Mari is a versatile Norwegian musician best known for her work with the bands SalmeKlang and Lumsk. Beyond these primary projects, she is also a member of the Norwegian folk-pop duo BLAA and has released solo material under her own name.
The bands
Mari founded SalmeKlang in 2008—a four-piece orchestra specializing in creative reinterpretations of old hymns. Their innovative approach has made them a distinctive voice in the Norwegian hymn and sacred music scene.
Mari joined the acclaimed progressive folk metal band Lumsk in 2021, bringing her dynamic vocal style to their established sound. She is set to release her second album with the band—which will mark Lumsk’s fifth studio release—later this year.
Together with Gisle Haaland, Mari forms the duo BLAA, and they have been playing together for over twenty years. «It’s all about being creative and seeing where the music will take us today,» the duo explains. Mari writes the material—progressive folk-pop with Norwegian lyrics performed in her own dialect, Trøndersk.
Her solo output surfaces occasionally, showcasing pop, folk, and experimental jazz, but always rooted in Maris’s core passion for singing and making music.
Musical style
Mari’s primary musical genres encompass progressive rock, folk rock, and pop. She is particularly recognized for her dynamic and expressive vocal abilities, which have become her signature across various musical projects.
Other things
Beyond her performing career, Mari maintains an active role in the Norwegian music industry through several channels:
- Music Production: She arranges and produces music for various choirs and artists.
- Session Work: Provides vocal contributions to other musical projects
- Education: Teaches vocals and music theory at multiple university colleges, currently at Kristiania University College and NLA University College Staffeldts
- Media: Co-founded the podcast «Vokal til folket» in 2018 with Carina Frantzen
What People Say
The music tends to have a harsher tone at times, but is often softened by the lovely vocals from Mari Klingen. She has a wonderful vocal range which fits in well with the gentler moments as well as the more forceful, heavier ones.
The Progressive Aspect
Vokalmelodiene er i kjent Lumsk-stil uutslettelige fra hjernebarken når man først har hørt dem, og er levert via det fabelaktige stemmematerialet til bandets nye vokalist, Mari Klingen.
Metallurgi.org
New female vocalist Mari Klingen impresses from the beginning as she lifts «Det Døde Barn» from sparse, piano-based, melancholic neo-rock to a dominating, higher level of intensity, heaviness, and details. Her technique is – probably quite literally – breathtaking.
Global MetalBlog
Mari Klingen 