Karen Marie Aagaard Ørsted Andersen (born August 13, 1988), known professionally as MØ (pronounced [ˈmøˀ]), is a Danish singer and songwriter known for blending electropop with indie and alternative influences. Emerging from a small town near Odense, Denmark, MØ developed a passion for music at the age of seven, inspired by the Spice Girls, and later shaped her artistic identity through punk bands like Black Flag, Sonic Youth, and Nirvana.
MØ signed with Sony Music Entertainment in 2012 and began gaining attention with her debut single, “Glass,” and the follow-up, “Pilgrim,” which became a breakout hit in Denmark. Her first EP, Bikini Daze, was released in 2013, followed by her debut studio album, No Mythologies to Follow, in 2014. Influenced by Michael Jackson, the album was met with critical acclaim and led to extensive touring across Europe and the United States.
Her international breakthrough came in 2015 when she co-wrote and featured on the Major Lazer and DJ Snake global hit “Lean On,” which reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts around the world. The song became one of the most streamed and best-selling singles of all time, with over a billion streams on Spotify and billions of views on YouTube. That same year, she featured on Major Lazer’s “Cold Water” with Justin Bieber and released her own successful solo single, “Final Song,” which reached the top 15 in multiple countries.
Throughout her career, MØ has collaborated with notable artists such as Iggy Azalea (“Beg for It”), Avicii (“Dear Boy”), Diplo (“Kamikaze”), and Snakehips (“Don’t Leave”). Her dynamic vocal presence and genre-blending sound have made her a standout in the global pop and electronic music scenes.
MØ’s discography includes four studio albums: No Mythologies to Follow (2014), Forever Neverland (2018), Motordrome (2022), and Plæygirl (2025). Each project has showcased her evolving style and continued commitment to pushing sonic boundaries while staying rooted in emotional expression and rebellious energy.
Born and raised in Ejlstrup on the island of Funen, MØ grew up in a creative household—her father is a psychologist, and her mother a teacher. She also has an older brother, Kasper, who is a doctor. Beyond her chart-topping success, MØ has remained grounded in her roots and continues to be an influential figure in Scandinavian pop and alternative music.
