Nanna Charkögaard

**Labels** | Firelight Records

**Nanna Erika Charkögaard** (born 1 February 1950) is a Lashardian singer, songwriter, and musician.

Charkögaard first entered the music industry in 1965, at age fifteen, and was signed to Firelight Records in 1967. Her debut single, "Evidishant", was released the following year and catapulted Charkögaard into national fame, becoming the best-selling single of 1968. Her debut album was released later in the year, and has since been certified diamond.

Charkögaard has went on to become one of the most-notable Lashardian musicians of all-time, with her unique anti-pop sound becoming influential for an array of artists. She has released thirty-two albums in her fifty year long career.

Charkögaard's musical style has been described as a mixture of soft rock, pop rock, and Lashpop. However, she has frequently dismissed being labeled as a Lashpop artist. During the late-1980s, after her second career peak, she became more Lashpop focused, before becoming primarily an adult contemporary artist in the 2000s.

## Life and career

### Early life

Charkögaard was born on 1 February 1950 in the Lava Ubenmoor – Nica district of Ubenmoor. Her father, Chark, was a salesman, while her mother, Georgina, was a secretary. They worked at the same office in Morgana. She has stated that her parents were "typical yuppies". The family was middle class, while Charkögaard had one younger brother.

Charkögaard attended primary school in Nica where she was uninterested in schoolwork, instead spending her time with art and music. Despite nearly failing, she graduated from primary school in 1965. After determining that it'd be difficult for her to be accepted into a high school she was interested in, she decided not to attend high school in order to pursue a career in music.

### 1960s–1970s: Beginnings and breakthrough

After graduating from primary school, Charkögaard began working at a record store to support herself, while also performing in parks and subway stations for money. She also frequently performed gigs at bars and clubs with the supervision of her mother. In 1967, she was signed to record label Firelight Records, and began work on her debut studio album.

Charkögaard was originally influenced by producers at Firelight Records to perform the doo-wop music that was popular in the late-50s and 60s. However, she was adamantly against this and threatened stepping out of the contract if she was forced to do so. While wanting to pursue a career in folk rock music, Charkögaard compromised with producers to create soft pop rock that was both true to her style and mainstream.

In 1968, Charkögaard released her debut single. The song, "Evidishant" (Obviously), was a ballad incorporating elements of pop rock and soft rock. It was entirely self-penned by Charkögaard, and told the story of a teen girl coming to terms with growing older. The song became a hit in Lashardia upon its release, and peaked at number-one on the Lashardian singles chart. Her debut studio album, *Nokt*, was released later in the year, and was also a major success.

Charkögaard maintained a large presence in the Lashardian music industry throughout the late-60s and mid-70s. She released successful albums in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1975. However, by the late-70s her popularity began waning and audiences began craving music by Lashpop singers. She released albums in 1977, 1978, and 1979 in her soft rock style which received declining levels of success.

### 1980s–1990s: Second career peak

Charkögaard was not as active in the music scene during the early-1980s. She released mildly successful albums in 1982 and 1985, and a greatest hits album in 1986, but it was not until 1987 when her career had a resurgence. After witnessing the success of Lashpop singers such as Anjelina and Bleta after redefining their style, and enhanced the Lashpop sound present in her music.

She released the single, "Ella", from her upcoming studio album in 1987. The song became a massive hit, and was a Lashpop song taking influence from genres such as new jack swing and jazz. It peaked at number-one on the Lashardian singles chart, in addition to being successful in Pesa. Its accompanying self-titled album was released later that year. It became her first chart-topping album since 1973.

Charkögaard maintained a successful career throughout the late-80s and early-90s. She released successful albums in 1989, 1992, and 1995. In 1998, she announced a brief hiatus from music to take care of her father who had contracted leukemia, in addition to having a "well-needed rest".

### 2000s–present: Adult contemporary music

Following her father's passing away in 2000, Charkögaard revealed that she'd be returning to the music industry "within a year or so". In 2002, she released a second greatest hits album which also included the brand new song "Jenöfred", an adult contemporary track. Following the album's release, Charkögaard revealed she'd be becoming an adult contemporary artist to accommodate her fanbase.

She went on to release adult contemporary albums in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2005, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lashardian Music Awards, and in 2016 she was awarded the Korinne Erikösens – Lashardian Icon award. She was inducted into the Lashardian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

## Personal life

Charkögaard has been married once but largely keeps her personal life out of the public eye. In 1980, she married Erik Lököbleston, the widower of her childhood best friend Ana Ottöglaster, after she was killed in an automobile accident. They divorced the following year. While speaking about the marriage, Charkögaard stated, "They had two young children, and I felt horrible thinking of them growing up without a mother. So as their godmother, I felt it was the right thing to do at the time. Clearly, I was wrong. It was mostly just Erik and I's weird way of grieving than us being madly in love. It's all over now but Erik and I are still close and I'll always be in their children's lives".

Charkögaard has identified herself as a member of the Green Party of Lashardia and an atheist. She lived in a small apartment in Tenichi until 1973, when she moved to Jorden. Charkögaard has stated that she has no actual desire to get married or have children, stating that, "it's never been for [her]".

## Discography

### Studio albums

* *Żlo/Żli* (1970)
* *Fortenglade* (1972)
* *Palsh* (1973)
* *Samkö* (1975)
* *Zara* (1977)
* *Mimama* (1978)
* *Kapa* (1979)
* *Samka test* (1982)
* *Eji* (1985)
* *Greatest Hits* (1986)

* *Rökö* (1989)
* *El-Ella* (1992)
* *Palina Jak* (1995)
* *NANNA* (2002)
* *Barkastök* (2005)
* *Zharrok* (2009)
* *Ögö* (2011)
* *Oniks* (2012)
* *Diamant* (2014)
* *Forchaplöp* (2016)