From the US to Australia to England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Netherlands, Canada and beyond – country fans are growing in numbers. Traditional, modern and pop-country have helped the genre find new fans and expand to new audiences. One country that as a very quickly growing passionate country music fanbase is that of Norway – just ask rising country artist Daniel Borge.
We recently caught up with Daniel to talk about country music in his native country, his new single “Time” and upcoming album and more.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
DB: I’m a Norwegian country artist. I grew up in a really small place – like really small! Then, when I was about 16, I moved to a bigger town. Now I’m married and have two children and live in a small town called Elverum in Norway. I also spent a lot of time in Nashville before the pandemic.
CN: The essence of country music – three chords and the truth – is loved all over the world. You were born and raised in Norway. How were you introduced to country music?
DB: My father was a minister in our church, so I grew up listening to the church songs – a lot of these songs are actually country songs. I got introduced to mainstream country when I started listening to artists like Garth Brooks.
CN: How large of a fan base would you say country music has in Norway?
DB: It’s kind of big, but at the same time, Norway is a small country. So it’s not as big as in the US. But because of some new country radio stations in Norway, we have a lot of modern country music that hasn’t been here before. It also seems like the fan base is growing fast with the older crowds and the younger as well.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
DB: I would say Garth Brooks and Travis Tritt have influenced me the most. Garth Brooks took country music to another level with his big stadium shows and Travis Tritt because he always does what he believes in as an artist.
CN: You had quite a fortuitous meeting at Legends Corner when you were visiting Nashville in 2018.
DB: Yes! I was asked to come on stage by a friend of mine that was singing. Dave Demay was there and wanted to work with me, but I didn’t know who he was at the time. So I was blown away when I found out!
CN: How did that meeting affect you personally? It must have jacked up your confidence level way up, but at the same time, perhaps be a little scary?
DB: Yes! It’s kind of like an emotional rollercoaster. You start to believe that you may have music that others will enjoy, but then, at the same time, you’re scared about whether you’re good enough to take the next step of recording.
CN: You like to write songs that have depth, using deep visual lyrics. Can you take us through your songwriting process? How do ideas come to you?
DB: Ideas come to me all the time. As soon as I get an idea for a cool line or an idea for a song, I write it down on my phone. Then, when I sit down to write songs, I read through my notes and use them for inspiration.
CN: With the past year’s pandemic, did you find yourself writing more or less?
DB: I’ve been writing a whole lot more. There’s not that much more you can do other than write and practice. So I really do look forward to getting to sing in front of a live audience again!
CN: 2021 is off to a great start for you! First you released the single “There I Was” which was written by Dave Thomson. What was it about that track that drew you to it?
DB: I like the way the song has both a classic country and a modern vibe. It’s somewhere between the styles, and that’s exactly how I want my music to sound.
CN: You recently released, “Time,” which you co-wrote with Davis Branch. The single uses an interesting twist on personifying the idea of time. Can you tell us the backstory behind this song?
DB: This song is my personal favorite. The idea of the song came from actual events. I was going through a difficult time, both financially and emotionally. I stopped my car on the side of the road, went outside, and hit the hood of the car. I just wished that I could turn back time! I ended up writing down that phrase, and it became the idea for the song.
CN: And you have an album in the works? What sneak peek info can you share with us about it?
DB: I can tell you that the next song will be a love song for a six-pack of Bud Light!
CN: When can fans expect the album to be released?
DB: Hopefully, we will be able to release it sometime in September.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
DB: I would love to collaborate with Luke Combs!
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
DB: I think it was a Christian band from Sweden – their name was The Samuelsons.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
DB: I would say “patient” because I try to appreciate what I have in life and be courteous of other people!
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you? A possible tour for the new album?
DB: I will be playing one-off gigs for now until everything returns to normal, but I’m hoping that 2022 will be a lot better!
Mark your calendars: On Monday, July 26th Daniel Borge will be performing LIVE at 12pm CT on our Instagram! Be sure to tune in!
For more information on Daniel Borge, visit his website at danielborgemusic.com and follow him on Instagram,