The Born Christmas Star

from Kamille magazine, Juleideer 2024
Translated by Diana Oakes, KEiiNO Fan Group Official

As Alexandra Rotan embarks on her first solo Christmas tour, her biggest Christmas wish is about to come true. Her childhood dream has become reality – and with her on the journey she has her great love, Markus.

ALEXANDRA ROTAN (28): singer  in KEiiNO, solo artist and TV presenter. Currently on her first solo tour, “Alexandra’s Christmas”, in the run-up to Christmas. Lives in Oslo, where she shares a home with guitarist Markus Maaren Bastøe (30).

A home for Christmas: Alexandra and her musician boyfriend Markus moved into their first shared apartment in central Oslo during Advent last year. Blue sequin dress from Iben NOK 3499 – £245/$307/295 EUR).

Alexandra Rotan has the kind of smile that automatically lifts the mood in the room. It’s not a fake smile for the camera, but a spontaneous expression of the joy of life, making her curls dance cheerfully over her shoulders. Yes, like the very definition of “jolly”, for lack of a better word.

And it is with this smile that she energetically meets us at the door of her new home in Oslo. The place she and her boyfriend Markus Maaren Bastøe moved into during Advent last year. – where this year she is looking forward to creating new Christmas traditions.

“I have already started planning the small gifts that Markus and I will give each other in a joint Christmas calendar. It is not materialistically motivated, but preferably a compliment on a note or something else that shows that we appreciate each other. It is about what you want your person to wake up to in the run-up to Christmas”, smiles Alexandra, and puts down a coffee cup with powder pink lipstick marks.

Christmas with heart and song

Alexandra was only ten years old when she started giving Christmas concerts at home in Eidsvoll. Every Christmas Eve, the little girl with the big voice spread Christmas cheer as part of the traditional concert “Silent Night”. She has since released her own interpretations of Christmas classics such as “O Helga Natt” (“Oh, Holy Night”) and “Når himmelen faller ned” (“When the Sky Falls Down”), which have been embraced by the public as a mandatory part of the annual Christmas playlist.

There is something about Alexandra’s warm radiance and well-developed voice that evokes a feeling of ‘home’. You want to curl up on the sofa with a cup of piping hot mulled wine and a soft wool blanket and let the sounds of Christmas creep under your skin. That is perhaps why she is asked to sing Christmas on TV 2, spread Christmas cheer in “Håp i en gryte” (“Hope in a pot”) or count down to Christmas as the host of “Christmas Eve at the Prøsyen”.

                                    “I hope it’s my love for Christmas and Christmas music that shines through. Music for me is about the audience feeling one with the concert. They shouldn’t come just to listen to me. I want them to feel how much it means to me. It shouldn’t be a room for laughter and singing,” Alexandra elaborates.

Christmas red: Both when it comes to outfit and decorations, its maximalism that counts for Alexandra Rotan. Alexndra’s own skirt from Confettibird kr5900,- /498 Euros, knitted cardigan from Rah; kr. 2499,-/211 Euros

Childhood dream comes true

There is something natural about Alexandra now making her debut as a solo artist in the run-up to Christmas. That at some point everything was to culminate with this. From the ‘Silent Night’ tour in 2022 to joining the Christmas King himself, Kurt Nilsen, on the Christmas tour in 2023, it is now the Christmas star’s turn to shine alone in front of the audience.

“Traveling all alone on a Christmas tour is something I have dreamed of since I was a little girl. It feels crazy to think that what I’ve worked for so hard, for so long, is now happening! I’m incredibly excited, but at the same time it’s very scary. I don’t know if people will buy tickets. But I have to start somewhere. This is a Christmas tour that I hope to continue with for 20-30 years to come – preferably more”, her dark brown eyes sparkle with anticipation.

She has put on a floor-length, shimmering sequin skirt in shades of gold and a soft, red knitted sweater. And of course a pair of long ‘statement’ earrings in gold – like the star at the top of the tree itself. An outfit that ‘pops’ – just the way she feels most comfortable.

She chooses not to help herself to the nuts she brought (to which she is allergic) and the porous milk chocolate (she is also ‘allergic’ to sweets, and prefers liquorice in the candy bowl), but fills her mug with steaming, hot coffee.

Reaching for a star

Photo with Alan Walker: The pop star dream: The world fell apart when Alexandra was eliminated from ‘Idol’ in 2016. Just days later, manager Gunnar Greve chose to bet on her as the live vocalist for Norwegian world star Alan Walker.
Photo with Markus: Happy: In December 2023, Alexandra and Markus bought their first apartment together, right in the centre of Oslo. When she goes on her first solo tour in the pre-Christmas period, it’s with Markus as guitarist.
Stand-out quote: “In my childhood, I stood out by choosing music. It was a lonely choice.”

It is Alexandra’s voice that alone will fill 17 cultural centres with nostalgic Christmas atmosphere this pre-Christmas season, but she is by no means lonely. Not like when she spent hour after hour and day after day practicing in the basement during her adolescence.

All those times she turned down friends to prioritize her dream of being on stage. That dream has ensured that she’s eventually found her ‘tribe’. Those who understand her and her all-consuming passion for music. Those who accept and admire that she thinks big.

She has this group with her on tour. Her very best friends. And of course the best of them all, her partner Markus on guitar.

                                    “In my childhood, I stood out by choosing music. It was a lonely choice. There were many determined hours of practice in the basement. There were probably those who found it difficult that I always said no to getting together at the weekends”.

But she has always had big dreams and worked hard. Music came first – always – ahead of football, handball, her boyfriend, friends and being the best possible at school.

“First my boyfriend went. Then football and handball. Deprioritising music has never crossed my mind. Music is like breathing for me”, says Alexandra with a fervour in her voice.

When she went from singing alone to becoming part of a band, she thought, “Oh, music can be even more fun! I can actually travel the world with my boyfriend and my best friends.”

“Then I realised that it was lonely growing up”.

Tradition before a particular faith

Being the one who stood out in her childhood years has shaped her. The hurtful words. The times she was excluded by those who did not wish her success have left their mark.

What was the fundamental message of KEiiNO when the band was formed in connection with the Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) in 2019 has almost manifested itself as a mantra. The tribute to difference, and that everyone is worth the same.

There will be room for everyone at Alexandra’s concerts, whether you are young, old, male, female, or fluid gender, believer or non-believer. Inclusion permeates her entire work.

“That is why I have chosen to arrange the concerts at cultural centres around the country. It will be a tour that is accessible to everyone, where there is more focus on tradition than faith. The music should be just as suitable for grandma as it is for the little girl in kindergarten.”

Photo captions page 23 :
Songbird: Alexandra has been told that she could sing before she could talk. When she started art school at the age of 10, her singing talent blossomed.
Lonely choice: Alexandra knew early on that she wanted to be an artist. Here in the picture she is singing during an anniversary concert in Eidsvoll, several years before she made her breakthrough with KEiiNO.
Filled to the brim: The Christmas tree at Alexandra’s house is gigantic!
Details: Alexandra’s partner Markus has made decorative dried citrus, which are also great to have in a drink or a cup of tea. The decorative bowl is from Ib Laursen.
Tradition: Alexandra is looking forward to creating new Christmas traditions with Markus. Just weeks after they moved in last year, they invited 30 people to celebrate New Year’s at home in their new apartment (which measures 72 square meters). They are waiting to celebrate Christmas Eve together until they are married.
Beautiful on the table: Tableware from Olsson & Jensen and linen tablecloth from Lovely linen. Cutlery and glasses are Alexandra’s own.

A candle was lit in quiet hamlets

Like Alexandra’s smile, the childlike eagerness she expresses is in no way fake. Her joy of Christmas comes from a place in the heart. A candle that was lit in quiet hamlets in Råholt when she was a little girl. In the big, white house at the end of the road, where the Christmas tree was barely visible behind all the Christmas decorations.

“I grew up with a maximalist Christmas. It becomes a whole new home when it’s holiday time, with an incredible amount of Christmas decorations. We have a huge Christmas tree filled to the brim with all the Christmas decorations we children have made over the years.

Her mother hasn’t thrown anything away.

“Not even the gonks who have lost their noses and who barely have any more beard left on their chins.”

But her mother, who has been a flight attendant all these years, has also contributed to the decorations.

“She’s brought a lot of Christmas decorations home from ‘Granca’ too, you know. I love it. It’s so cozy!”

On the table at home at Christmas there’s ‘ribbe’1, ‘pinnekjøtt’2 and every side dish you can think of.

“We always have a full house, and even though I’m now 28, and my siblings are 18 and 22, Dad still dresses up as Santa Claus every year and is never there when Santa comes to visit!”, Alexandra laughs heartily.

Tears of joy and fond memories

It was here, in the big white house, that Alexandra began to sing before she could talk. She lay down with her ear close to the radio on the kitchen table, memorising lyrics and Christmas carols – or composing her own.

The song and the urge to convey emotions have always been a part of her. It has followed her through life’s antics, like a close friend who has never left her side.

“I have so many fond memories of when my mum and dad sang to me at my bedside. When we went on vacations to Western Norway in the summer, it was music that comforted me through the scary tunnels. When I woke up from nightmares at night, my parents would calm me down with songs.”

“When it came to music, I was insatiable.”

 When she started school and later the arts school, her ambitions fully bloomed. She was the first to raise her hand when performances were staged at school. Ideally, she would imagine herself being cast in all the roles. That’s why she also memorized all the lines. If you followed closely, you could see Alexandra’s lips moving silently even when it wasn’t her turn.

To this day, standing on stage gives her an adrenaline rush from another world.

“I get so much joy from music that I cry tears of joy when I walk off the stage. There’s nothing that can replicate that feeling.”

Christmas star: Alexandra was only ten years old when she gave her first Christmas concert in Eidsvoll. Today her name is closely associated with Christmas. (White blouse from Gossia – 1399 NOK / £98 / $122 / 117 EUR; Sequin skirt from Second Female 1599 NOK / £112 / $140 / 134 EUR)

The turning point

From entertaining at local cafeterias in Eidsvoll and participating in MGP junior at the age of 14, she has risen through the ranks. In 2019, her career took off in earnest when she and her colleagues in KEiiNO won MGP and were voted audience favourites at Eurovision in Tel Aviv.

It is still a reality show that has gone under the radar for many – at the age of 20, Alexandra had the ‘Idol’ door slammed right in her face. It would prove to be a decisive turning point in her life.

“I felt like I was being judged up and down in the competition. I was very nervous, and the joy of music disappeared. At that time, I felt that ‘Idol’ was my last chance to break through, and I was really disappointed when I was eliminated early. Then I lost a little faith in myself.

But the sadness was short-lived, and it made her think differently.

“I had to do something that was un-Norwegian, namely to work more behind the scenes,” Alexandra admits.

The most important phone call of my life

Two days later, Alexandra was sitting at the kitchen table at home in Råholt when she called out to her mother in the living room: “What do you think about me sending a message to Gunnar Greve?”

Her mother’s thumbs up was decisive for the way forward.

And the former ‘Idol’ judge answered the same day. Alexandra was standing unsuspectingly in a rehearsal room when the phone rang: Greve wanted to use her as Alan Walker’s live vocalist!

“It was perhaps the most important phone call of my life. Then I lost it a little, and started crying. I got the opportunity to work with one of the world’s greatest artists! Getting kicked out of ‘Idol’ was the biggest disappointment of all time, but I got my dream job out of it.”

From there, the journey took her to China, Indonesia, Mexico and Europe. Together with the world-famous DJ, she was followed by police escorts, lived in top-floor suites and got a taste of life as a pop star. The contrast to the basement room at Råholt was enormous, but still she had never felt more at home.

“There was no doubt that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve never had anyone do the work for me. A manager who has cheered me on and said that I will be big. I realised at some point that I had to do it myself. I think it’s cool to be a little forward and un-Norwegian. I blow the whistle on the Jante law3. That’s what has gotten me to where I am today.”

When he met her

That’s one of the things she values ​​most about her partner, Markus; he sees her and admires her for the strong woman she is.

Nostalgia: The bell has fallen off the Santa hat, but otherwise Alexandra’s stocking is still intact. It wouldn’t be Christmas without her waking up to a full stocking at her family’s home in Råholt. (Black dress from Stella Nova, 2999 NOK – £210 / $263 / 252 EUR)

“He’s absolutely fantastic. I’ve never had to explain myself to Markus. The fact that he lives the same life as me means that we also understand each other on a completely different level,” smiles Alexandra.

It wasn’t surprising that music opened her heart to love.

“It started with me always looking forward to going to work, because I knew he was there.”

Meeting someone she felt so safe around, and who always made her smile and laugh, was crucial.

“He’s also a super handsome man who’s one of the best guitar players I know. Looking back, it’s no surprise that I fell for him,” she laughs heartily.

They first became best friends, then it developed into a romance.

“At some point, I realised that the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with was right in front of my eyes.”

The final confirmation that it was the two of them was of the more dramatic kind. When KEiiNO held concerts in Australia, Alexandra got to fulfil her dream of holding a koala. What she wasn’t prepared for was that the koala’s sharp claws would dig into her arm and result in a serious infection.

“Half an hour after the concert we had just played, I had a fever of 40°C. I was so sick and scared.”

She developed large, painful wounds and blisters on her body.

“Markus was there right away and drove me straight to the hospital.”

Dramatic: When Alexandra and the guys in KEiiNO were on tour in Australia, Alexandra was urgently hospitalized with a serious infection.

Due to the Covid rules at the time, he wasn’t allowed to come in, but he stayed up all night in case she called. He also kept in touch with her parents back home in Norway, who were terrified. After 25 hours in the hospital, he picked her up.

“It was the sum of these things that made me think, “Oh my God, what a man!” He’s the one I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. Soon after, I asked if it was okay if I became his girlfriend. He said we were already a couple!”, laughs Alexandra.

Music joy: “My parents always sang to me, but it was my grandfather who was a troubadour. He taught me to play the guitar, and we often sang together when I visited,” says Alexandra.

Home for Christmas

She admits that she has kissed a few frogs over the years, but never before has anyone made her feel so safe and cared for. It therefore feels extra nice that Markus is there when she sings Christmas in.

“It’s a tradition that I look forward to creating together. There’s nothing like spending the Advent season on stage with my best friend and partner.”

But Christmas Eve itself is reserved for the family – for now. At home with mom and dad, she feels that the Christmas peace is fading. The Christmas pyjama, ‘Three Nuts for Cinderella’, and a Christmas stocking filled with candy are needed to awaken the nostalgia from childhood Christmas. A feeling she will hold on to for a few more years.

“Time stands still at home with mom and dad. I love that feeling. I value my family highly. Having parents like mine is a gift. They have always shown me selfless love and care, and made me feel confident that I am good enough as I am.”

Alexandra’s Christmas List

  • Favourite Christmas Song – I have two favourite Christmas songs. The first is ‘It’s beginning to look like Christmas’, Michael Bublé’s version. His Christmas album is the first Christmas music I listen to every year, and that’s the first song! I’ve had this tradition for the last 6-7 years, and that song makes me so incredibly happy and warm in my heart! The second is ‘Når himmelen fall ned’ by Anne Grete Preus. She is one of the finest things that has happened to Norwegian music, and that song really moves me. I have my own version of it, actually!”
  • Best pre-Christmas tips – Get into the Christmas spirit early! For example, you could go to a Christmas concert (Alexandra’s Christmas is supposed to have a Christmas spirit guarantee). Christmas goes by so fast every year, so my tip is to extend it yourself.
  • Best Christmas dessert – I’m not really into dessert, but when coffee and cakes come to the table, I eat as much as I can. My favourite is brownie sticks – yum!
  • Best Christmas dinner tips – Allow plenty of time, and ask for a helping hand if the stress builds up. I love when things go smoothly on Christmas Eve itself, so ask for help to avoid stressful situations.
  • Christmas brunch tips – A proper 70s ‘cabaret’4 with remoulade! That’s Christmas for me.
  • Best Christmas memory – I have many great Christmas memories, but I remember very well waking up to candy in my Christmas stocking and Christmas programs on TV with my siblings. I look forward to that every year.
  • Biggest Christmas wish – I hope people come to my Christmas concerts! This is my very first Christmas tour ever as a solo artist, and I really want to delight people around the country with my music.

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A few explanations for non-Scandinavian readers:

1Ribbe is a traditional Norwegian Christmas dish of roast pork belly. It’s a popular choice, eaten by up to 60% of Norwegian households on Christmas Eve. The dish is known for its crispy rind, and is often served with sides like boiled potatoes, sausages, and pickled cabbage.

2Pinnekjøtt is a traditional Norwegian main course dinner dish based on lamb ribs, eaten mainly at Christmas. The preparation of pinnekjøtt uses a traditional method of food preservation that uses curing, drying and in some regions also smoking as a means of inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms.

3 – The Law of Jante (janteloven) is an unwritten code of conduct originating in fiction and now used colloquially to denote a social attitude of disapproval towards expressions of individuality and personal success. Coined by the Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose, it has also come to represent the egalitarian nature of Scandinavian countries.

4‘Cabaret’ is a dish with different ingredients in a gelatine. One is made with shrimps, eggs and vegetables and another is made with ham, eggs and vegetables. The way to make Cabaret is the same no matter what ingredients you prefer. It is usually served with ‘remoulade’ – a popular Scandinavian cold sauce or condiment that originated in France and is typically made with mayonnaise, herbs, capers, and pickles. It’s often served with seafood, cold meats, and fried foods.