‘Born Country’ by Nikita Skogen review

Nikita Skogen is a country artist from Norway and is releasing “Born Country” 1st May 2026.

Nikita explains how the song is about her love for country music and the country lifestyle; how she was working on the computer reflecting about moving away from home at 16 years old, from a small town to the big city to pursue her dreams. Suddenly “look out world, here I come” came to her and that’s where the writing process began.

She elaborates, coming from a small town where dreaming big isn’t well received, she was still adamant to chase her dream. Backed by her supporting parents, Nikita set off for the big city. After 6 months, naturally she began to miss home, and moved back home, still with the support from her parents of pursuing her dreams from the small town, devying the sceptics. In 2020, some 11 years later, Nikita released her first official single proving dreams do come true, and perseverance together with determination is key to success!

The story of the song is really that no matter where I am or what I do, I am born country and I always will be country. That is where my heart is.

“I grew up in the heartland

Somewhere a long way from the city

Just a girl wanting to be a superstar

Singing Shania Twain in front of the mirror

I was dreaming high and dreaming far

Reaching for those stars

I used all my dimes from the mason jar.”

There is interesting lexical choice with ‘heartland’, meaning “the central or most important part of a country, area or field of activity” it could also speak to where are heart is truest, in nature, in the country. The opening verse sets the story of a girl with big dreams of stardom from the mirror, following in the footsteps of legends like Shania Twain. This is a universal story even if not linked to fame or superstardom, but more broadly succeeding in our chosen field of expertise.

I really like the lyric “I was dreaming high and dreaming far, reaching for those stars” as it perfectly captures the hunger, desire and dedication willing to be committed to in order to attain the end result. The last line of the verse is also relatable, detailing how in the pursuit of the dream, often it comes at great cost, most noticeably financial, but often physically, emotionally and psychologically too.

“Leaving for the city to follow my dreams

Mom and dad so nervous but so proud

I was chasing stars with my head in the clouds

Look out world, here I come

Six months passed and I turned home

Yeah I missed the heartland I’ll admit

Born country and always gonna be it”

The chorus documents leaving our familiar surroundings to chase our dreams as well as the support that we’re often not only leaving behind, but taking with us. The lyric ‘I was chasing stars with my head in the clouds, look out world, here I come’ is such a beautiful and defining moment in our lives. It replicates the gumption many display when embarking on new adventures and challenges.

Depicting timespan in a song really helps bring the story to life; somehow the metric provides deeper meaning. Detailing how after 6 months, it was time to return home and take stock of what was learnt, but also how can one improve and build upon what was achieved? Because deep down, whilst that inner fire may’ve dampened, it’s not been extinguished and is ready to roar once more, with even greater passion and conviction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_3cdPln1X0

“Take the girl out of the country

But you can never take the country out of the girl

I learned that the hard way

Chasing big dreams in a small town

Ain’t never gonna be easy

People have so much to say

But I’m not the girl that will let them have it their way”

This verse leans into notion that our potential is within us irrespective of location and circumstance and all we need are the correct conditions and time to allow ourselves to flourish and become our optimum authentic self. Often this is a hard lesson to learn. ‘Chasing big dreams in a small town’ is the perfect metaphor showing that sometimes we need to broaden our horizons and venture through uncharted waters in order to find our calm and peace.

It’s interesting the use of a double negative in the verse ‘Ain’t never gonna be easy’ the double negative suggesting that it is in fact easy. The lyrics also document that regardless of what we do, people will always have an opinion and will try and offer it at every opportunity ‘People have so much to say.’

The song returns to the chorus where as already highlighted, it depicts the search for new beginnings. I think this gives a very strong and important message in so much as whenever we are setting out on new adventures or aspirations. We can’t be straddling the past and the future, we have to full commit and also have some amazing support be that family, friends or a combination.

“Let me prove them wrong

Let me put on my big girl boots

Heartland, that’s where I’ve grown my roots”

The bridge is very much defiant and adamant in the pursuit of the dream stating “Let me prove them wrong”. This is itself suggests the need for opportunity. Getting the right moment to present yourself and what you can bring is imperative if we want to go far. Reference to putting on “my big girl boots” whilst is a definitive nod to the genre and culture of country music, is also widely considered as a metaphor getting some confidence, ‘manning up’ and getting in with things.

The song once again returns to the chorus, repeating it once more for added effect and to further emphasis its message, before closing with “Yeah I’m born country and always be it” yet again showing conviction in their own belief and identity.

“Born Country” releases on 1st May 2026. If you like Nikita’s music then you can follow her social media and on music streaming platforms.