Maria Louise Joensen (; born 21 January 1985), known as Aura Dione, is a Danish singer and songwriter. In 2008, she released her debut album, Columbine. The album spawned the hit single "I Will Love You Monday (365)", which reached number one in Germany, achieved over 80 million video views and was certified platinum.
After winning the European Border Breaker Award in 2011, Dione won Best Female Artist and Hit of the Year for "Geronimo" at the Danish Music Awards 2012 and Female Artist of the Year in 2013; she is one of Denmark's top two female recording artists.
Life and career
Early life Aura Dione was born Maria Joensen on 21 January 1985 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her mother is of Faroese and French descent, while her father is of Danish and Spanish descent. Her parents introduced her to music, and she began writing songs at the age of eight.Rune Langhoff, "Aura af Verden", Berlingske Tidende (23 January 2008). Retrieved 9 December 2009. Her parents were hippies who with Aura as a child sailed all the world's oceans, until the 7-year-old was given residence on Bornholm . Here, she began her formal schooling and as a teenager enrolled in Secondary school, but in the middle of her education she chose to move to Australia where she sought inspiration from the Aborigines. This later resulted in a song "Something From Nothing".
2007–2010: Columbine and international breakthrough
Dione debuted in summer 2007 with the single "Something From Nothing", but has also gained success with the track "Song for Sophie" - both from her album Columbine, which was released in 2008. The single "I Will Love You Monday" was a No.1 hit in Europe, where it was issued in an expanded version titled "I Will Love You Monday (365)".
2011–2015: Before the Dinosaurs Dione released her second international studio album Before the Dinosaurs on 4 November 2011. The first single release "Geronimo" was produced by David Jost and went straight to the #1 in the official German Media Control Charts."BILD Newspaper Article about Aura Dione and David Jost" Retrieved February 22, 2012 In the very same year, Aura Dione won a European Border Breakers Award for her international breakthrough."Winners of the 2011 European Border Breakers Awards", ec.europa.eu. Retrieved February 20, 2012 Aura Dione recently released the second single "Friends" of her international hit album Before the Dinosaurs. The song is written and produced by Dione, David Jost and Rock Mafia and reached the official German Radio Charts #1. "Friends" is Dione's third Radio #1 single."Universal Music Press Release" Retrieved April 24, 2012
2024: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Dione was one of the contestants of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2024, the Danish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "Mirrorball of Hope".
Personal life Dione was engaged to Danish billionaire Janus Friis but the couple split up in April 2015. In 2023, she gave birth to her first child.
Discography
Albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales For peak positions in Germany: For "Before the Dinosaurs": For "Columbine": Columbine Released: 28 January 2008 Label: Music for Dreams Formats: CD, digital download 3 31 44 46 30: Gold: 100,000 DEN: 20,000 Before the Dinosaurs Released: 4 November 2011 Label: Island, Universal, Koolmusic Formats: CD, digital download 6 30 14 — 36IFPI DEN: Platinum : Gold Can't Steal the Music Released: 19 May 2017 Label: Island, Universal, Koolmusic Formats: CD, digital download — — — — — Life of a Rainbow Released: 26 August 2022 Label: Mermaid Records Formats: CD, digital download — — — — — "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.
Extended plays Title Details Fearless LoversReleased: 27 March 2020 Label: Warner Music Group, Queen of Hearts Format: Digital download
Singles + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumDENAUT Note: User may click on each song to retrieve its peak position.For peak positions on the European Hot 100: For "Song for Sophie": For "I Will Love You Monday": GERFor peak positions in Germany: For: "Something From Nothing": For: "Song for Sophie": For: "I Will Love You Monday": For: "Geronimo: For: "Friends": For: "In Love With The World": For peak positions in Poland: For: "I Will Love You Monday": For: "Friends": Note: User may click on each song to retrieve its peak position.SWI "Something from Nothing" 2007 7 — — — — 90 — — — — IFPI DEN: Gold Columbine "Song for Sophie" 2008 16 18 — 49 — 12 — — 83 68IFPI DEN: Gold "I Will Love You Monday" 20 2 11 8 — 1 58 3 14 2 IFPI AUT: Platinum : Platinum : Platinum "Stay the Same" — — — — — — — — — — "Geronimo" 2011 1 1 40 — 95 1 — — 17 7IFPI DEN: 2× Platinum IFPI AUT: Gold BVMI: Platinum IFPI SWI: Gold Before the Dinosaurs "Friends" (featuring Rock Mafia) 2012 6 3 7 — — 4 — 1 24 10IFPI DEN: Platinum IFPI AUT: Gold BVMI: Gold IFPI SWI: Gold "In Love with the World" 5 13 — — — 52 — — — —IFPI DEN: Platinum "Reconnect" — — — — — — — — — — "Love Somebody" 2016 27 — — — — — — — — —IFPI DEN: Gold Can't Steal the Music "Indian Giver" — — — — — — — — — — "Can't Steal the Music"2017 — — — — — — — — — — "King of Pain" — — — — — — — — — — "Shania Twain"2019 — — — — — — — — — —Fearless Lovers "Last Man in the World" — — — — — — — — — — "Sunshine" — — — — — — — — — — "Colorblind"2020 — — — — — — — — — — "Worn Out American Dream" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — "Marry Me" 2022 — — — — — — — — — — Life of a Rainbow "Mirrorball Of Hope" 2024 — — — — — — — — — — Melodi Grand Prix 2024 "Where Does Love Go" — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.
Featured singles + List of singles as featured artist Title Year Album "Breathe"(Da French Connexion featuring Aura Dione) 2013
Promotional singles + List of promotional singles Title Year Album "I'm Only Here for a Moment" 2009 rowspan="3" "Tomboy" 2014 "Til En Veninde" 2019 "In Love with the World (Pure Version)" 2022 Life of a Rainbow "Glass Bone Crash (Pure Version)" "You Got Wings (Pure Version)"
Awards and recognition Danish Music Awards
| rowspan="2"|2009 | Columbine | Årets Danske Pop Udgivelse
| rowspan="4"|Herself | rowspan="2"|Årets Danske Kvindelige Kunstner
| rowspan="5"|2012
| Årets Publikumpris
| Ærespris
| Before the Dinosaurs | Årets Danske Pop Udgivelse
| "Geronimo" | Årets Danske Hit
GAFFA Awards
!Ref. |- | rowspan=2|2021 | Herself | Best Danish Solo Act | |rowspan=2| |- | Fearless Lovers | Best Danish Pop Album |
MTV Europe Music Awards
| 2012 | Herself | Best Danish Act
Notes
References
External links
Official website