honestly… yeah, that about sums it up.

Now we can only hope this young star keeps the momentum going and continues to bless our ears for years to come, with that same ethereal ecstasy that seems to hang off the words of her many songs.