INTERVIEW: From I Kissed a Boy to Universal Music. Meet Joakim Kleven, Norway's fierce new pop star

I'm obsessed with the Spotify AI DJ and nope this isn’t sponsored, I just genuinely keep discovering incredible artists because of it. It’s like having a personal music companion that knows your favourites inside out while serving up new genres, playlists and artists you didn’t even know you needed. My latest find is Joakim Kleven.

Joakim Kleven is a Norwegian filmmaker, photographer and TV personality who became one of the most talked about cast members on the 2025 Norwegian edition of I Kissed a Boy. But now he’s out here living his pop star life, as you do! FREAK marks his major label debut after signing with Universal Music which I think is quite iconic. What I adore most about the track is the message. Lyrics like “Don’t be anyone else,” “Just be yourself,” “I’m proud to be me,” and “I’m a fucking legend” just hit. It’s catchy, it’s sexy, it's bold and it’s giving recession pop realness! Oh and the official music video, directed by Joakim himself is hawt. Just saying....

I reached out to Mr Kleven and we had a yap about everything like making history being the first man to dance with another man on Dancing With The Stars Norway (basically our Strictly), Pride, I Kissed a Boy, Oslo, signing a record deal, Eurovison and loads more so let's dive in head first!

DALEYPOP: How did that whole signing moment come about? You were dropping independent releases for quite a while before that, right? Oh and how's your day going so far?!

JOAKIM KLEVEN: I’ve always loved music and deep down I’ve always dreamed of becoming a pop star!

I feel like that’s every gay kid’s dream, right?

I basically grew up watching MTV. Britney Spears, Madonna, Spice Girls, Beyoncé, they literally raised me! But when I got into my teens and early twenties, I became more reserved and worked mostly behind the camera as a director and photographer. I love filmmaking, that’s where my main talent is but now that I’ve gotten older, I feel like I have to go all in on this big dream I’ve had since I was a kid. I’ve released two singles before but that was more just for fun and to launch different projects. This time, I really want to go for it, and I feel so lucky to now be signed with Universal Music!

That’s so sweet of you to ask how my day is going so far by the way. My day is great! I’m in love, I’m proud of creating something I’ve dreamed about for a long time and life just feels really good right now. DALEYPOP: For our readers all over the world who are just discovering you, how would you introduce yourself? What’s your story, and how did your music journey start and what were you doing before music? Where did you grow up etc?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: I work as a filmmaker and content creator. I’ve made several documentaries, including directing and editing Sweatshop Deadly Fashion and my own documentary series Joakim’s First P*rn where I was both the host and director. I was also the first person in Norway to dance with a same sex partner on the Norwegian Dancing with the Stars. I’m from Oslo and I’m a real city boy.

@thejoakimkleven

♬ original sound - Joakim Kleven

I’m proud to be queer and I felt like there were very few male role models when I was growing up. And I met my boyfriend (Espen Fernando Aarvik aka Falito) on I Kissed A Boy Norway.

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I’m adventurous, driven and I love telling stories through film and visuals. I feel lucky to now be one myself. I hope that everything I create shows that what really matters is working hard towards your dreams and not being afraid to just go for it.

DALEYPOP: Who’s inspiring you the most in music right now?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Right now I’m obsessed with Bebe Rexha’s song New Religion. I love everything JADE does, her solo career is iconic. Troye Sivan, Lady Gaga, Addison Rae. My all time favorite albums are ARTPOP by Lady Gaga and Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna. I’m so excited for Madonna’s part 2 album that’s coming soon, I have very high expectations! I just LOVE pop music, especially from female artists.

DALEYPOP: Same! So you directed the FREAK video yourself, didn’t you?! It’s wild. I was getting Kazaky energy in the best possible way. And Falito is in it too, right?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Okay, thank you! I love hearing that! Yes, I directed, edited, and funded the entire music video myself. When I do something, I want to go ALL IN. I’ve always dreamed of creating a really hot gay music video with high heel dancing. And yes, that’s my boyfriend (Falito) at the end of the video. Isn’t he hot?! He’s the hottest man alive!

DALEYPOP: Naww how long have you two been together? You’re honestly such a cute couple!

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Thank you so much! I met him while filming I Kissed A Boy Norway so we met in Italy last year. I was completely drawn to him from the start and I’ve been in love with him ever since. We’ve been together for almost a year now but it honestly feels like we’ve been together for much longer because we’re basically always together. He’s my great love, my soulmate.

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DALEYPOP: Would you ever record a duet together or is that dangerous territory?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: It could definitely happen! Falito is the real deal, he is the established artist out of the two of us, so I guess it depends on whether he wants to! I would absolutely love it though. He inspires me so much and is a big reason why I’ve had the courage to really go for music now.

DALEYPOP: This might be a silly question seeing as you've signed a record deal now but is there more music coming?!

JOAKIM KLEVEN: YES! I’ve been in the studio with Universal Music and hopefully a new song will be out this summer. I’m definitely releasing more music very soon! I’m really excited to work with different producers and make hot dance music for the girls and the gays!

DALEYPOP: I’ve never been to Oslo, but I’m obsessed with Scandinavia. Would you recommend it? Any must see spots, food tips or cultural things a tourist shouldn’t miss?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: You have to come! Oslo is such a beautiful city, especially in the summer. I’d recommend just wandering around the streets, visiting Vigeland Park, the Oslo Opera House, going to some great restaurants and partying at London Pub, preferably on a Saturday night when it’s packed! It’s Norway’s biggest gay bar and club.

DALEYPOP: What’s Oslo like in the summertime? I’m thinking of booking a birthday trip there in July now.

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Do it! Oslo is at its absolute best in the summer. Just watch Joachim Trier’s films and you’ll want to book a ticket immediately!

DALEYPOP: Speaking of birthdays, what’s your star sign and do you feel like you match the typical traits?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: I’m a Libra, and my boyfriend says I’m very typical Libra! I always try to weigh things out and be fair in every situation. I think that’s important, but it can get a bit exhausting over time. I always try to see the best in people, which is a good thing, but sometimes it’s also okay to admit that someone is just a total bitch when they actually are!

DALEYPOP: I can totally picture you on the Eurovision stage. Would you ever want to represent Norway?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: That is honestly such a huge dream! Eurovision is probably the closest thing I get to sports! I’ve had two big dreams in life! One was to be on Dancing with the Stars Norway and become the first man to dance with another man, and I did that! My second big dream is to be in the greenroom at Eurovision, as part of a team behind a song competing on stage. Whether that’s as the artist, a songwriter, or even doing just social media, whatever it is, that’s the dream. And it WILL happen, whether it’s me or my boyfriend Falito!

DALEYPOP: Who’s your crush of the day?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Falito, every hour, every single day!

DALEYPOP: What does Pride mean to you personally and when did you come out? How was that for you?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Pride means a lot to me. I love celebrating it, I honestly think it’s better than NYE and even our national day. Pride is about one thing: celebrating love and accepting people for who they are. I came out after high school when I was 18. Everyone around me has always accepted me for who I am, so I’ve been really lucky.

I’ve only experienced support and love from the people I care about. The hardest part about coming out was actually internal. I felt like I had to fit into a role, either the strong hunk or the skinny twink…like, what kind of gay am I?

I was affected by all the labels in the queer community, but I’ve grown out of that and realised you can be everything. You can be feminine, strong, macho, vulnerable, funny, sexy, insecure, yes everything!

We’re complex as humans, and that’s what makes us unique.

DALEYPOP: How would you describe the current LGBTQ+ experience in Norwegian society in everyday life and within the creative community?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: The queer community in Norway is good but it’s quite small. And because it’s small, I think it can be harder for people to stand out and go after what they really dream of. I’ve experienced some prejudice and people telling me not to "think I’m someone"...but thankfully, most people are supportive, and we’ve come a long way especially in the last ten years. There’s much more acceptance now than when I came out almost 15 years ago.

DALEYPOP: Last question. Have you been to the UK before and do you have any UK shows or appearances coming up that we should get excited about?

JOAKIM KLEVEN: Yes, I LOVE London, I’ve been there many times, and one of my closest friends lives there! She used to be in a girl group called Aryes and now runs a business with her husband. I think me and my boyfriend is going to visit her this summer! I would love to come back and see JADE live, she’s such an inspiration!