 She trained as a silversmith at the Torleiv H. Bjørgums Vocational College ("Oslo Yrkesskole an Torleiv H. Bjørgums") in Setesdal and then set up her own workshop there, in Nomeland.She began singing traditional Norwegian folk songs in the 1970s and since the late 1970s has given concerts and made recordings, winning "Spellemannprisen" awards (the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy award) in 1979 and 1988.She met the bass player Arild Andersen in 1990 and became a member of his group in 1992.