Maria Mena

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Maria Viktoria Mena (born 19 February 1986) is a Norwegian pop singer, best known for her singles such as "You're the Only One", "Just Hold Me", "All This Time" which charted in multiple countries.

Early life

Maria Viktoria Mena was born to a Norwegian mother and Charles Mena, a Nicaraguan-American drummer of Afro-Nicaraguan descent. There was a common misconception that her mother is a playwright, but Mena debunked this in an interview.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Both Maria and her brother, Tony, are named after characters from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.

Her father was born in Bluefields, Nicaragua where he lived until he was 10, at which point he and his mother, Mena's paternal grandmother, moved to New York.<ref name="paternalfamily">Template:Cite web</ref> After moving to Norway in 1986, he played in several bands in Oslo,<ref name="charlesmena">Template:Cite web</ref> which influenced Mena to write and record her own music. When Mena was nine years old, her parents divorced. As a teenager, she began to battle depression<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref> and various eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as spoken of in her lyrics, interviews, concerts, and social media. Mena has spoken of battling depression and PTSD as an adult, and seeking help.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mena cared for her younger brother Tony for many years.<ref name="auto2"/> When Mena was 13 years old, she moved to live with her father. She sang and wrote lyrics as a form of self-soothing. "My Lullaby", a song from Mena's diary, expresses her pain from her parents' divorceTemplate:Citation needed. Mena's father contacted acquaintances in the music industry to record a demo. Presenting his daughter's demo to several record companies, Sony Music signed Mena to their label aged 16.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

2002–2007: Early beginnings

In 2002, she released her debut single "Fragile (Free)" in Norway; however, it did not chart there. "My Lullaby" was released as the second single and the song reached number 5 on the Norwegian Singles Chart. It received heavy rotation on NRK P1, P3, P4, Radio 1, and Radio Oslo. The young singer quickly gained fans and soon earned her first platinum record. After the success of "My Lullaby", she released her debut album Another Phase in Norway which reached number 6 on the Norwegian Albums Chart. Mena made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman to promote her first international album, White Turns Blue, which debuted at the top position on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart a week later and at number 102 on the Billboard 200. She made a breakthrough into the worldwide singles charts that year with "You're the Only One", a single successful in multiple countries. The song was her only single to appear on a Billboard chart, making No. 25 on the U.S. Top 40 Mainstream. "You're the Only One" peaked at No. 30 on the Dutch Top 40 and No. 19 on the Dutch Mega Single Top 100. Two months earlier, in March 2004, Mena had released her second album in Norway. Mellow. Less successful than her 2002 debut, it still managed to peak at No. 7 in Norway. The second single from both albums was "Just a Little Bit", which did not chart anywhere.

2005 saw the release of Apparently Unaffected in Norway and several other European countries, fronted by singles "Miss You Love" and "Just Hold Me". A significant success in Norway, the album has earned her three Spellemann nominations: Best Female Artist, Best Hit, and Best Music Video. In the Netherlands, the album was released in June 2006 and charted at No. 82. It slowly climbed the chart to reach its peak position in its 27th week at No. 11, as "Just Hold Me" was getting airplay again. "Just Hold Me" was released in May 2006, but then did not chart in the official Dutch Top 40, but did chart in the country's physical singles chart, the Mega Single Top 100, at No. 27. In October 2006, the song started getting heavy airplay again and this time it reached the official Dutch Top 40 and peaked at No. 26. In the Mega Single Top 100, it peaked at No. 7 in the beginning of November 2006. Mena performed at sold-out concerts in Utrecht and Amsterdam, following the success of "Just Hold Me". The album was at No. 48 at the Dutch year-end chart, outselling major artists such as Pink's I'm Not Dead, Nelly Furtado's Loose, and Beyoncé Knowles' B'Day. "Miss You Love" was released as the album's second single in the Netherlands and reached No. 61 on the Mega Singles Top 100.

File:Maria Mena1.jpg
Maria Mena 2008

On 7 July 2007, she performed at the German leg of Live Earth in Hamburg.

2008–2014: Cause and Effect, Viktoria, and Weapon in Mind

Having worked on her three first studio albums with Norwegian producer Arvid Solvang, Mena started collaborating with Martin Sjølie in early 2008 on what would become her fourth studio album, Cause and Effect. The album's first single, "Belly Up" had its radio premiere mid-June 2008 on Norwegian radio. Cause and Effect was released on 17 September in Norway. The first international single was "All This Time". The album was internationally released on 26 September 2008. This album garnered her a Spellemann for Best Female Artist.

Mena's song "Sorry" was featured on the third season of US So You Think You Can Dance and "What's Another Day" was featured during the fourth season. She released "All This Time" in the UK on 11 April 2010.

In 2011 Mena recorded her version of "Mitt lille land" (My Little Country) by Ole Paus as part of a project by the Norwegian TV channel TV2. On 23 July, the day after the Norway terrorist attacks and after requests from her Norwegian audience, Mena uploaded her version of the song to the streaming site SoundCloud. It quickly became an anthem in memory of the victims of the attacks. She contributed to the album Mitt lille land, performing one of two versions of the title track (the other was performed by Ole Paus). As of 2011 Mena had sold a total of 700,000 copies of her albums, and half of those copies had been sold in Norway.<ref name="http://dagbladet.no">Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Maria Mena Tilburg 013 feb '14.JPG
Maria Mena performing in 013 Tilburg, 10 February 2014 in The Netherlands during her Weapon in Mind Tour

Her fifth studio album Viktoria was released on 23 September 2011 and was produced by Martin Sjølie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Her sixth album Weapon in Mind was released in 2013, becoming her first album to reach number one in Norway. Even though all three singles of the album failed to chart inside top 20 Norway Singles Chart, "Fuck You" and "I Always Liked That" became two of her best selling singles in Norway, both certified 2× Platinum.<ref name="http://ifpi.no/component/rstrophybridge/">Template:Cite web</ref>

2015–present: Growing Pains and They Never Leave Their Wives

Mena released the single "I Don't Wanna See You with Her" on 6 November 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her seventh studio album Growing Pains was released on 4 December 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2020, Mena announced a new album (sometimes recognized as an EP), They Never Leave Their Wives.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was released on 23 October 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mena released three singles from the album, "Not OK", "Lies (They Never Leave Their Wives)", and "You Live and You Learn".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2020, Mena announced that she will release a new album in March 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2021 Mena made a new announcement, saying she will postpone the release of her new material until she can play concerts again. The concert venues in Norway have been closed for longer periods during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She described the upcoming album as a sequel to They Never Leave Their Wives, containing songs about a woman who is on her own and then finds love.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2022, Mena was cast in the second season of the Viaplay series Furia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref> Mena also auditioned for a role in the Norwegian TV series Etterglød (Afterglow), where she was not cast but offered to make a song for the soundtrack.<ref name="auto1"/> That song is "It Was Love", which was released on 23 September 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Chart positions Certifications
NOR
<ref name="Norway Charts">Template:Cite web</ref> 		AUT
<ref name="AUT" /> 		GER
<ref name="GER" /> 		NL
<ref name="NL Album Chart & MST100">Template:Cite web</ref> 		POL
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		SWI
<ref name="SWI" />
Another Phase
  • 1st studio album
  • Released: 22 April 2002
 6 — — — — —
Mellow
  • 2nd studio album
  • Released: 1 March 2004
 7 — — — — —
Apparently Unaffected
  • 3rd studio album
  • Released: 14 November 2005
 6 40 22 11 — 56
Cause and Effect
  • 4th studio album
  • Released: 15 September 2008
 4 23 20 8 43 13
  • IFPI NOR: Platinum<ref name="IFPINOR" />
  • BVMI: Gold<ref name=BVMI />
  • IFPI SWI: Gold<ref name=IFPISWI>Template:Cite certification</ref>
  • NVPI: Gold<ref name=NVPI />
Viktoria
  • 5th studio album
  • Released: 23 September 2011
 2 29 18 17 — 13
  • IFPI NOR: Gold<ref name=IFPINOR />
Weapon in Mind
  • 6th studio album
  • Released: 23 September 2013
 1 — 59 14 — 30
Growing Pains
  • 7th studio album
  • Released: 4 December 2015
 6 — — 31 — 75
And Then Came You
  • 8th studio album
  • Released: 15 September 2023
 5
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		— — — — —

Compilation albums

Title Album details Chart positions
US
<ref name="US Album Charts">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
White Turns Blue
  • International debut album
  • Released: 20 July 2004
 102

EPs

Title EP details Chart positions
NOR
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
They Never Leave Their Wives 12

Singles

As lead artist

Year Title Chart positions Certification Album
NOR
<ref name="lista.vg.no">Template:Cite web</ref> 		AUT
<ref name="AUT">Template:Cite web</ref> 		EU GER
<ref name="GER">Template:Cite web</ref> 		NL 40
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		NL 100
<ref name="dutchcharts.nl">Template:Cite web</ref> 		NZ
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		SWI
<ref name="SWI">Template:Cite web</ref> 		UK
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		US
<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2002 "Fragile (Free)" — — — — — — — — — — Another Phase & White Turns Blue
"My Lullaby" 5 — — — — — — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: Gold<ref name=IFPINOR-Old />
2004 "You're the Only One" 8 — 43 — 30 19 35 — — 86 Mellow & White Turns Blue
"Just a Little Bit" — — — — — — — — — —
2006 "Miss You Love" — — — — — — — — — — Apparently Unaffected
"Just Hold Me" 2 4 52 14 26 7 — 5 158 —
  • IFPI SWI: Gold<ref name=IFPISWI />
  • BVMI: Gold<ref name=BVMI />
"Miss You Love" Template:Small 1 — — 147 73 — 61 — — — —
"Our Battles" — — — — — — — 81 — —
2008 "Nevermind Me" 2 — — — 84 — 76 — — — —
"Belly Up" 3 4 — 75 — — — — — — — Cause and Effect
"All This Time" 7 7 13 15 6 7 — 14 — —
  • BVMI: Gold<ref name=BVMI />
  • IFPI SWI: Gold<ref name=IFPISWI />
2009 "I'm in Love" — — — — — 54 — — — —
"I Was Made for Lovin' You" — 44 — 91 — — — 20 — —
2010 "Home for Christmas" 1 — 56 — — 98 — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: 5× Platinum<ref name="IFPINOR" />
 Hjem Til Jul soundtrack
2011 "This Too Shall Pass" — — — — — — — — — — Viktoria
"Homeless" — — — — — 69 — 65 — —
2012 "Viktoria" — — — — — — — — — —
2013 "Fuck You" —Template:Efn — — — — — — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum<ref name="IFPINOR" />
 Weapon in Mind
"I Always Liked That" —Template:Efn — 188 — — 100 — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum<ref name="IFPINOR" />
2014 "Til Alle Tider" —Template:Efn — — — — — — — — — Bauta – En hyllest til Bjørn Eidsvåg
2015 "I Don't Wanna See You with Her" 20 — — — — — — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum<ref name="IFPINOR" />
 Growing Pains
2016 "Leaving You"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> — — — — — — — — — —
2020 "Not OK"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 37 — — — — — — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: Gold<ref name=IFPINOR />
 They Never Leave Their Wives
"Lies (They Never Leave Their Wives)"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> — — — — — — — — — —
"You Live and You Learn"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> — — — — — — — — — —
"Jula Hjemme" Template:Small 16
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		— — — — — — — — — Template:N/A
2021 "I Need a Man" Template:Small 2 — — — — — — — — —
  • IFPI NOR: Platinum<ref name=IFPINOR />
 Stian Staysmans dag (Sesong 11)
"Ghettoparasitt" Template:Small 5 — — — — — — — — — Hkeems dag (Sesong 11)
"Stein på stein" Template:Small — — — — — — — — — — Arne Hurlens dag (Sesong 11)
"Goin' Insane" Template:Small — — — — — — — — — — Agnete Sabas dag (Sesong 11)
"Når en skumring blir blå" Template:Small — — — — — — — — — — Hanne Kroghs dag (Sesong 11)
"Det går over" Template:Small — — — — — — — — — — Trygve Skaugs dag (Sesong 11)
"Speil" — — — — — — — — — — Template:Non-album single
2022 "It Was Love" <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> — — — — — — — — — — TBA
"Alt du vil ha" Template:Small<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		— — — — — — — — — Template:N/A
2023 "Not Worth It" — — — — — — — — — — And Then Came You
"Try Again Tomorrow" Template:Small — — — — — — — — — —
"Easy Love" — — — — — — — — — —
"Till The Water Runs Clear" — — — — — — — — — —
Year Title Chart positions Album
NOR
<ref name="lista.vg.no" /> 		GER
<ref name="GER" />
2005 "Everytime"
Template:Small 		— — The Glow
2009 "Wide Awake"
Template:Small 		— 68 Lila, Lila soundtrack
"Konfliktsky"
Template:Small 		— — Sellout!
2012 "Fåkke fly bort"
Template:Small 		— — Contakt
2013 "Colder"
Template:Small 		— — Battle Poetry
2020 "Narnia"
Template:Small 		— — TBA
2021 "Den fineste Chevy'n"
Template:Small 		1 — TBA

Promotional singles

Year Title Album
2002 "Blame It on Me"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another Phase
"Sleep to Dream"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2004 "Patience"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mellow
2011 "Habits" Template:Small4<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Viktoria
"A Stranger to Me"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014 "Til alle tider"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bauta – En hyllest til Bjørn Eidsvåg
2020 "Mitt Lille Land"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:N/A
2021 "You Broke Me"<ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> They Never Leave Their Wives
"Ghettoparasitt"
Template:Small<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		Template:N/A

Notes

  • 1: The single was officially released in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Austria in 2007.
  • 2: The single was officially released in the Netherlands in 2009.
  • 3: "Belly Up" was only released in Norway.
  • 4: "Habits" was only released in the Netherlands.

Awards and nominations

As of 2013, Maria Mena had had 11 Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) nominations, and won one for Best Female Artist in 2008.

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
2002 Spellemannprisen Another Phase Best Pop Solo Template:Nominated
Best Newcomer Template:Nominated
"My Lullaby" Best Song Template:Nominated
2004 MTV Europe Music Awards Herself Best Nordic Act Template:Nominated
2005 Spellemannprisen "Miss You Love" Best Music Video Template:Nominated
Best Hit Template:Nominated
Apparently Unaffected Best Female Artist Template:Nominated
2007 SWR3 Awards Herself Best New Pop Act Template:Won
2008 Radio Regenbogen Awards Best International Newcomer Template:Won
Echo Awards Apparently Unaffected Template:Nominated
Spellemannprisen Cause and Effect Best Female Artist Template:Won
"All This Time" Best Music Video Template:Nominated
Best Music Video Direction 1 Template:Nominated
2009 MTV Europe Music Awards Herself Best Norwegian Act Template:Nominated
Norwegian Music Critics Award Best Female Artist Template:Won
Echo Awards Cause and Effect Best International Rock/Pop Female Artist Template:Nominated
2010 Spellemannprisen "Home For Christmas" Best Hit Template:Nominated
2011 Viktoria Best Lyricist Template:Nominated
2012 Edvard Prize2 Herself Pop Category Template:Won
2013 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Norwegian Act Template:Nominated
Spellemannprisen Weapon in Mind Best Pop Solo Template:Nominated
2014 Costume Awards Herself Instagrammer of the Year Template:Nominated
Best Dressed Woman Template:Nominated
2015 Norsk Artistforbund's Honorary Award<ref name="Ballade">Template:Cite web</ref> Herself Pop Category Template:Won

Notes

  • 1: Nomination goes to director of the music video Alex Herron.
  • 2: Special award given by TONO, copyright organisation for musicians and composers in Norway.

Footnotes

Template:Notelist-ua

References

Template:Reflist

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