As you know Dea Norberg is going to join the Roxette World Tour 2012 as the new backing vocals singer. Many of you have asked “and who is she?”
We have asked Dea to answer some questions for us. Enjoy! 
RXB – Judith – We would like to know a bit more about you and your career, when did you start to sing?
Dea: I started to sing when I was a little kid, sitting next to my grandmother who played the piano. Later I started to play the piano myself and singing made me feel alive! I studied music and dance since I was 7 years old until I was around 20.
I grew up on a farm in the south of Sweden and singing and horse jumping was my thing until I was 16. Then I had to make the big choice: do I stay and continue with horses or do I move to Växjö to study music more seriously?
I know I made the right choice, since then music has been such an amazing inspiration and it’s taking me around the world for many years now!
I studied two years in Växjö, after that I moved to Skåne. There I got in to the amazing Fridhems Folkhögskola and studied singing, jazz improvisation and piano. I heard rumours when I went there that Marie Fredriksson went there as well? I will have to ask her when I see her!
I studied there for two years and after that at Kulturama in Stockholm for two more years. Afterwards I studied dance for one year at University College of Dance also in Stockholm.
And then I started my journey as a freelancing singer, artist and backup singer.
RXB: I read that you have sang backing vocals at Melodifestivalen, Eurovision Song Contest, Cirque du Soleil and also have been in various bands and released some albums and singles… Could you tell us about your career so far?
Dea: My career has been amazing so far and I’ve done more than I would ever dream of doing when I first started! I’ve sung back ups to many Swedish artist and did a lot of TV , tours, shows, concerts, galas, studiowork, bands…
Among others, I have sung for the soldiers in Bosnia and Croatia in 1996. Then I was in the choir when Sweden won the Eurovision Song contest in Jerusalem in 1999. For the next couple of years I was a member of the Melodifestival-choir and was in charge of arranging the back ups for one year. It was stressful but a great experience! All in all I did back ups for Sweden and Malta for the Eurovision Song Contest 8 times.
I released a duet with Patrik Isaksson in Sweden called “Innan klockan slår” and one with with Niclas Wahlgren “En kväll i augusti”.
And then I have also done the album “Charlotte & Dea” with my friend Charlotte Berg. I think it was 1998, … time flies.
RXB: With which bands have you toured?
Dea: I toured with many Swedish artist around Sweden but also abroad, to name some:
Lena Philipsson, Orup, Patrik Isaksson, E-type, Dilba, Thomas Di Leva, Uno Svenningsson, Jill Johnsson, Andreas Johnsson, ABBA the original orchestra, Dr Alban, Charlotte Perrelli, Jessica Folcker, Sarah Dawn Finer, Charlotte Berg, Carola, Markoolio.
Here and there I also worked with Robyn, Helen Sjöholm, Peter Jöback, Lisa Nilsson, Lutrichia Mc Neal.
And last but not least, I had the honour to do back ups when international artists came to do promo in Sweden, for example for Howard Jones, Phil Collins and Craig David.
RXB: I also read something about a show in Las Vegas, could you tell us more about it?
Dea: In 2008 I joined Cirque Du Soleil as a singer for the arena tour “Delirium”. And since 2009 I’ve been part of their steady show in las Vegas “Viva Elvis” where I also had the honour to record “Love me tender” with Elvis Presley’s real voice, a duet released by SONY.
RXB: And what about your favourite artists, artists who inspire you? What styles do you like?
Dea: I grew up with soul like Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder , Prince and also Michael Jackson. Now I listen a lot to Bonnie Raitt, Alison Krauss, Bon Iver, Other Lives, Kings of Leon, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead and so many more…
I listen to music from when I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night!
RXB: What do you like to do besides singing and music?
Dea: I love nature and adventures like hiking, climbing, riding, camping. I also love to draw cartoons and old houses and old furniture. I think they have got soul, I enjoy going to antique markets and thrift stores. And I love cats and dogs and flowers and healthy food and movies and coffee 🙂
RXB: Let’s move on to the Roxette Tour 2012, how did you get the job for the Roxette Tour 2012?
Dea: I got a call and after that me and Per had some conversations via e-mail.
RXB: You have worked with many Swedish artists, have you worked with Per or Marie before?
Dea: No I have not.. looking forward to it! They seem really nice!
RXB: What do you expect from this tour? And what can we expect from you?
Dea: I expect to meet a big audience that loves Roxette and I will give all I have to them… And when we give.. we recieve back!
I’m also looking forward to travel with this group of people, as I worked and toured with some guys from the crew before. And it will be great to be able to see more of this world is exciting!
RXB: Have you seen the videos that Per uploads to Facebook? As you can see, lots of crazy stuff going on backstage and front-row…
Dea: I’ve seen some ! The audience is amazing!
RXB: When will you start rehearsing with the band?
Dea: We will probably meet in January – then I’m hopefully ready for the stage in February.
RXB: Is there any Roxette song you really look forward to sing to?
Dea: I’m happy to rehearse this material, I feel the songs fit my voice range and I’m happy to listen to Helena Josefsson’s take on the harmonies. She is great! I’m looking forward to sing “It must have been love”!
Wish me luck and see you out there!
Of course, we wish Dea all the best for the tour start and 2012. We in Europe will have to wait a little bit so it’s your turn in Australia, Asia and South America to make her feel at home and welcome! 🙂
Aaaw, what a lovely interview. Dea comes across very nice. Looking forward to hearing her take on backing vocals in 2012.
nice words…!!! Wish her luck and hopefully she can replace Helena for a while.
From reading, pics and videos, she appears to be a nice person. Look forward to check the first Rox videos with Dea!
I’m sure she’ll be a great vocalist…my question is: why on earth did Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson, two of the longest-standing artists in Sweden, choose to bring on their major world tour someone THEY HAVEN’T EVEN MET??? Doesn’t that seem a bit risky? I can’t believe that after all their combined years of working in the music business, they don’t already have a list of singers they’ve worked with waiting in the wings to do this job. Obviously she’s very professional and beautiful and takes her work seriously and is used to touring the world…but for pete’s sake, shouldn’t they have at least met her in person?
You mean if she’s personally a pain in the ass after all? 😛
Then they’d have to change her after a test phase. But I guess they got trustable recommendations for Dea from people that know her personally.
I think it will be fine.. people also employ new employees after a 1 hr or 2 hr interview, this can as well be on the phone or email. And I tell you, this definetely isn’t enough time to assess a person.. you can only do it on the job 😉