There’s not
really a place to start with Tomine Mikkeline, in her native Norway she's
already a well respected vocalist and known talent - but somewhat of an enigma
outside of the Nordic world. She's sung for Malala
Yousafzai, Queen Sonja of Norway, and also to top it Erna Solberg
prime Minister of Norway. I don't quite know which one of those is more
impressive. By that age my accolades related mostly to a moderately average
GCSE grade in ICT. Mikkeline is as an unknown to us, as I suspect Katherine
Jenkins is to the non-classically trained audience outside of the UK. Mikkeline
has also toured with Aled Jones, known mostly for singing his childhood version
of “Walking in the Air”, with a video which has a noticeable resemblance to a
Welsh version of Twin Peaks.
Mikkeline does not want to be seen as a one trick pony, and she's far from it. In Norway her achievements at such a young age is inspiring to all young singers and performers, be it a vocalist, musician, or any art form. This is what hard work, discipline, and natural talent gets you. Her take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" isn't as hauntingly beautiful as the original - eye watering as JB's, or capturing as John Cale's, but this is "Hallelujah" we're talking about. A song most known for being notoriously difficult to sing and perform, especially considering Cohen's own version is largely dismissed because it's just not quite "Avalanche"... No, Mikkeline with un-complimenting backing music delivers a fantastic clean version of the classic. It's surprising just how clean her voice is actually, she glides through notes casually like a tennis player glides through the air to hit a return. Thoroughly relaxing to the point of sleep.
I'm unable to comment on the state of the Norwegian classical scene in
terms of vocalists - but with an array of technical talent, Mikkeline should
not find it too difficult to make this her profession. Based on my short
YouTube research, if her rendition of “Ave Marie” is anything to go by, then
yeah, she's already made it her profession.
-Eddie Gibson
-Eddie Gibson