Julie Ervik reminisces of her childhood in Squamish.
鈥淚 have lots of memories of Loggers Sports,鈥� said Ervik, who moved to Norway in 1989 when she was just nine years old. 鈥淢y dad was in Squamish鈥檚 Rotary, and I remember he was the barbecue chief during Loggers Sports. I also have this memory of falling into Alice Lake once, too.鈥�
But now, Ervik has fallen into a burgeoning music career, thanks to a video she posted on YouTube.
鈥淚 did a version of Sia鈥檚 song 鈥楥handelier鈥� and put it on YouTube,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ventually the video went viral.鈥�
Her cover of the song caught the attention of producers for Norway鈥檚 version of The Voice, a reality television show where aspiring singers compete weekly in front of a panel of famous judges, with winners determined by viewers.
In January 2015, Ervik took part in the third season of the show, appearing in three episodes before losing in the knockout phase of the show.
Although Ervik had experience performing as a backup singer for Danish Xfactor and for the Danish superstar Medina at the Danish Music Awards in 2014, she said it was daunting to perform on The Voice.
鈥淭hat was the first time I actually went out on a stage alone,鈥� said Ervik, who has been compared to singer Adele. 鈥淭hat was quite a thing for me.鈥�
It鈥檚 a far cry from the little girl who was teased for her scarlet locks.
鈥淚 was bullied a bit when I was in Squamish,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had red hair and Norwegian parents, so maybe I was an easy target.鈥�
Things weren鈥檛 much better once she moved to Norway, either.
鈥淚 was still bullied when I got to Norway, because when I first got there I didn鈥檛 speak Norwegian,鈥� said Ervik. 鈥淎nd my parents also had me learn to play violin, which didn鈥檛 exactly help things.鈥�
But that early musical education, coupled with time spent singing in church, gave Ervik the courage and chops to put her voice on the line online.
And despite not winning on The Voice, Ervik鈥檚 musical career still continues to blossom. Her YouTube video also caught the attention of some musicians in Los Angeles, who wrote a new song for her called 鈥淟ast Love,鈥� which will be released on iTunes as her debut single on June 1.
鈥淣ow I guess I鈥檒l have someone doing backing vocals for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut, at least I won鈥檛 have to be alone on the stage.鈥�
Despite the success and positive feedback she is receiving, Ervik said she is taking things on a day-by-day basis. After all, she still has a full-time job as physiotherapist at the intensive care unit at Oslo麓s largest hospital.
鈥淚 feel quite humbled by everything,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 still love my job, and I really don鈥檛 expect to be the next big pop star. Right now I鈥檓 just working on getting more connections in the industry 鈥� and I鈥檒l be working more with those guys from L.A. 鈥� and seeing what the reception is of my first single.鈥�
She鈥檚 also hoping to return to Squamish one day, too. 鈥淚 was back once in 2003,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檇 certainly like to return to Squamish again.鈥�
Julie Ervik鈥檚 debut single 鈥淟ast Love鈥� (and a video) will be available June 1.
