Agnes is not your typical “New Artist.” Actually, she’s not really that new — certainly not if “new” means a lack of experience. She is new in the sense that she has recently been discovered by American audiences, who are quickly following suit behind Europe and embracing Agnes’ brand of powerful-instantly hooky-get up and shake your booty pop. With apt comparisons to Leona Lewis, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue, Agnes’ first US single, “Release Me,” is taking the U.S. by storm. With the single a certified club sensation and Perez Hilton crowing “ ‘Release Me’ is pure pop perfection! Love Love Love!!!!,” there’s a new pop star in town.

America, meet Agnes.

Although she didn’t start out with an agenda, what the young Agnes Carlsson did have is faith in herself. How else can you explain a then 17 year-old-girl from the small town of Vänersborg, with no prior experience other than performing in a local choir, having the courage to try out for Sweden’s Pop Idol? Accompanying a friend to her audition of Idol, Agnes, who had only sung solo one other time, made the cut (sadly, her friend did not; and yes, they’re still pals). “I’d always sing in the bathroom and around my house, but mostly I was very shy. I tried out for Idol because I really loved to sing but always thought it was a future goal for me. I believed if I could control the nerves I might do OK.”

She did more than OK. Agnes got to the top, “Every week I thought, ‘On Friday I am going home.’ I didn’t think I was going to come in first. When there were three of us left, I realized maybe I could win this. And I did!”

Sweden takes their Pop Idol seriously, so upon her win, Agnes was instantly whisked in to the studio where she recorded her first album, Agnes, in 6 days. She went on tour immediately after the release and worked so much she had no time to process how her life had changed. A year and a half later, after the release of her second album, Stronger, she finally took a 4-week break and had a chance to reflect. “As hard as it might be to believe, everything seemed normal to me because I can’t compare it to any thing else. I feel like this is the way it was supposed to happen. I have never felt overwhelmed by the fast change in my life, I have really loved every second of it.”

When it came time to record her third album, Agnes decided she wanted a change, focusing more on pop music than ballads. Enter famed Swedish producer Anders Hansson. Both are quick to agree this is a rewarding collaboration. With Hansson, Agnes found someone she could connect with, who was very open to all of her ideas. She would come in to the studio each day with an idea, a song title, a melody, and together they would flesh it out. Though she began taking English in school at the age of 7, she had not spent much time writing songs that way. “I found it easier to write that way, actually, even if it isn’t my first language. I just think the words flow better in pop songs when they’re in English. It’s funny, singing in English is much easier for me than speaking it.”

Her ease is evident on the smash “Release Me,” a track she co-wrote with Hansson and Sharon Vaughn, a songwriter who spent endless hours with Agnes as together they wrote about her life experiences. The song, which Agnes describes as a plea to be set free from a bad relationship, was a European hit. With the video getting over 10 million plays on Youtube, the song reached Number 1 on iTunes UK, Music Control airplay chart Poland and Music Control commercial airplay chart Denmark and France, Number 2 on Music Control airplay chart Belgium, Bulgaria, France and UK, top 10 on Billboard European singles, top 10 on the singles charts in Belgium and Denmark and top 3 airplay in distant territories like South Africa and Israel, receiving a Gold certification in Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, and Norway.

Other select tracks from her forthcoming US release include “On and On,” which went Top 10 in Belgium, Poland, France and Sweden, and shares the danceable pop perfection of “Release Me” with the opposite message. A “happy love song, when you’re really in love,” this is also the first track she worked on with Hansson. The heartbreakingly beautiful “I Need You Now” showcases Agnes’ gorgeous and emotional vocals, singing about the need for one person in your corner, no matter where you find yourself in your life.

While Agnes continues to grow as a performer, so does the size of her audience. She routinely plays sold out shows around Europe and recently performed to over 200,000 people in Morocco. And while she counts Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Beyonce and The Gossip as staples on her iPod, she is just starting to understand her influence. “Anders told me to go online and look at all the different videos that were made for “Release Me.” It was amazing to see how many people love my song. I couldn’t believe it!”

As she makes her way over to US, Agnes knows she has a lot at stake. She will be playing clubs, meeting DJs, touring across the country – and she can’t wait, “It is a big dream for me to release music outside of Sweden. People have started to call me, showing an interest they never had before. I know these songs are special.”

So much has happened to Agnes over the past 4 years that at just 21, she finds her star rising even higher. While she doesn’t think fame has changed her much, she admits to continuing to develop a self-confidence that was just starting to brim when she took that risk on Idol. “I am so excited about the US release and look forward to working hard. I feel good about coming over, performing. I want every one to know my music but I also want every one to get to know me. “

Agnes, we’re pleased to meet you.