Move over, Avril. Out of the way, Kelly Clarkson. A new star is about to take flight. Like the pitch-black bird with which she shares a name, a nod to her Viking past, Marion Raven has already been hard at work conquering the world. Having already laid siege to Japan, Asia & Scandinavia, and having recently notched a top 10 throughout Europe with her much acclaimed duet with Meat Loaf in late 2006, the rest of the world is about to discover what all the noise is about, with the release of the Norwegian singer/songwriter's debut full length album, Set Me Free.

All the songs were written or co-written by the 22-year-old Raven and feature her on both guitar & piano. The lead single, "Falling Away," showcases Raven's distinctive vocal talents that audiences worldwide have come to embrace. The video clip for the song, shot during the recent Colorado blizzard, features some of the world's top snowboarders showcasing their stuff. Featured riders include Andreas Wiig (Two-time Gold Medalist 07' X Games, 06 'X Games Silver Medalist, Snowboarder Magazine Jumper of the Year, Burton Abdominal Snowjam Champion, 2007 Vail Sessions winner), Hana Beaman (US Open Champion, X Games Silver Medalist, Transworld Magazine Female Rider of the Year) and Mike Casanova (Vans Cup Rail Jam Champion, Vans Cup Slopestyle finalizt).

"Shooting my video in the middle of a blizzard with snowboarders jumping over my head was crazy and a lot of fun at the same time. Andreas, Hana and Mike are amazing riders and they really show what they are about in the video," said Raven.

To create her record, Raven worked with a number of top songwriters and producers. The results of these collaborations are evident on tracks such as "Break You" & "Here I Am" (co-written and produced by Max Martin), "13 Days," which she composed with Canadian singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida & "Heads Will Roll," co-written with Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx and James Michael. The track features Raven playing piano, electric and acoustic guitar. Says Sixx, "I've written with artists as diverse as Joey from Saliva to Meat Loaf and Vince Neil, but Marion is the most talented new artist I've worked with since I've been making music."

Raven is also already a huge success in Japan where her album debuted at #6 on the charts and her single hit #1. She is already making waves in the U.S., not only having written with Nikki Sixx, but also with Art Alexakis from Everclear and Keith Nelson from Buckcherry.

Marion Raven's highly-anticipated debut album Set Me Free will be released in the United States on July 24 on Eleven Seven Music. Interscope will be releasing the album in Canada, where Raven will be performing in ten Canadian cities as the opening act on Meat Loaf's March, 2007 Arena tour.

Marion is well known to UK & European audiences, having dueted with the Meat Loaf on the top 10 smash "It's All Coming Back To Me Now," the lead track from the platinum-plus Bat Out Of Hell III. Raven will be opening on the Loaf's UK/Europe tour in May/June 2007 in front of sold-out arena audiences throughout the continent. Set Me Free will be released in the UK & Europe through 11-7 in early 2007.

"Standing in the Wings is a Star in Waiting named Marion Raven."-Billboard Magazine

Check out the video for "Here I Am": Windows | Quicktime

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