Lene Nystrøm

Lene Grawford Nystrøm (born 2 October 1973) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist of the Danish eurodance group Aqua.[1]

Lene Nystrøm
Lene Nystrøm performing in July 2008
Background information
Birth name	Lene Grawford Nystrøm
Also known as	Lene
Born	(1973-10-02) 2 October 1973 Tønsberg, Norway
Genres	Pop, dance-pop, eurodance, Europop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Polydor (2002–2004)
Associated acts	Aqua

Life and career

1973–1994: Early life

Nystrøm-Rasted was born in Tønsberg, Norway. When she was a teenager, she became interested in performing. She began modeling and also worked as a bartender. From 1990–93, she appeared on the Norwegian game show Casino which aired on TVNorge.

1994–2001: Aqua and Aquarium

Main article: Aqua (band)

In 1994, Nystrøm-Rasted was working as a singer on the Norwegian cruise ship MS Peter Wessel and was spotted by musician René Dif. He recruited her as lead singer for the music group Joyspeed, later renamed Aqua. The group consisted of vocalists Nystrøm-Rasted, Dif along with Søren Rasted and Claus Norreen. In 2001, the band split up.

2002–2006: Solo career and Play With Me

After the breakup of Aqua, Nystrøm-Rasted continued as a soloist. In 2003, she released her first album Play with Me. It marked a change in her musical style, from the bubblegum sound of Aqua to a more R&B-influenced style. It reached number 30 on Denmark's Hitlisten chart[2] and 74 on Norway's VG-lista chart. The album single "Virgin Superstar" was given some radio airplay, but did not chart and was not released. Her debut single "It's Your Duty" was released on 8 September. It peaked at number 3 on Denmark's Hitlisten chart and number 9 on Norway's VG-lista chart.[3]

In 2004, she released the second single "Pretty Young Thing", a cover of Stella Soleil, which did not chart. She released a third and fourth single as limited vinyl promos of a cover version of "Here We Go", which was originally performed by Moonbaby, and "Scream" to DJs and radio stations. The song "We Wanna Party", which Nystrøm-Rasted recorded and co-wrote with Xenomania, appeared on Girls Aloud's 2008 album Out of Control. Nystrøm-Rasted and Xenomania co-wrote two more Girls Aloud songs, the tracks "No Good Advice" and "You Freak Me Out", which appeared on the Girls Aloud debut album Sound of the Underground. "No Good Advice" became a breakout hit for the group. In 2005, Nystrøm-Rasted provided guest vocals on the LazyB single "I Love N.Y." and as part of charity project Giv Til Asien on the single Hvor små vi er, which peaked at number 1 at Danish single charts.

2007 – present: Aqua reunion

On 26 October 2007, Nystrøm-Rasted reunited with the other members of Aqua, and solicited opportunities for a single summer concert tour. After fielding offers by record companies in Denmark, Canada, United States, and United Kingdom, they settled with an eight concert tour in Denmark as part of the 2008 Grøn Koncert festival. After the big success of the summer concert, Nystrøm-Rasted continued with work with Aqua and released a new track, "Back to the 80's", on 25 May 2009. They released their greatest hits album on 15 June, which featured the track, along with sixteen remastered tracks and three other new songs, "My Mamma Said", "Spin Me a Christmas" and "Live Fast, Die Young". From May to August, they toured Scandinavia and performed at several gigs in Germany, the UK, and France.[4]

The greatest hits CD was released in North America and many European countries on 22 September, and in the UK on 29 September. In 2009, Nystrøm-Rasted had a major role in the 2009 film Deliver Us from Evil under Danish director Ole Bornedal. On 14 March 2011, Aqua released the single "How R U Doin?". They released the album Megalomania, on 3 October. She is one of the judges for Voice – Danmarks største stemme (Denmark's version of The Voice) which aired from November 2011 to February 2012 and also a judge in The Voice of Norway. Nystrøm-Rasted acted in the movie Varg Veum - Cold Hearts (2012 film) as Varg Veum's girlfriend, whose profession was that of a social worker.

Personal life

Nystrøm-Rasted was in a relationship with fellow Aqua band member René Dif, who invited her to join the band in 1994. They were in a relationship for three years, before they broke up.[5]

On 25 August 2001, Nystrøm-Rasted married fellow Aqua band member Søren Rasted, with the ceremony being held in Las Vegas. In 2004 the couple moved to Denmark from London. Together, they have a daughter, India, and a son Billy. The couple announced their divorce on 27 April 2017 after sixteen years of marriage.[6]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions		Certifications
		DEN [7]	NOR [8]
2003	Play with Me Released: 21 September 2003 Label: Polydor Formats: CD	30	74
"—" denotes albums that did not chart or were not released.

Singles

As lead artist

Year	Title	Peak chart positions		Album
		DEN [7]	NOR [8]
2003	"It's Your Duty"	3	9	Play With Me
2004	"Pretty Young Thing"	—	—
"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released.

As featured artist

Year	Title	Peak chart positions				Album
		DEN [7]	NOR [8]	SWE [9]	GER [10]
2005	"Hvor små vi er" (as part of Giv Til Asien)	1	—	—	—	N/A
2008	"Vi ka alt vi to" (Hej Matematik featuring Lene)	—	—	—	—	Vi Burde Ses Noget Mere
2012	"2012 (Shift happens)" (LazyB featuring Lene)	—	—	—	—	N/A
"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released.

Promotional singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions				Album
		DEN [7]	NOR [8]	SWE [9]	GER [10]
2004	"Here We Go"	—	—	—	—	Play With Me
	"Scream"	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes promotional singles that did not chart or were not released.

Other appearances

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"Two Directions"	1992	N/A	Something Special: Melodier av Tom Hansen
"I Love N.Y."	2005	LazyB	Lazyboy TV

Filmography

Films

Film	Year	Director	Character	Description
Fri os fra det onde	2009	Ole Bornedal	Pernille	Film debut. Internationally released as "Deliver us from evil".
Svik		Håkon Gundersen	Eva Karlsen	Internationally released as "Betrayal" includes three exclusive recorded songs in German, called "Wenn der Krieg gewonnen ist", "Die französische Sängerin" and "Tigerin und Vögellein", which are yet unreleased.
G-Force		Hoyt Yeatman	Juarez	Nystrøm-Rasted's first voice role, where she dubbed Penélope Cruz as the female guinea pig, FBI Special Agent, in Norwegian. Alternative title "Spy Animal: G-Force".
Varg Veum - Skriften på veggen	2010	Stefan Faldbakken	Karin Bjørge	First movie of the second series. Nystrøm-Rasted plays the girlfriend of Trond Espen Seim's character Varg Veum. Internationally broadcast as "The Wolve - The writing on the wall". German title is "Der Wolf - Das Geschriebene an der Wand".
Varg Veum - Svarte får	2011			Second movie of the second series. Internationally broadcast as "The Wolve - Black sheep".
Varg Veum - Dødens drabanter		Stephan Apelgren		Third movie of the second series. Internationally broadcast as "The Wolve - Consorts of death".
Klassefesten		Niels Nørløv Hansen	Eva	Supporting role.
Varg Veum - I mørket er alle ulver grå		Stephan Apelgren	Karin Bjørge	Fourth movie of the second series. Internationally broadcast as "The Wolve - At night all wolves are grey".
Varg Veum - De døde har det godt	2012			Fifth movie of the second series. Internationally broadcast as "The Wolve - The dead has it easy".
Varg Veum - Kalde hjerter				Sixth and final movie of the second series. Internationally broadcast as "The Wolve - Cold hearts"

Series

Television show	Year	Character	Description
Lulu & Leon	2009	Alexandra von Linden	Subtitled "Bankrøverens Kone". Season 1, Episodes 3-5 ("Hvad der ligger i kortene", "Naboens kone" and "Faldne kvinder").

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist	Director(s)	Notes
2003	"It's Your Duty"	Lene	Harvey & Carolyn for Alchemy Films	In her solo debut video, Nystrøm-Rasted plays a sexy seducer in four different dominant roles: a massagist, an executive woman, a dancer and a dominatrix.
2004	"Pretty Young Thing"	Lene	Harvey & Carolyn for Alchemy Films	Nystrøm-Rasted changes her clothes and poses in a photo session for magazine articles and covers.
2005	"Hvor små vi er"	Giv Til Asien	Poul Krebs & Remee	A charity single performed by Danish artists (singers, actors and musicians) under the name Giv Til Asien (translated as Give to Asia). A small number of artists from other European countries also joined in. The single with lyrics by Remee and music by Nicolai Seebach and Rasmus Seebach, was released in aid of various charities for tsunami relief as a result the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
	"I Love N.Y."	LazyB feat. Lene	Søren Rasted for Ding Dong Productions	The LazyB video features street interviews and footage in New York City, and can be found on the Danish Limited Edition of the Lazyboy TV DVD.[11] Lene doesn't appear in the music video.
2008	"Walkmand"	Hej Matematik	Various	The video footage is from Hej Matematik's 2008 tour. It features a cameo appearance of Nystrøm-Rasted.[12]
2012	"2012 (Shift happens)"	LazyB feat. Lene	Alan Smithee	Lene doesn't appear in the music video but provides vocals for this video.[13]
2014	"Ik Ordinær"	Hej Matematik feat. Jesper Binzer	Søren Rasted for Ding Dong Productions	Self produced music video from Hej Matematik featuring Jesper Binzer, lead singer from the Danish band "D.A.D.". Nystrøm-Rasted makes a cameo appearance. [14]

Commercials

Company/product	Year	Director	Description
Synsam	2011	N/A

TV appearances

• 2000: "Danish Grammy Awards 2000"
• 2000: "Harald Schmidt Show" - "Show #791 - Harald Und Die Windsors"
• 2003: "Boogie Århus Lisen" - 13 September 2003
• 2003: "Stjerne for en aften - Vinderen" - Episode 1.2
• 2003: "Først & sist med Fredrik Skavland" - Episode 10.2
• 2003: "Senkveld med Thomas og Harald" - 3 October 2003
• 2003: "Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003"
• 2003: "God kveld Norge" - 27 September 2003
• 2003: "God kveld Norge" - 22 November 2003
• 2005: "Hele Historien"
• 2005: "Nordic Music Awards 2005 - Countdown" - (Host)
• 2006: "Go' aften Danmark" - 10 December 2006
• 2007: "Miss Africa Danmark 2007" - (Opening Speech)
• 2007: "DR1's Grand Danois Awards 2007"
• 2008: "Reimers" - Episode 1.3 - 10 October 2008
• 2008: "21st European Film Awards 2008"
• 2009: "Bornedal og det onde - bag kameraet"
• 2010: "Det nye talkshow" - 12 November 2010
• 2010: "Litt av et liv" - 17 November 2010
• 2011: "Skavlan" - 28 January 2011
• 2011: "Familien fra Bryggen" - Episode 1.1
• 2012: "Voice - Danmarks største stemme" - 8 Episodes

References

1. "AskMen.com – Lene Grawford Nystrom pics". AskMen.com. UK. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
2. "ALBUM TOP-40 UGE 41". Hitlisten (in Danish). 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
3. "It's Your Duty - Lene". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
4. "Aqua indspiller nyt album" (in Danish). GAFFA. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
5. Lene Nystrom, Eurodance Encyclopedia, 31 January 2015
6. Falch, Kine. "Lene Nystrøm og Søren Rasted: Begge sitter trygt og godt i det for resten av livet". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
7. "Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 06/04/97". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 108 (37): 51. 21 June 1997. ISSN 0006-2510.
8. "Norwegian Charts > Aqua". norwegiancharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
9. "Swedish Charts > Aqua". swedishcharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
10. "Chartverfolgung / Aqua / Album" (in German). Musicline.de PhonoNet. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
11. "Lazyboy (2) - Lazyboy TV (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
12. "Hej Matematik - Walkmand" (YouTube).
13. Smithee, Alan (9 December 2012). "LAZYBOY - 2012 Shift Happens" (YouTube).
14. Rasted, Søren (9 December 2014). "Hej Matematik feat. Jesper Binzer - Ik Ordinær" (YouTube).

External links