Last updated: 15 hours ago
Award-winning singer-songwriter Kurt Nilsen can remember working daily to support his kids as a plumber, and then struggling nightly to pursue his dreams as a musician. Nilsen’s anthemic story would find him rising to prominence as a powerhouse Norwegian artist who won the international singing competition, World Idol.
Back home, he is beloved for his dazzling Christmas shows, his stunning vocal prowess, and his country-tinged solo albums. For his latest album, Like My Love For The Ocean, out February 2026, Nilsen decided to shake things up by creating a gorgeous crooner-with-orchestra album. It’s a romantic and cinematic modern classic perfect for a sophisticated international audience that savors Malbecs and espressos.
Nilsen’s songwriting abilities have often been overshadowed by his gifts as a singer, until now. Like My Love For The Ocean is the perfect setting for his sumptuous vocals. It’s an album that invites comparisons to <a href="spotify:artist:3rxeQlsv0Sc2nyYaZ5W71T" data-name="Chet Baker">Chet Baker</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5W5bDNCqJ1jbCgTxDD0Cb3" data-name="Willie Nelson">Willie Nelson</a>—who Nilsen has worked with—and <a href="spotify:artist:2Kx7MNY7cI1ENniW7vT30N" data-name="Norah Jones">Norah Jones</a>. It’s Nilsen’s first album with an orchestra, and it features Norway's finest—the Grammy-winning ensemble, <a href="spotify:artist:7rXCWLNIVc3gBq0DhhffbQ" data-name="TrondheimSolistene">TrondheimSolistene</a>.
From winning World Idol, he embarked on a chart-topping solo career. His Christmas album, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, stayed on top of the Norwegian album charts for five consecutive weeks. He has performed with a diverse array of artists, from <a href="spotify:artist:5W5bDNCqJ1jbCgTxDD0Cb3" data-name="Willie Nelson">Willie Nelson</a> to former Spice Girl <a href="spotify:artist:60vX3zLcdKRXvKLITVh5Df" data-name="Melanie C">Melanie C</a>.
Back home, he is beloved for his dazzling Christmas shows, his stunning vocal prowess, and his country-tinged solo albums. For his latest album, Like My Love For The Ocean, out February 2026, Nilsen decided to shake things up by creating a gorgeous crooner-with-orchestra album. It’s a romantic and cinematic modern classic perfect for a sophisticated international audience that savors Malbecs and espressos.
Nilsen’s songwriting abilities have often been overshadowed by his gifts as a singer, until now. Like My Love For The Ocean is the perfect setting for his sumptuous vocals. It’s an album that invites comparisons to <a href="spotify:artist:3rxeQlsv0Sc2nyYaZ5W71T" data-name="Chet Baker">Chet Baker</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5W5bDNCqJ1jbCgTxDD0Cb3" data-name="Willie Nelson">Willie Nelson</a>—who Nilsen has worked with—and <a href="spotify:artist:2Kx7MNY7cI1ENniW7vT30N" data-name="Norah Jones">Norah Jones</a>. It’s Nilsen’s first album with an orchestra, and it features Norway's finest—the Grammy-winning ensemble, <a href="spotify:artist:7rXCWLNIVc3gBq0DhhffbQ" data-name="TrondheimSolistene">TrondheimSolistene</a>.
From winning World Idol, he embarked on a chart-topping solo career. His Christmas album, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, stayed on top of the Norwegian album charts for five consecutive weeks. He has performed with a diverse array of artists, from <a href="spotify:artist:5W5bDNCqJ1jbCgTxDD0Cb3" data-name="Willie Nelson">Willie Nelson</a> to former Spice Girl <a href="spotify:artist:60vX3zLcdKRXvKLITVh5Df" data-name="Melanie C">Melanie C</a>.
Monthly Listeners
356,985
Monthly Listeners History
Track the evolution of monthly listeners over the last 28 days.
Followers
87,814
Followers History
Track the evolution of followers over the last 28 days.
Total Streams
386.3 million
Total Streams History
Track the evolution of total streams over the last 28 days. This data is calculated from all tracks listed in the artist's discography.