Meet Josefine Hallen | Singer/songwriter & Performer

Growing up in Sweden with the safety of family and friends sometimes made me too comfortable to think outside the box. At the age of 19 I left everything and everyone to move to America to pursue what I had always dreamt of, being a performer. The odds didn’t look too good as a young shy Josefine from Sweden who did not really speaking the language, however the risk of moving far away in order to potentially reach my dream was a risk I was ready to take. And so I did.

I think a lot about where I would be if I didn’t have the courage to take that leap and I am certain it wouldn’t be where I am today. I have had the chance to work with some really influential and inspiring people a long this journey, learned a language I now speak fluently (with a few hick-ups here and there of course…) and I work as a singer/songwriter and performer full time, something I could only dream about as a kid.

Taking risks in life is, in my opinion, essential for success. If you see the potential of getting one step close to what you want to achieve by taking a risk I always say “GO!”. You will always regret the things you never do.

I have not always worked smart in the sense that I have trusted people I later understood I shouldn’t have trusted. In this industry it’s easy for people to over promise success and it’s easy to fall for the talk because you want something so bad.

My first few years in the industry were a lot of hurtles that I had to overcome both mentally and psychically with myself as a person but also with people I decided to work with. However, I do believe that without those rough years I wouldn’t have seen what I needed to see in order to learn how to trust my gut and release music that JOSEFINE wants to release. It has been shown to be the right strategy for me.

Once I shifted my intentions and focus the music has been doing really well with over 23+ million streams to this day worldwide and 600,000+ monthly listeners and being featured on editorial playlists like “New Music Friday (in several countries) and “GLR PWR”, radio stations such as BBC1 and magazines like RollingStone and The American Reporter among other.

With all the negatives comes a lot of positives and I am here for it all. I am fully ready to take the next step in my career and fully trust the process.

If you have never been to Los Angeles before, of course you would have to check out the famous landmarks such as; Hollywood walk of fame, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, The Grove, Griffith Observatory etc.

For some more local things I would recommend; Visting the farmers markets, hike Los Liones or mandeville canyon, go to a korean spa, drive out to Zuma Beach for a beach day or visit the the Ocean View Park on the weekends when there is a live band playing.

Here are some of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city.

République

This is one of my favorite spots for breakfast in Mid-City. You can’t make reservations for breakfast and there will be a line if you arrive later than 9am but IT IS WORTH IT! My favorites are the French toast and the kimchi fried rice bowl.

Milo & Olive

Pizza for breakfast? Yes, please. Milo & Olive has a stellar menu for all three meals of the day, but their weekend brunch truly takes the cake. They serve trendy new-Italian fare, and pride themselves on their pizzas and pasta. Come hungry because you will leave here feeling full and satisfied. Must-order: The marinara meatballs, and the burrata and prosciutto pizza.

Huckleberry Café

This Santa Monica spot is just as charming as it sounds… Owned by the same restaurant group as Milo & Olive, Huckleberry is a go-to lunch spot that does not disappoint. It’s a casual place—you order at the counter (where you’ll notice dozens of pastries, cookies and goodies baked fresh that day), and take your number to a table to dine. But although it’s casual, they have some of the best salads and sandwiches around. Must-order: The green eggs & ham or the breakfast sandwich.

Gjelina

My absolute favorite breakfast place is located on Abbot Kinney, the coolest and best shopping street in Venice. I live close to it and we go down a couple times a month just to have their breakfast. However, it fills up quickly so make sure to be there before 9am if you didn’t make reservation. Next door is also their “to-go” cafe called GTA, where I would really recommend grabbing a slice of pizza! Must-order Breakfast: Lemon Buckwheat Ricotta Pancakes, Duck Confit, Maroccan Baked eggs or Banana loaf with jam.

Sapp Coffee Shop

For the absolut best thai food in the city you should go to Sapp Coffee Shop. It is a authentic thai restaurant with fantastic food. You can only pay with cash so make sure you bring some, however it is not very expensive you make sure to order plenty of food to try. Heads up: if they say it spicy- it is SPICY! I have made the misstake thinking I could handle the heat…I did not.

Hillstone

Quality at its best. Great service, great ambiance and fantastic food. Try their Asian noodle salad, YUM!

I am so grateful for all the support from my parents. They have sacrificed a lot time and effort in order to show me the love and support they knew I needed and deserved in order to get to where I am today. I truly wouldn’t be here without them. They know when to push me harder and when to back away and let me make decisions on my own. I am very grateful everyday for having two very influential people in my life like them and I would never be able to thank them enough.