Noora Noor | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Noora Mohammed Noor |
Also known as | Noora |
Born | 8 July 1979 |
Origin | Somalia/Dubai |
Genres | Neo soul, jazz, blues |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocal |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels |
Warner Music Group (1998–2004) Grappa/Blue Mood Records (2004 - present) |
Associated acts | Etta James, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder |
Website | www |
Noora Noor aka Noora (born 8 July 1979) is a Somalian-Norwegian neo soul singer.
Noor started early on her musical journey, performing locally from the age of 8. She got a recording contract with Warner Music at only 15. She then began working with Stargate (production team) to make her first album. The success of the album launched Stargate's international career as R&B/Soul producers.
Noor's debut album, Curious, was released in 1999 and became one of the first notable Scandinavian R&B albums. The single "Need You" was also played constantly on "The Lick" on MTV. Curious became a success also in Japan with more than 40,000 sales. It took five years until the release of her second album, All I Am, in 2004, as Noor became seriously ill. The album included more self-penned songs, written in collaboration with US and UK songwriters. She is also featured on Madcon's 2007 album So Dark the Con of Man and some Tommy Tee releases. In addition, Noor played Maria Magdalen in a big outdoor version of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Her most recent album, Soul Deep, was released in Norway in March 2009 to rave reviews (6 on the dice in Norway's major daily VG). Recorded in San Jose, California, with local blues and soul musicians, it also features members of Little Charlie & The Nightcats. The producer was Kid Andersen, the Norwegian band's guitar virtuoso. The album was released outside Norway during 2010, with the first single, in Benelux, made available in April/May 2010.
In March 2011, Noor participated in the Norwegian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, the Melodi Grand Prix, with the song "Gone with the wind".