MØ

Biography

Karen Marie Aagaard Ørsted Andersen (Danish pronunciation: [ˈkɑːɑn mɑˈʁiˀə ˈɔːˀkɒˀ ˈɶɐ̯steð ˈɑnɐsn̩]; born 13 August 1988), known professionally as MØ (pronounced [ˈmøˀ] ) is a Danish singer and songwriter. She signed a recording contract with Sony Music in 2012 and released her debut extended play (EP), Bikini Daze×Bikini Daze18 October 2013 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1XXX 883:422Never Wanna Know4:133Dark Night3:224Freedom (#1)4:10 (2013), and her debut studio album, No Mythologies to Follow×No Mythologies to Follow7 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Fire Rides3:282Maiden3:463Never Wanna Know4:134Red in the Grey3:475Pilgrim3:536Don't Wanna Dance3:167Waste of Time3:368Dust Is Gone3:509XXX 883:4110Walk This Way3:4311Slow Love3:3712Glass3:18 (2014).
In 2014, MØ collaborated with Australian rapper Iggy Azalea on the single "Beg for It", which peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100, earning MØ her first entry on the chart. The following year, she co-wrote and provided vocals for the Major Lazer and DJ Snake collaboration "Lean On", which became an international success, charting at number one in multiple countries, number two in the United Kingdom, and number four in the United States. In 2016, MØ was featured on Snakehips's single "Don't Leave", and another Major Lazer single "Cold Water" with Canadian singer Justin Bieber; the latter debuted at number one on the UK singles chart and number two on the Hot 100.
MØ earned her first commercially successful solo single with 2016's "Final Song×Final Song13 May 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Final Song3:54", which reached the top 10 in Denmark and Norway and the top 15 in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has since released the EP When I Was Young×When I Was Young2 November 2017 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Roots3:322When I Was Young3:403Turn My Heart to Stone3:074Linking With You3:245BB3:236Run Away3:05 (2017), and the studio albums Forever Neverland×Forever Neverland19 October 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Intro (Purple Like the Summer Rain)0:452Way Down3:083I Want You3:164Blur3:055Nostalgia3:476Sun in Our Eyes3:387Mercy3:418If It’s Over3:399West Hollywood1:0710Beautiful Wreck3:4911Red Wine3:2212Imaginary Friend3:4713Trying to Be Good3:4714Purple Like the Summer Rain4:02 (2018), Motordrome×Motordrome28 January 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Kindness3:152Live to Survive3:053Wheelspin2:514Cool to Cry2:525Youth Is Lost3:456New Moon3:157Brad Pitt3:028Goosebumps3:179Hip Bones3:2110Punches3:27 (2022) and Plæygirl×Plæygirl16 May 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Meat on a Stick2:302Who Said3:073Knife3:054Without You2:495Joanna (interlude)1:016SWEET2:567Plæygirl2:438Keep Møving3:239Lose Yourself2:5510Vildchild3:4111Heartbreak3:0612Wake Me Up4:17 (2025).

Early life

Karen Marie Aagaard Ørsted Andersen was born in Ubberud, near Odense, and she grew up in Ejlstrup on the island of Funen, Denmark. Her father, Frans Ørsted, is a psychologist, and her mother, Mette Ørsted, is a teacher. She has an older brother, Kasper, who is a doctor.
MØ was seven when she became interested in music thanks to the Spice Girls. As a teenager, she became interested in punk music and anti-fascist movements, listening to Black Flag, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and especially Sonic Youth, saying she looked up to Kim Gordon as a "big hero and role model".

2006–2012: Side projects and MOR

In 2006, MØ released an EP, The Edmunds, which was composed of three songs. She also released several other side projects during 2008–10, including A Piece of Music to Fuck to and The Rarities. MØ and her friend, Josefine Struckmann Pedersen, formed duo MOR in 2007. They released two EPs, Fisse I Dit Fjæs (Pussy in Your Face) and Vanvidstimer (Madness Hours), in 2009 and 2011, respectively. MOR disbanded on 7 September 2012, for personal reasons.

2012–2015: No Mythologies to Follow and collaborations

In 2012, MØ began creating a cappella pop songs and collaborating with producer Ronni Vindahl. On 14 January 2013, MØ released her debut single, "Glass×Glass14 January 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Glass3:15". On 15 March, she released "Pilgrim×Pilgrim25 February 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Pilgrim3:51" with the B-side track, "Maiden". "Pilgrim" was recognised as P3s Uundgåelige (P3 Unavoidable), a label given to rising artists by Danish radio station DR P3, and it peaked at number eleven on the Danish Singles Chart. On 27 March, she performed live on television at the Danish P3 Guld Awards. On 7 June, she released the single "Waste of Time×Waste of Time7 June 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Waste of Time3:34". On 18 August, it was confirmed through producer and DJ Avicii's manager Ash Pournouri that MØ had co-written and provided vocals on a track called "Dear Boy", which was later featured on Avicii's debut album, True. On 30 August, she released the single "XXX 88". MØ's debut extended play, Bikini Daze, was released on 18 October. In October, she supported AlunaGeorge on UK tour dates.
The single "Don't Wanna Dance" debuted on BBC Radio 1 on 16 January 2014 as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record. On 7 March, MØ's debut studio album, No Mythologies to Follow×No Mythologies to Follow7 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Fire Rides3:282Maiden3:463Never Wanna Know4:134Red in the Grey3:475Pilgrim3:536Don't Wanna Dance3:167Waste of Time3:368Dust Is Gone3:509XXX 883:4110Walk This Way3:4311Slow Love3:3712Glass3:18, was released. It received a Metascore of 77 out of 100 on the review aggregate site Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Music blog Pretty Much Amazing called the album "complex and euphoric", while The Guardian noted that "what MØ lacks in originality, she makes up for with warlike ardour". The record debuted at number 58 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 1,438 copies in its first week. MØ began touring in Europe and the United States in support of the album, ending in June. On 2 June, she made her US television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she performed "Don't Wanna Dance" and "Pilgrim". "Walk This Way×Walk This Way7 August 2014 · Single · RemixSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Walk This Way3:432Walk This Way (Lido remix)5:073Walk This Way (KANT remix) (club version)5:134Walk This Way (Alle Farben remix)7:28" was released on 16 June as a single from No Mythologies to Follow. On 23 June, MØ announced additional United States and Canadian tour dates beginning in September. In November, she won four awards at the Danish Music Awards: Danish Album of the Year, Danish Solo Artist of the Year, Danish Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Danish Music Video of the Year. In October, MØ was featured on Australian rapper Iggy Azalea's song "Beg for It", released as the lead single from Azalea's reissue album, Reclassified. They performed the song for the first time on Saturday Night Live on 25 October. MØ was also featured on Elliphant's "One More", which was officially released as a single on 22 September; the official music video was released a day later, 23 September. MØ also co-wrote the song "All My Love" by Major Lazer, featuring vocals from American singer and songwriter Ariana Grande.
She also co-wrote and provided vocals for another Major Lazer song, "Lean On" with DJ Snake, released in March 2015. It topped the charts globally in MØ's native Denmark, Australia, Finland, Iceland, and the Netherlands, while reaching the top five in several countries, including France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to the IFPI, "Lean On" was the fifth best-selling song of 2015 worldwide, and one of the best-selling singles of all time, with global sales of 13.1 million. Spotify named it as the most streamed song of all time, and has over one billion streams globally as of June 2017. The music video for "Lean On" premiered on 30 April 2015, and became a viral success with over 2.5 billion views on YouTube, making it the 32nd most viewed video on the site.

2015–2017: When I Was Young EP, and more collaborations

On 1 October 2015, it was announced that the first single from MØ's upcoming second studio album, "Kamikaze×Kamikaze15 October 2015 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kamikaze3:34", produced by Diplo, would be released on 15 October 2015. On 14 October, the single made its world premiere on a BBC Radio 1 segment hosted by Annie Mac before the studio version was released the following day. "Kamikaze" charted in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia and Belgium. On 13 May 2016, "Final Song×Final Song13 May 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Final Song3:54", the second single from MØ's second album, was released and also made its world premiere on the same radio segment hosted by Mac. The song was co-written with Swedish singer Noonie Bao and English singer MNEK. It became MØ's first top 40 single as a lead artist in the United Kingdom, with the song reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.
On 22 July, Major Lazer released the single "Cold Water" which features Canadian singer Justin Bieber and MØ. In the United States, "Cold Water" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming MØ's second top 10 and her third top 40 single. It is also her highest-charting single in the United States, and she is the highest-charting Danish act along with Jørgen Ingmann ("Apache"). In the United Kingdom, "Cold Water" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart; it is the first time two Danish acts have reached number one in the same year, with the other being Lukas Graham's song, "7 Years".
On 17 September, MØ announced the release of her new track, titled "Drum"; it had made special appearances in previous concerts and shows. The song was produced by American producer Bloodpop also co-written by English singer Charli XCX, alongside Noonie Bao. In October, the song's official audio was released. On 6 January 2017, English electronic duo Snakehips premiered their new track, "Don't Leave", which features vocals from MØ. Its lyric video was released on the same day. On 10 March, she was featured on Charli XCX's "3AM (Pull Up)", taken from her mixtape, Number 1 Angel. MØ was also featured alongside Sophie on the song "9 (After Coachella)" by Cashmere Cat, the fifth single from his debut album, 9. "Nights with You×Nights With You21 April 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nights With You3:17", the third single from the singer's then-upcoming second studio album, was released on 21 April, after premiering on MistaJam's BBC Radio 1 show at the previous day.
On 26 October, MØ released her second extended play, titled When I Was Young, as a surprise release. It is composed of the songs that MØ wrote over the course of four years since the release of No Mythologies to Follow. On 30 October, she announced a co-headlining North American tour with Cashmere Cat, the Meøw Tour, in support of the EP; it took place from January to April 2018. In 2017, MØ co-wrote and provided vocals on Diplo's song "Get It Right", for the album Major Lazer Presents: Give Me Future. They both also performed the song on The Jimmy Fallon Show with an appearance from GoldLink. In December, MØ would go on to be featured on Charli XCX's second mixtape of 2017, Pop 2, on the second-to-last track, "Porsche."

2018–2020: Forever Neverland, and more collaborations

In 2018, MØ collaborated with producer Jack Antonoff to provide vocals for the Love, Simon soundtrack with the song "Never Fall in Love". She also collaborated with Noah Cyrus on the song "We Are...", and was featured on Alma's Heavy Rules Mixtape with the song "Dance for Me". On 19 October 2018, Her second studio album, Forever Neverland×Forever Neverland19 October 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Intro (Purple Like the Summer Rain)0:452Way Down3:083I Want You3:164Blur3:055Nostalgia3:476Sun in Our Eyes3:387Mercy3:418If It’s Over3:399West Hollywood1:0710Beautiful Wreck3:4911Red Wine3:2212Imaginary Friend3:4713Trying to Be Good3:4714Purple Like the Summer Rain4:02 was released by Columbia Records. The album was preceded by four singles: "Sun in Our Eyes" featuring Diplo, "Way Down×Way Down7 September 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Way Down3:08", "Imaginary Friend×Imaginary Friend5 October 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Imaginary Friend3:47", and "Blur". The album also features collaborations with Charli XCX, What So Not, Two Feet and Empress Of. It was revealed that other singles, "Kamikaze×Kamikaze15 October 2015 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kamikaze3:34", "Final Song×Final Song13 May 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Final Song3:54" and "Nights with You×Nights With You21 April 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nights With You3:17", would only be available on the Japanese edition of the album.
In 2019, MØ performed her single "Blur" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She co-wrote and provided vocals to "Theme Song (I'm Far Away)" for Moominvalley. She was the support act for Panic! at the Disco's tour across the United Kingdom. MØ performed at 2019's Glastonbury Festival and Roskilde Festival. In October 2019, she released her debut mixtape, MMMMØ - The Mix. MØ released her single "On & On×On & On31 October 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1On & On3:26" on 31 October 2019.

2021–2023: Motordrome

MØ released "Live to Survive×Live to Survive27 May 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Live to Survive3:04" on 28 May 2021, which serves as the lead single of her then upcoming third studio album. In July, she released "Kindness×Kindness30 July 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kindness3:15", announcing the album Motordrome×Motordrome28 January 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Kindness3:152Live to Survive3:053Wheelspin2:514Cool to Cry2:525Youth Is Lost3:456New Moon3:157Brad Pitt3:028Goosebumps3:179Hip Bones3:2110Punches3:27 and double singles "Brad Pitt" and "Goosebumps" in November.
On 28 January 2022, Motordrome was released via Sony Music UK, along with the fifth single, "New Moon×New Moon13 April 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1New Moon3:15". Same day, its music video appeared on MØ's YouTube channel. In late February, MØ went on tour to promote Motordrome across North America and Europe, opened for Imagine Dragons's tour Mercury World Tour in North America and played summer festivals in the Europe among others on Tinderbox, Mad Cool Festival and Way Out West Festival. On 17 June, MØ released "True Romance×True Romance17 June 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1True Romance3:03" as the first single from extended edition of Motordrome. She appeared in a Gryffin's song "Reckless×Reckless29 June 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Reckless2:36" 12 days later. On 12 August, MØ released extended edition of the album, titled Motordrome - Dødsdrom Edition; a music video for "Spaceman" was released on MØ's YouTube channel same day. In November, MØ performed at Corona Capital on Mexico City as her last announced show that year.
On 11 August 2023, MØ released her next single "Attack of the Ghost Riders×Attack of the Ghost Riders11 August 2023 · Single · RemixSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Attack of the Ghost Riders2:44", a cover of the Raveonettes. On 20 September, MØ and Fryd Frydendahl published their book titled Racing – Circles of doubt, Squares of light.

2024–present: 10th anniversary of No Mythologies to Follow and Plæygirl

On 23 January 2024, MØ announced that she was on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of No Mythologies to Follow and would release an extended version of the album. She also added new tour dates, third show in Copenhagen and fourth in London. On 26 January, a single titled "Fake Chanel×Fake Chanel26 January 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Fake Chanel3:22", which was scrapped from No Mythologies to Follow, was released. It was co-written and produced by Vindahl. The single was later added to the tenth year anniversary edition of the album, which also includes three unreleased songs: "Bad Luck", "Anti Hero" and "Daydreams (Night Version)". On 15 and 16 March, MØ played a concert at Vega in Copenhagen to celebrate its 10th anniversary of the release.
In October, "Who Said×Who Said16 October 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Who Said3:07" was released as the lead single from her fourth album; it was accompanied by an official visualiser, directed by Danish photographer Fryd Frydendahl. Its Ronni Vindahl edit and Sassy 009 remix were released on 22 November 2024. MØ released her cover of "Wake Me Up×Wake Me Up6 December 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wake Me Up4:152Who Said3:07" by Avicii and Aloe Blacc on 6 December, as a homage to Avicii's legacy; it was also served with an accompanying visualiser. On 28 January 2025, she released her next single "Sweet×SWEET28 January 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1SWEET2:562Wake Me Up4:153Who Said3:07", featuring Irish musician Biig Piig, announcing release of her fourth studio album Plæygirl×Plæygirl16 May 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Meat on a Stick2:302Who Said3:073Knife3:054Without You2:495Joanna (interlude)1:016SWEET2:567Plæygirl2:438Keep Møving3:239Lose Yourself2:5510Vildchild3:4111Heartbreak3:0612Wake Me Up4:17, which would be released on 16 May. She unveiled three more singles from the album, "Keep Moving" (21 March 2025), "Lose Yourself×Lose Yourself30 April 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Lose Yourself2:552Keep Møving3:233SWEET2:564Who Said3:075Wake Me Up4:15" (2 May 2025) and "Heartbreak×Heartbreak14 May 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Heartbreak3:062Lose Yourself2:553SWEET2:564Wake Me Up4:155Who Said3:07" (15 May 2025).
In 2026, MØ released a double single, "Hunnybån" and "Fine Curls". Prior to their release, she stated that she would temporarily step back from touring and live performances in order to prioritise her mental health and work on new music.

Artistry

MØ said in an interview from Wonderland that her grandfather, Mogens Ørsted, who was an artist, would sign his initials on his paintings. Therefore, she decided to use the same initials for her stage name. The word "mø" means "maiden" or "virgin to life" in Danish. Her musical influences includes the Spice Girls, Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon, Björk, Thurston Moore, J Dilla, Dead Kennedys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Little Dragon, Santigold, Karen O, Bonobo, Patti Smith, Portishead, the Doors, the Smashing Pumpkins, the Clash, Wu-Tang Clan, and Major Lazer.

Musical style

MØ's music has been classified as electronic, electropop, synth-pop, and indie pop. She has been described as "electro music with guts". The Guardian described her music stating; "her music, muscular and melodic, is a hybrid of bouncy EDM drops and scandipop on steroids", while NME called her work a cross between Siouxsie Sioux and Janet Jackson. MØ has described her sound as "an organic yet dynamic mix of electro, indie-pop, soul and street vibes". She showcased different musical styles in her debut album, including indie pop, dream pop, dark pop, electronica and alternative R&B. Her second album, Forever Neverland×Forever Neverland19 October 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Intro (Purple Like the Summer Rain)0:452Way Down3:083I Want You3:164Blur3:055Nostalgia3:476Sun in Our Eyes3:387Mercy3:418If It’s Over3:399West Hollywood1:0710Beautiful Wreck3:4911Red Wine3:2212Imaginary Friend3:4713Trying to Be Good3:4714Purple Like the Summer Rain4:02, contains elements of tropical house, experimental, trip hop, alternative pop and dancehall, while her third album Motordrome×Motordrome28 January 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Kindness3:152Live to Survive3:053Wheelspin2:514Cool to Cry2:525Youth Is Lost3:456New Moon3:157Brad Pitt3:028Goosebumps3:179Hip Bones3:2110Punches3:27 features "electro-pop production". MØ's music has been compared to electropop artists like Grimes and Twin Shadow, and her vocals to those of Lana Del Rey.

Headlining

Bikini Daze Tour (2013)
No Mythologies to Follow Tour (2014)
Fall Tour (2014)
Untitled Tour (2016)
When I Was Young Tour (2018)
Forever Neverland World Tour (2018–2019)
Motordrome World Tour: Chapter 1 (2022)
No Mythologies to Follow 10th Anniversary Tour (2024)
Plæygirl: Live (2025)

Co-headlining

MØ and Cashmere Cat: The Meøw Tour (2017–2018)

Supporting

AlunaGeorge – UK Tour (2013)
Major Lazer – Free The Universe Tour (2013)
Years & Years – Communion Tour (2016)
Sia – Nostalgic for the Present Tour (2017)
Panic! at the Disco – Pray for the Wicked Tour (2019)
Imagine Dragons – Mercury Tour (2022)