Tom Hugo

Tom Hugo Hermansen (born 29 October 1979 in Kristiansand^[1]), better known as simply Tom Hugo, is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and musician. He is currently living in Oslo.

Career

Recording artist

In 2007, Hugo moved to Hamburg and started working with Káme Entertainment and All Access Entertainment.^[3] In 2009, I apologise EP was released on the indie-label BrilJant/Indigo. He released his debut-album Sundry Tales in Germany June 2012. The single "Open Up Your Eyes" released in summer 2011 peaked at #100 on German radio-charts.^[4]

Sundry Tales was also released in Norway on HW Records/Musikkoperatørene, and peaked at 23rd place on the Norwegian charts.^[5] The single "Open Up Your Eyes" peaked at #20 on the Norwegian radio-charts,^[6] and follow-up single "Million Doors" was A-listed 12 weeks at Norway's largest radio-station (NRK P1).^[7]

Hugo has played many live-shows in both his home-countries, including a support-tour for The Overtones^[8] and festivals like Palmesus 2012,^[9] Welt Astra Tag, Reeperbahn-festival and Quart 09. He has also played live on the TV shows ZDF MorgenMagazin^[10] and God Morgen Norge (TV2-Norway), and was in the prime-time TV show Beat for Beat in Norway on 23 September 2012.^[11]

Melodi Grand Prix

In 2013, he participated for the first time in the Melodi Grand Prix with the song "Det er du" (It is You). However, he did not qualify for the Final. In 2018, he participated for the second time with the song "I Like I Like I Like". However, he did not qualify for the Gold Final. In 2019, he participated for the third time as part of the supergroup Keiino, who won and later represented Norway at Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Spirit in the Sky". He and Keiino would return again for Melodi Grand Prix 2021 with the song "Monument", placing second behind Tix and his song ''Fallen Angel''. Keiino took part in Melodi Grand Prix 2024 with the song "Damdiggida," placing second behind Gåte and their song "Ulveham".

He was announced as Norway's spokesperson for the 2025 Eurovision on 14 May.^[12]

Radiojam

As well as being an artist and songwriter, Hugo is one of the vocalists in the Norwegian band Radiojam.^[13]

Songwriting

Tom Hugo has co-written songs for artists in Europe and Asia. In Japan, Korean supergroup TVXQ released "Very Merry Xmas" on 27 November 2013, a song co-written by Tom and Chris Busek.^{[citation needed]} In summer 2013, Hugo co-wrote the B-side "Sunny Day Hero" taken from SHINee's gold-selling maxi-single "Boys Meet U".^{[citation needed]}

He has written 3 tracks^{[citation needed]} together with Y'akoto for her album Baby Blues, released by Warner Bros. Germany in 2012. The co-written single "Without You" did fairly well on radio. The album peaked at #20 in Germany, and was nominated for an Echo award in 2013.^[14] Together with Finnish songwriter Erik Nyholm, he wrote the single "Hard to Love You" performed by [Sebastian Wurth] which was released in 2011. The single peaked at #18 on the German charts.^[15] In 2010, Meg Pfeiffer recorded "Love is Easy" co-written by Tom Hugo, Tebey and Sebastian Kirchner for her album Bullrider (#63 on German charts).^{[citation needed]} Hugo was until recently signed by Universal Music Publishing in Germany.

Personal life

Hugo is openly gay.^[16] He married his partner, Alexander Nyborg Olsson, on 4 December 2018.^[17] The pair wrote "Spirit In The Sky" together, alongside Keiino's other members.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

Other appearances

References

1. ^ "Hvordan startet Keiino?". Klikk.no. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
2. ^ "Tom Hugo Hermansen – 3 roller i norsk næringsliv". www.proff.no. Archived 20 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
3. ^ "Tom Hugo". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
4. ^ "Charts Deutschland Hauptchart" - Top200 - Wochenauswertung Chartwoche 34/2011 (19.08.2011 - 25.08.2011) www.musictrace.de
5. ^ "Tom Hugo - Sundry Tales". Norwegian Charts. Archived 18 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
6. ^ IFPI Norway Week 31.2011 ( 28.07.2011 - 03.08.2011 ) 04.08.2011
7. ^ NRK (23 April 2012). "A, B og C-lista uke 17 2012"
8. ^ "インプラント治療で必要な費用の相場を考えよう". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
9. ^ "Artister - Palmesus". www.palmesus.com^{[dead link]}
10. ^ jez4711 (11 August 2011). "Tom Hugo : Open Up Your Eyes / ZDF Morgenmagazin 11.08.2011". Archived 14 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 November 2016. – via YouTube.
11. ^ NRK (29 August 2012). "Beat for Beat - høsten 2012"
12. ^ Eliassen, Heather Ørbeck (14 May 2025). "KEiiNO-artist er Norges poengoppleser i Eurovision-finalen" (in nb). NRK. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
13. ^ "livemusikk". livemusikk. Archived 14 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
14. ^ "Nominiert für einen ECHO 2013 | Y'Akoto". Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
15. ^ Hung, Steffen. "norwegiancharts.com - Discography Tom Hugo". norwegiancharts.com. Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
16. ^ "Eurovision 2019 Taxi Karaoke Tel Aviv 😂🎤 - BBC", 14 May 2019, archived 25 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2020-04-07
17. ^ "Congrats to "Tom Hugo" Married His Partner Today". ESCBeat. 4 December 2018. Archived 15 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
18. ^ "Tom Hugo discography". norwegiancharts.com. Archived 19 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
19. ^ "Sundry Tales by Tom Hugo". Apple Music. Archived 17 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
20. ^ "Eden - Album by Tom Hugo". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
21. ^ "I apologise - Single by Tom Hugo". Spotify. Retrieved 16 November 2024.