Bertine Axeliane Robberstad Zetlitz (born April 9, 1975, in Oslo) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, composer, musician, and author. She emerged in the late 1990s with a distinctive form of melodic pop that combined electronic production, dance rhythms, jazz influences, and sharply observant lyrics. Across her career, Zetlitz has moved between polished electropop, disco, acoustic songwriting, and more intimate jazz-based arrangements without losing her recognizable voice or interest in the emotional contradictions of modern life.
Zetlitz grew up in Oslo's Frogner district and was involved with music from an early age. She began writing songs as a child, received a classical music background, and studied at Foss Upper Secondary School. At the age of 13, she also appeared as a presenter on the Norwegian youth television program Midt i smoroyet. Her first recorded material appeared in the late 1990s, leading to the release of her debut album, Morbid Latenight Show, in 1998.
The debut established Zetlitz as an important new Norwegian pop artist. Its songs blended electronic textures with jazz-informed musicianship and a somewhat dark, ironic lyrical tone. The album earned her two Spellemannprisen awards, including Newcomer of the Year and Pop Artist of the Year. In 1999, she expanded her international profile by performing in the United States as part of the touring Lilith Fair festival, sharing bills with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, and Chrissie Hynde.
Her second album, Beautiful So Far (2000), was produced by Tore Johansson, known for his work with The Cardigans. The record reached number two on the Norwegian album chart and reinforced her reputation for combining accessible pop writing with unusual arrangements and a strong visual identity. Zetlitz also published her first book, Og dagen inntil na er god, in the same year, beginning a parallel career as a writer.
With Sweet Injections (2003), Zetlitz moved further toward electronic pop. The album involved producers and collaborators including Howie B, Magnus Fiennes, and Richard X, while the single "Girl Like You" became one of her major Norwegian successes. Sweet Injections reached number one in Norway and earned her another Spellemannprisen, this time as Female Pop Artist of the Year.
The album Rollerskating followed in 2004 and continued her interest in bright, dance-oriented production and stylish pop melodicism. Its singles "Fake Your Beauty" and "Ah-Ah" became prominent hits, with "Fake Your Beauty" reaching the top of the Norwegian singles chart. Later releases included My Italian Greyhound (2006), the career compilation In My Mind 1997-2007, and Electric Feet (2012). The latter marked her return after a period away from the spotlight and featured a collaboration with singer Samsaya on its title track.
In 2015, Zetlitz released Tikamp, her first album consisting primarily of songs in Norwegian. In 2020, she worked with jazz pianist Bugge Wesseltoft on Closer, an album that presented reworked versions of songs from across her career in sparse, piano-led arrangements. The project highlighted the songwriting beneath her traditionally electronic productions.
Zetlitz has also continued to write prose. Her young adult novel Top Girl, published in 2021, centers on ambition, vulnerability, friendship, and reading difficulties. In 2026, she returned to new Norwegian-language pop with singles including "Piggtrad" and "Papirposepust". Her album La oss snakke om vaeret is scheduled for release on September 18, 2026, marking her first new solo studio album since Tikamp.