The Northern Lights award 2025!

Here is the jury's reasoning:

It’s hard to imagine Norwegian music without the power, creativity, and raw talent that artists from Northern Norway have contributed with—decade after decade. Both young and established artists from our region create music and experiences that move and inspire audiences on stages both large and small across the country. Some become so influential that they redefine trends and genres.

This year’s prize winner, however, stands in a league of his own.

Like so many other great things that come from the north—such as much of the Bodø-Glimt football team—it is perhaps no surprise that this year’s recipient was born in Tromsø. However, he quickly made his way out of there and spent his childhood and the majority of his adult life in Bodø.

In hindsight, that wasn’t such a bad decision. The recipient can look back on six Spellemann Awards (Norwegian Grammys), 17 solo albums, and contributions to over 150 other releases. We are talking about an artist who for decades has been regarded as one of Norway’s most beloved singer-songwriters and entertainers; who was inducted into the Rockheim Hall of Fame in 2020, appointed Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 2021, and even honored with his own postage stamp.

Several of his songs have become immortal classics for an entire nation. In fact, it is rare to attend a confirmation, wedding, funeral, or anniversary celebration without at least one of his songs being sung in unison.

Speaking of anniversaries: the artist in question is celebrating one himself—he turned 75 on January 5 this year!

After graduating from Bodø Gymnas in 1968, he completed teacher training at Bodø Teacher’s College in 1973. He went on to study Nordic language and literature in Bodø in 1974, basic music studies at Nesna Teacher’s College in 1975, and intermediate music studies at the University of Trondheim in 1976. From 1976 to 1980, he worked at Bodø Music School—first as a teacher, then as an inspector, and finally as principal.

His decision to leave the music school in 1980 to pursue a full-time career as an artist came as no surprise. In 1979, he had a major breakthrough with his third release, Nordaførr. The album sold over 20,000 copies, and many will recognize songs such as Kjærlighetsvisa and Nordaførr – Vårvisa.

Since then, he’s never looked back. Acclaimed albums and new musical gems have followed one after another—and they keep coming.

He won his first Spellemann Award in 1981 for the album Liv Laga, and another in 1985 for Amerika. He later won awards for the albums Tvil, håp og kjærlighet in 2001 and Mellom oss in 2008. From 1988 to 1994, he was a central member of the supergroup Gitarkameratene, alongside Jan Eggum, Lillebjørn Nilsen, and Øystein Sunde—a collaboration that earned them two Spellemann Awards in 1991. A long list of additional accolades further underlines the impact of his career.

He’s had his own TV show and was a beloved children's TV host with the puppet Labbetuss in the early 1980s. With the theme song for Elias and his participation in Hver gang vi møtes on TV2, even younger generations have developed a close relationship with this year’s prize winner. With a career that is unparalleled in Norwegian music history, it is also worth noting that he has remained rooted in Bodø the entire time.

He has been a vital part of—and contributor to—the Northern Norwegian music scene, and his love for Northern Norway runs like a red thread through much of his work.

At this point, it’s safe to say that everyone in the room has probably figured out who the 36th recipient of the Nordlys Prize is—but let’s make it official:

It is with great joy and honor that we award the Nordlys Prize 2025 to Halvdan Johannes Falch Sivertsen!