Sanyu (NO)

Described by Gaffa as “an artist who gives the finger to all music journalists who wish to lock artists up inindustry-formed genre-categories” and already having performed at several festivals in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Egypt, Sanyu is released her debut album Circumspect in April 2026. Its release coincide with a tour across Northern Europe, from Oslo to Copenhagen and Berlin.

In March 2025the Irish-Ugandan artist was awarded the “spotlight” prize by the Norwegian Lyricist Fund for her lyrical works of the previous year and was later granted NOPA’s lyric award for her poem ‘You Don’t Hear It (Do You?)’. Her debut EP‘Now You Hear It’was described as “a testament to true artistry and dedication to the craft” by Beehype and chosen as their Norwegian Pick for “Best Albums of 2024”

On stage she is joined by some of the most distinct sounding musicians from Norway’s jazz and electronicmusic scene. Drummer, Rino Sivathas, multi-instrumentalist Kristina Fransson and bass player, Joachim Mørch Meyer all display both composure and explosiveness through their interplay with each other.

With a background in R&B and improvisation, her music bears the stamp of a soulful expression with warm harmonies but also plays around with rap and groove-based riffs. Her determined yet exploratory soul interspersed with tactile spoken word and hammering jazz charges her listeners with energy, where her lyrics are at the core of what drives her performances.

“By far the greatest experience during the festival” -Ellisiv Sunde Myrva, Bergens Tidene

"What a voice, with lots of dark glow, variation and something on her mind, and what a captivating and soulful expression, which clearly draws upon all sorts of musical fields of reference."  - Mads Kornum, All That DK

“She is impossible to categorise, but everything she does exudes musicality” -Engelsholm Events