Smerz

Last updated

Smerz
Origin Oslo, Norway
Genres Electronic
Years active2016–present
Labels XL Recordings, Escho, Shopping
MembersCatharina Stoltenberg
Henriette Motzfeldt
Website smerz.no

Smerz is a Norwegian music duo consisting of Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt. [1] The duo splits their time between Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen, Denmark. [2] Their debut studio album, Believer , was released in 2021. [3]

Contents

Their name comes from the German word herzschmerz, meaning "heartache". [4]

History

Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt met at high school in Oslo and moved to Copenhagen in 2011. [5]

Catharina Stoltenberg is the daughter of Norwegian politician and former NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg. [6]

Smerz released their debut single, "Because", on SoundCloud in 2016. Later that year, they followed it with the EP Okey, released on Escho in Denmark and HardUp in the UK. In 2017, the duo signed with XL Recordings and re-released Okey under the new label. Their next EP, Have fun, arrived in 2018, also through XL. In 2021, Smerz released their debut studio album, Believer , on XL Recordings. That same year, they released the mixtape Før og etter on their own label, Shopping. [7]

Smerz have been hosting a monthly radio show on NTS Radio since 2017. [8]

Smerz have played concerts at Tate Modern in London, MoMA PS1 in New York, Mutek in Mexico City and Montreal, Berghain in Berlin, Pitchfork Festival in Chicago, Roskilde Festval in Denmark, and Volksbühne in Berlin. [9]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleYearRecord label
Believer 2021 XL Recordings
Big City Life 2025Escho

Remix albums

TitleYearRecord label
Big city life EDITS2025Escho

EPs

TitleYearRecord label
Okey2016Escho, HardUp
Okey2017XL Recordings
Have fun2018XL Recordings
Allina2024Shopping Records

Mixtapes

TitleYearRecord label
Før og etter2021Shopping [10]

Singles

TitleYearLabelAlbum
"Because"2016Self-released
"Because"2016Escho, HardUpOkey
"Blessed"
"Sure"
"Oh my my"2017XL RecordingsHave fun
"No harm"
"Half life"
"Have fun"
"Før og etter"2020EschoEscho 15 år: Burgers for my new life
"The favourite" / "Rap interlude"2020XL RecordingsBeliever
"I dont talk about that much" / "Hva hvis"
"Believer"2021
"Flashing"
"Remember"
"My Producer2024Shopping RecordsAllina
"You got time and I got money"2025escho

Commissioned work

TitleYearArtist(s)Type
Øy2020 Carte Blanche Music for dance performance
Miss France2021August Barron / ALL-IN StudioSoundtrack for runway show [11]
Debutante2022August Barron / ALL-IN StudioSoundtrack for runway show [12]
Allina2024August Barron / ALL-IN StudioSoundtrack for runway show [13]
Uptown Girl2024August Barron / ALL-IN StudioSoundtrack for runway show [14]
Real Housewife2025August Barron / ALL-IN StudioSoundtrack for runway show [15]

Sampled on

TitleSample ofYearArtist(s)Album
"If U Ever""I don't talk about that much"2021 Overmono If U Ever
"Stop Playin""Flashing"2022 Lil Baby and Jeremih It's Only Me
"Good Lies2"No Harm"2023Overmono Good Lies
TitleYearArtist(s)Album
"Guess What"2017Code WalkGuess What
"Verdens smarteste person"2022 Cezinando Samtidig

Remixes

TitleYearArtist(s)
"Friendly (Smerz Remix)"2021 Erika de Casier
"Say you love me - Smerz EDIT"2024 Astrid Sonne

Songwriting and production credits

TitleYearArtist(s)Album
"Verdens smarteste person"2022 Cezinando Samtidig
"ASAP"2023 NewJeans Get Up EP

References

  1. ↑ Moen, Matt (13 January 2021). "Smerz Makes a 'Believer' Out of Us". Paper . Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  2. ↑ Renshaw, David (26 February 2021). "Smerz: meet the Scandi-pop duo who can read each other's minds". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "Believer by Smerz". Metacritic . Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  4. ↑ Hess, Liam (24 May 2025). "Smerz Are the Norwegian Duo Making Off-Kilter Pop Music for the Ages". Vogue. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Smerz Make Uncanny Electronic Pop That Sounds Like a Secret". Pitchfork. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Smout, Alistair. "Springsteen and Stoltenberg: NATO secretary-general picks top tracks". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "Før og etter". Bandcamp .
  8. ↑ Radio, N. T. S. "Smerz". NTS Radio. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Smerz | Outer Agency". outer-agency.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Før og etter". Bandcamp .
  11. ↑ "Miss france". SoundCloud .
  12. ↑ "Debutante". SoundCloud .
  13. ↑ "Allina". Bandcamp .
  14. ↑ "Uptown Girl". SoundCloud .
  15. ↑ "Real Housewife". SoundCloud .


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