Artist Introduction: Hedda Mae
Magda Kanecka | August 2026
Imagine a musical combination of young Britney, Reneé Rapp, and Remi Wolf… If that sounds up your alley, it’s time you met Hedda Mae!
Hedda Grønhaug, known under the stage name of Hedda Mae, is an emerging Norwegian singer-songwriter and, more importantly, your next favourite pop girl.
The pop singer made her debut in 2020 with the single “Pride Goes Before A Fall” – and from the year alone, listeners can imagine this track to be reminiscent of the Covid-19 lockdown era. And that, it does: with strong bass notes wrapped with alternative production and a catchy, poppy chorus, fitting right in with tracks that were topping the charts at the time.
She followed this up with the release of her debut EP, “Introducing: Hedda Mae”, in October 2020, featuring a debut track as well as five others, most of which were promoted as singles alongside the EP release. Among the tracklist, “Madness”, is still one of my favourite songs from her discography.
Coming from the city of Bergen in Norway, Hedda’s discography features tracks both in English and Norwegian: and while analysing the lyrics will not be my strength here, I love the way the track “På en god hag”, from her EP – also featured in the reality show “De Neste” (2021) – sounds to the ear.
On this EP in particular, Hedda experiments with different production styles, leaning into more electronic notes on tracks like “Sitting Down Here” – which is conveniently also my favourite song from the release.
Later in 2021, she released the 7-track EP “The Early Struggles of a Late Millenial”, and finished the trilogy with the “This Might Get Loud” EP in 2022. Both of these releases discuss tales of love and loss, growing up, and finding your way in the world, while also doing your best to have fun during it.
As the next step in her musical journey, Hedda Mae released her debut album, “Channel Mae”, in October 2024. Here, she notably embraces her pop roots by building a more retro atmosphere, almost as if you're listening to a radio show – especially through the interludes.
All the while, it maintains the same catchy structure to tracks like “Blow a kiss”, and leaves room for more fast-paced, experimental songs – such as “La di frickin da” – that she introduced in her earlier discography.
Since then, the singer-songwriter has dropped one bonus track from the album in 2025, titled “Once you pop (you can’t stop)”, with a notably more hip-hop-led undertone, along with three brand-new singles, as if to potentially tease the next record.
Her latest single, “Crash”, was released on July 17, 2026, and is a fun, bubbly pop tune with an especially catchy chorus that has rapidly found its way into my summer playlists. Lyrically, the song is about confusion, and is a way of Hedda attempting to remain optimistic, even in a negative situation with another individual. The melody of the song sounds like one that would play while you’re at the beach with a book, or driving around with your windows down and sunglasses on.
While I believe her discography has something for everyone; whether you’re a fan of slower ballads with deeper lyrics, or more fun, catchy tunes to blast at a summer gathering, Hedda really shines in her more recent music. It is evident she has found her signature sound, and is ready to embark on the next steps in her journey.
Hedda Mae has worked together with producer and songwriter Benjamin Giørtz on most of her songs. Upon her debut in the industry, she described that her primary goal was to give the world “a taste of both her sound and personality, rather than telling a cohesive story.”
With six years of promotion, releases and stage presence under her belt, I believe Hedda Mae is an artist we should keep our eyes on, for she will only continue to prove herself right in front of us.
If you’re a fan of fun, honestly catchy tracks with heartfelt lyrics and retro production that will make you feel instantly invited along for the ride, make sure to check out Hedda’s recent single “Crash”, and the rest of her discography. You won’t regret it!
Follow Hedda Mae here!
Listen to her latest single, “Crash”, here!
