Who Are Stargate? The Norwegian Producers Behind Rihanna, Beyoncé & Ne-Yo

TL;DR: Who Are Stargate?

Stargate is a Norwegian record production and songwriting duo consisting of Tor Erik Hermansen (born October 14, 1972) and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (born December 10, 1972). Based in Los Angeles, they are responsible for some of the biggest R&B and pop hits of the 21st century, with 10 Billboard Hot 100 #1 songs and over 100 million records sold worldwide.

---

Stargate: Quick Facts

---

The Story of Stargate: From Trondheim to Global Domination

Early Years in Norway (1996-2004)

Stargate began in 1996 in Trondheim, Norway, originally as a trio including Hallgeir Rustan. The three met when Hermansen was a talent scout for Warner Music Norway and Eriksen owned a recording studio.

Their early work focused on the UK pop market, producing hits for:

• S Club 7 — "S Club Party" (#2 UK, #1 New Zealand)
• Hear'Say — "The Way to Your Love" (#1 UK)
• Blue — "All Rise", "One Love", "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
• Mis-Teeq — "Scandalous" (#35 US, #2 UK)
• Atomic Kitten — "It's OK!", "The Last Goodbye"

The Move to America (2005)

In spring 2005, Hermansen and Eriksen relocated to New York City to break into the American market. Their breakthrough came at Sony Music Studios when they met Ne-Yo, who was working on his debut album In My Own Words.

The collaboration produced "So Sick" — Stargate's first Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit. The song spent two consecutive weeks at #1 in early 2006 and established Stargate as a force in American R&B.

The Golden Era (2006-2012)

From 2006 to 2012, Stargate dominated the charts with an unprecedented run of hits:

2006:

• "So Sick" — Ne-Yo (#1 US, #1 UK)
• "Unfaithful" — Rihanna (#6 US, #2 UK)
• "Irreplaceable" — Beyoncé (#1 US for 10 weeks)

2007:

• "Beautiful Liar" — Beyoncé & Shakira (#1 in 30+ countries)
• "Don't Stop the Music" — Rihanna (#3 US, #1 in 10 countries)
• "With You" — Chris Brown (#2 US)
• "Tattoo" — Jordin Sparks (#8 US)

2008:

• "Take A Bow" — Rihanna (#1 US for 9 weeks worldwide)
• "Closer" — Ne-Yo (#7 US, #1 UK)
• "Miss Independent" — Ne-Yo (Grammy Award winner)

2010:

• "Rude Boy" — Rihanna (#1 US)
• "Only Girl (In the World)" — Rihanna (#1 US, UK, Australia)
• "What's My Name?" — Rihanna ft. Drake (#1 US)
• "Firework" — Katy Perry (#1 US for 4 weeks)
• "Black and Yellow" — Wiz Khalifa (#1 US)

2011:

• "S&M" — Rihanna (#1 US)

2012:

• "Diamonds" — Rihanna (#1 US, UK, Germany, France)

---

Stargate's Complete Billboard #1 Hits

Total: 10 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits

---

Stargate's Awards & Recognition

Grammy Awards

• 2009: Best R&B Song — "Miss Independent" (Ne-Yo) — WON
• Multiple nominations including Record of the Year for "Irreplaceable"

ASCAP Awards

• Songwriter of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011 (three consecutive years)
• Multiple Song of the Year awards

Other Recognition

• Ivor Novello Award — "Beautiful Liar" (Best-Selling British Song)
• Spellemann Award — Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys
• Rolling Stone — Named "Best Hitmakers" (2008)
• Billboard #1 Producer — Year-End Chart (2006)
• World Music Award — "Almost Home" by Mariah Carey (Best Video, 2013)

---

Stargate's Production Style

Stargate's signature sound combines:

• Melodic R&B in the tradition of Michael Jackson
• European pop sensibilities — bright, catchy hooks
• Hip hop production techniques — programmed drums, atmospheric synths
• Emotional balladry — songs like "Unfaithful" and "Irreplaceable"

The New York Times described their sound as: "Sugary, lilting R&B in the Michael Jackson vein leavened with the kind of melody-rich European pop that paints everything in bright primary colors... Their work carries on a tradition of Scandinavian bubblegum artistry that stretches from ABBA to Max Martin."

Influences

Stargate has cited these artists as inspirations:

• Prince and Michael Jackson — melodic R&B
• Usher and Destiny's Child — contemporary R&B
• Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis — production style
• ABBA and Depeche Mode — Scandinavian pop heritage

---

Stargate & Rihanna: A Historic Partnership

Stargate has produced more #1 hits for Rihanna than any other producer, including:

---

Stargate's Recent Work (2015-Present)

Major Hits 2015-2021

• "Worth It" — Fifth Harmony (#12 US, 2015)
• "Same Old Love" — Selena Gomez (#5 US, 2015)
• "Adventure of a Lifetime" — Coldplay (#13 US, 2015)
• "Issues" — Julia Michaels (#11 US, 2017)
• "Too Good at Goodbyes" — Sam Smith (#5 US, #1 UK, 2017)
• "Dancing with a Stranger" — Sam Smith & Normani (#7 US, 2019)
• "Better" — Khalid (#8 US, 2018)

LAAMP: The Music Academy

In 2021, Stargate launched the Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP) — a year-long intensive program for 45 writers, artists, and producers. Mentors include Ne-Yo, Charli XCX, and Emily Warren.

---

The Norwegian Music Legacy

Stargate represents Norway's remarkable impact on global popular music:

Norwegian Music Powerhouses

• Stargate — Most successful R&B producers of the 2000s
• a-ha — Pioneered synth-pop ("Take On Me")
• Kygo — Bridged EDM and tropical house
• Alan Walker — Electronic music producer ("Faded")
• Ylvis — Viral phenomenon ("The Fox" — produced by Stargate)

Fun Fact: Stargate produced "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" for Ylvis as a favor. The song became a viral hit with over 900 million YouTube views.

---

Stargate's Business Ventures

StarRoc Records

In partnership with Jay-Z, Stargate launched StarRoc Records through Roc Nation. The label signed Alexis Jordan, who scored hits with "Happiness" (#3 UK) and "Good Girl" (#6 UK).

Beyond Music

• Mikkel Eriksen — Part owner of Norwegian clothing brand JohnnyLove
• Tor Erik Hermansen — Co-owner of award-winning St. Lars restaurant in Oslo

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the members of Stargate?

Stargate consists of two members: Tor Erik Hermansen (born October 14, 1972) and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (born December 10, 1972). Both are Norwegian and originally from Trondheim, Norway. They are now based in Los Angeles, California.

Where is Stargate from?

Stargate is from Trondheim, Norway. The production duo formed in 1996 in Trondheim before moving to New York in 2005 to pursue the American music market. They currently operate from Los Angeles.

What songs did Stargate produce?

Stargate has produced over 200 songs, including 10 Billboard #1 hits: "So Sick" (Ne-Yo), "Irreplaceable" (Beyoncé), "Take A Bow" (Rihanna), "Rude Boy" (Rihanna), "Only Girl (In the World)" (Rihanna), "What's My Name?" (Rihanna ft. Drake), "Firework" (Katy Perry), "Black and Yellow" (Wiz Khalifa), "S&M" (Rihanna), and "Diamonds" (Rihanna).

How many #1 hits does Stargate have?

Stargate has 10 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits in the United States, and 14 #1 hits in the United Kingdom. Their song "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé spent 10 consecutive weeks at #1, their longest run at the top.

What awards has Stargate won?

Stargate won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2009 for "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo. They also won ASCAP Songwriter of the Year three consecutive years (2009-2011), the Ivor Novello Award, and multiple Spellemann Awards (Norwegian Grammys).

Is Stargate still making music?

Yes, Stargate continues to produce music. Recent work includes "Dancing with a Stranger" by Sam Smith & Normani (2019) and "Girl from Rio" by Anitta (2021). In 2021, they also launched LAAMP, a music production academy in Los Angeles.

How did Stargate get their name?

Stargate chose their name specifically for projects in the United Kingdom market in the late 1990s. The name has no known connection to the science fiction franchise.

What is Stargate's connection to Jay-Z?

Stargate partnered with Jay-Z to launch StarRoc Records under Roc Nation. Their relationship began when Jay-Z was CEO of Def Jam Recordings during the release of "So Sick." Jay-Z once joked he's "a little bit Norwegian."

---

Stargate Discography: Selected Highlights

With Rihanna (15+ songs)

Unfaithful, We Ride, Don't Stop the Music, Hate That I Love You, Take A Bow, Rude Boy, Te Amo, Only Girl (In the World), What's My Name?, S&M, Talk That Talk, Diamonds, Right Now, Jump

With Ne-Yo (12+ songs)

So Sick, Sexy Love, Because of You, Closer, Miss Independent, Mad, Beautiful Monster, Let Me Love You, Coming with You

With Beyoncé (5+ songs)

Irreplaceable, Beautiful Liar (with Shakira), Broken-Hearted Girl, Ave Maria

---

Experience Stargate's Music

Want to hear Stargate's greatest hits? Check out our 2000s R&B Throwback Mix featuring 27 tracks including 18 Stargate productions — the same mix used to build R&B Vault, the global R&B community platform.

Test your Stargate knowledge with the Finish The Lyric Quiz featuring classic hits from Rihanna, Ne-Yo, and Beyoncé.

---

This article is part of R&B Vault's music history series. For more on Norwegian music's global impact, read Vibe Coding: Building an R&B App While DJing to Stargate Classics.