Elen Nilsen sang her way to the national festival in UKM with a song about her great-grandfather – NRK Troms and Finnmark

– I always get very sentimental after I sing it.

That’s what Elen Nilsen from Vadsø says when she talks about her self-composed song “Memories”

Nilsen participated this weekend in the county festival in UKM, which was held in Kirkenes. Over 200 young people took part, divided into around 60 stage and 40 art elements.

A song about great grandfather

Under the stage name Elansia, Nilsen sang about good memories with his great-grandfather.

The great-grandfather passed away two years ago, and the song is a result of the grief the then 14-year-old girl felt.

– I showed that I wanted to make a song about him. Because I was very fond of him, says Nielsen.

It all started with a special Christmas present. There was a keyboard under the tree. The girl from Vadsø started trying her hand and recording the sound.

– I liked the way the song came out so naturally. It felt so natural to sing it.

At first she only sang it to herself, then to her parents. In the end, it was a friend who pushed her to enroll at UKM.

– Just her, Elen, you have to sing!

On to the national festival

The invitation from her friend has now led to Nilsen going on to the national festival in Bodø.

– I didn’t figure it out myself once. It was a friend who called me and told me.

– I thought they were going to send a message, but they had clearly posted it on Facebook, says an overjoyed Nilsen.

The places in the national festival were only announced on Sunday after all the participants had returned home.

– We run this model so that everyone feels equally valued. It would quickly become the case that if they were told before they got home that some would be very disappointed, and others very happy, says project manager, Bård Stien.

In addition to Nielsen, there are three other stage features that follow. Akutteateret from Alta, the band Herda Stålspiker from Nordkapp, and the dance duo Ice from Båtsfjord, all impressed enough to get a place in the national festival at the end of June.

An even bigger audience awaits Nilsen and the other participants in Bodø.

Nilsen, who has a bit of stage fright, imagines that it can be scary to be on stage at the end of June.

– I’m even afraid to sing in front of my family, says Nilsen.

But luckily, there’s nothing a little exposure therapy can’t fix.

She has participated in UKM once before, which has helped the singer’s nerves.

– It’s not as scary now as before, so I think it will go well in Bodø.

Important for young people

Over the weekend there was not only competition for the young people. There have also been a number of social events organized by UKM. Participants could take part in everything from a neon party to a free concert with Keiino.

Keiino is no stranger to the UKM scene. Vocalist Alexandra Rotan started her music career on such a stage in her younger days. Something that is not unknown to Nilsen.

– I think Alexandra Rotan is very cool, and she also participated in UKM as a youth herself.

But even though Nilsen loves to sing, she primarily enrolled at UKM to get to know new people.

Stien believes that UKM is particularly important for a generation of young people who are constantly experiencing more pressure.

– In the times we live in now, with pressure from all sides, bullying, social media, school and parents, it is important that young people have their own arena to get their cultural expressions out, says Stien.

Nilsen encourages all young people who are considering signing up for the event.

– You just have to do it. The worst that can happen is that nothing happens.