Ida Maria
Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked
Artist: Ida Maria
Hails From: Norway/Sweden
Musical Style: Indie Pop, Punk
For Fans of: PJ Harvey, Joan Jett, The Donnas
Why you should check her out:
America loves Sweden. We love the funny shoes, the impossibly clear skys, but mostly we love the music. And if a cute and sassy pop queen emerges we’ll love that even more. Hence Ida Maria, the immediate sensation out of Stockholm by the way of neighboring Norway, who has collected an instant fanbase here in the states before ever setting foot to soil.
Background check:
Thinking of the popular acts out of the arctic circle typically bring out names like Bjork and ABBA, bands and performers characterized by dreamscapes and electronic hooks full of the bleeps and creeps that come with a full six months of darkness. Imagine the blast of glacial surprise upon hearing Ida Maria’s first punk filled anthem, “I like you so much better when you’re naked.” Echoing Joan Jetts ode to rock, even down to Jetts rowdy image and hither come stares all mixed into an out of the blue Andy Warhol inspired video, the single propelled Ida Maria to a national spotlight in Sweden and gained attention in the U.K. and beyond.
Yet, Ida Maria isn’t a one trick pony, her other songs remind one of Cat Power’s wandering narratives combined with tight, catchy guitar hooks reminiscent of Weezer. Her debut full length, Fortress Around My Heart, is already a frenzied affair in Europe, and even the decidedly finiky Pitchfork is giving props to Ida Maria’s wicked little gems.
Growing up in Nesma, Norway, a town smaller than most American suburbs, Ida Maria Siversten was just another girl who chose guitars over piano and began playing shows at 14. After relocating to Sweden’s capital of musical dominance, Ida Maria quickly surrounded herself with a few like minded gentlemen and grew into a hometown hero. Her playful and brash songs invited the frigid nation to warm their toes on the dance floor and word spread fast that this new “Queen of the World” had plans for broader shores.
Where you can find her in cyberspace:
On Tour:
