About | Coverstory

Welcome!

My name is Michael Hartmann.

I’m the face and founder of coverstory.no, an independent blog about pop culture. I write about music, movies, TV, theatre, and more. I am based in Oslo, Norway.

(The blog is updated once a week on various days. Make sure you follow Cover Story on social media so you don’t miss anything).

My writing career began in 2007 when I became a staff writer at Medium, a health and lifestyle magazine. Shortly thereafter, I worked as the editor-in-chief of Pink Planet, a print magazine serving as a cultural guide for the gay community in Oslo.

Later, I was a contributor to Gaysir.no, Norway’s biggest gay website.

I have been fortunate to interview some of the top artists in Sweden and Norway, including Eric Saade, Peter Jöback, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Tone Damli, Bertine Zetlitz, Chris Holsten, Kaja Rode, Claudia Scott, and Lars Vaular.

I have also interviewed international celebrities, including

Pop band A1 (Ben Adams, Mark Read, Christian Ingebrigtsen, and Paul Marazzi)

UK fashion advisers Trinny and Susannah

American dancer Danny Tidwell (So You Think You Can Dance, US), and

Swedish reality star Fredrik Eklund (Million Dollar Listing New York and Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles).

With the members of the boy band A1:

I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Oslo Metropolitan University. In the four years following graduation, I continued my training at Oslo Accident and Emergency Outpatient Clinic. Since then, I have worked at two drug rehabilitation clinics run by The Salvation Army and Oslo University Hospital.

Having an obsession with politics is part of my daily routine. As a result, I blog about healthcare politics, workplace issues, and LGBTQ rights on my own blog, helsehartmann.no. I have also contributed to the Norwegian Journal of Nursing.

Here are some of the celebrities I have interviewed:

Ben Adams, lead singer of pop band A1:

Christian Ingebrigtsen, Mark Read, and Paul Marazzi of the pop band A1:

With Ben Adams. Lead singer and boy band icon!

Ben Adams has been a vital part of the music industry for years, demonstrating a kindness and professionalism that truly sets him apart. It is always a pleasure to meet him and I enjoy our conversations.

Fun fact: Ben has a great sense of humor and often makes me laugh during interviews!

With Christian Ingebrigtsen, A1:

With Mark Read, A1:

With pop singer Kaja Rode:

Networking with professionals in the music industry is an important aspect of my job, and something I greatly enjoy. This is me and Kaja at the “Indigo Boom” event in Oslo.

With the members of We Are Thunders:

With Gert Aanje, lead singer in Everbloom Valley:

With electro-pop artist Hanne Leland:

I started Cover Story in 2017. Hanne was the first artist to reach out to me. She gave me a belief that I had something to offer. I am forever grateful to Hanne for believing in my project so early on.

With Claudia Scott, two-time Norwegian Grammy Award Winner and “The Queen of Norwegian Americana”:

Claudia Scott and Michael Hartmann Coverstory.no — Yes, the photobombing was hilarious!

Claudia Lorraine Scott was born in England. She moved to Norway at age 6. My mother was her elementary school teacher.

Whenever Claudia appeared on TV, my mother was visibly touched and filled with love for her former student. She enthusiastically stated that “I taught Claudia to read and write.”

Thank you, Claudia, for sharing your beautiful songs with us!