With a flair for the theatrical and a voice like silk dipped in shadows, Oslo-based artist TULLE is carving out her own eerie corner of alt-pop, and she’s bringing the circus with her. Following the release of her spellbinding new single ‘Devour / The Performer’, the enigmatic songwriter continues to blend haunting beauty with a deep sense of emotional unraveling. It’s a track of two halves: one sweeping and anthemic, the other hushed and heartbroken; a sad clown behind the curtain.

We caught up with TULLE to talk about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.

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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?

I’ve been writing songs since I was about 10 years old, and started doing that from listening to the radio on my way to school with my dad. I got really inspired by listening to music that other artists made and wanted to do it myself, so I started writing my own songs on my piano.

I ended up studying Musical Theatre in university, and after I finished my degree I realised I really wanted to be a songwriter and have my own artist project. That’s when TULLE was born! I did a year of music school in Lillehammer, Norway and met so many incredible people, and then moved to Oslo where I met my producer and band. I’ve always been interested in strange, dark, kind of morbid things, so I feel like the TULLE project was a long time coming. 

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?

I grew up listening to a lot of Taylor Swift, Owl City, Mumford and Sons and The Smiths (a bit of a weird mix but all great songwriters!) So they were definitely my musical influences for a long time. My main influence in a lot of my writing, as well as visually, is Lorde. I just think she’s incredible. I’m also very inspired by Erin Lecount, Glass Animals and Phoebe Bridgers. 

Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?

I am incredibly inspired by Lorde and the way she writes, and how her music and album takes me into her universe completely. I think Melodrama completely changed the way I viewed my songwriting and music. I also feel the same about Glass Animals’ ‘Dreamland’ album. I just love artists that write honest stories and totally immerse us into their universe. That’s my aim with the music I make. 

Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?

Last January I had the incredible opportunity to work with streaming company vier.live, and we filmed a concert called ‘Sunday Service’, from a secret Church in Oslo. It was so amazing putting together a show for Livestream, working with the team behind it and also performing all of my spooky songs in a church. I’d really love to do something like that again some day.

How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?

I’ve been writing about my feelings since I started writing songs, and a lot of the time, my songs are my personal diary. Music has always helped me process and talk about my emotions, and it became a home for my poetry. I think my songs are snippets of the thoughts inside my brain and all the things I experience around me and can’t find the right words for. 

Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?

I think I’ve been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible women since I started my music career. My creative team and so many artists around me inspire me every day and make the dream feel achievable. I couldn’t do what I do without my support system. I think that there will always be people in the music industry who want to belittle you and think they know better, but when you surround yourself with people who truly love what you do and want to support you, they don’t take up as much space. 

Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?

I’m very inspired by 80s horror, the circus and the end of the world. I write a lot about questioning what being human really is, and why we feel so much pain all the time. I write a lot about rage too, and sometimes about scary stories I’ve heard about. I’m currently writing a lot of songs from the perspective of a circus clown, because sometimes being an artist and putting yourself out there sort of feels like that.

I also think that being human is weird and painful and wonderful and I think that the purpose of being human is to feel and experience and learn, even with all the bad stuff. 

Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?

I write a lot of my songs at home on my piano first; the same way I started making music. I usually start with lyrics or images that I’m inspired by or want to write about and go from there. My producer, Truls, has done an incredible job creating the universe and soundscape of these songs, and he’s been there since the beginning, so we’ve made most of my songs together. 

How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?

I hope that my music inspires people most of all, in whatever way that might be. I hope that a lot of my songs are cathartic for listeners and that people feel more comfortable talking about sadness and rage, and not wanting to keep it all inside. I also hope that other women in music and aspiring songwriters can be inspired by my music, writing, or visuals in any way. I know that so many female musicians inspired me growing up and I would love to do the same. 

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Listen to TULLE’s new single ‘Devour / The Performer’ below.