Hiya folks thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I am a painter as a profession and do exhibitions, painting is limited to its medium of course and I found out to create music would make me better equipped as an artist, to have different tools to express myself but in a different way. And I just really enjoy being able to make music. It calms me down.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
I am just 37 years old and from Iceland living in Oslo, Norway. My music history started in my hometown, north of Iceland, town called Akureyri, population 17.000 thousand. In my twenties I played techno and house music in local clubs I did a few years. I developed tinnitus from all that crank-up volumes at the club and I panicked at the time and sold all my equipment and vinyl collection. Stopped doing everything music related and I went back into music when Covid hit but now as a producer, vocalist, and creator. It was a 17-year break believe it or not. But in the meanwhile, I did other things and listen to a whole lot of music of course.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
I am so fresh on the block that I have no experience with that. Hey, I made an album! thats a start right?
How have your songwriting skills developed over time?
Slowly but steady I would say. I thought everything I did, in the beginning, sounded great. I was like hell yeah let’s release that! Then a few years later looking back I learned it did not sound that great. So I have yet a lot to learn, and I am happy that I do, it is just so fun to slowly progress and get better at things you love to do.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
I don’t know why that is a debate. If they don’t feel safe at gigs than that is no good and should not be something to debate about. Maybe something to fix perhaps ? We sure deserve to feel safe where ever we are. I think education will always be the strongest weapon and certainly not to live in denial.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
Making interviews like this puts things out into the world. I hope it will reach a few ears that way.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I start with the truth, always better.. Then you feel less shit when you start lying.. Lets go…
I never sang, not even for myself in the shower, I felt too embarrassed of my voice so embarrassed that I could not even sing for myself I am also half greek half Icelandic, a weird combo, but here I am.
Lies…
I was abducted by aliens and I am writing this from their spaceship then I saw Elvis Presley yesterday he was here in the spaceship with me but was kicked out after he start singing Du Hast after Rammstein the whole thing was just so weird.
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
They sure could pay their artist more fees I guess. Right?
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
Sigh….. But I love to listen to them. I always like something when I can think how in the hell did they come up with that stuff. Love that kind of thing. Makes me feel more normal.
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
Yes, I did, bought some synths and stuff which I ended up selling, stuff like that. Spent also lot of time in the bakery, did not need that for sure. I just love sweets.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
When I moved from Crete in Greece to Iceland I did not speak a single word in Icelandic, and now I don’t speak a single word in greek. Mind-bending.
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
I am not sure! I want to say something super cool here, but words are not coming to me now when I need them. Classic. Next question!
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
Yes, I have a debut album coming out on 15th January called Worst Wait of Our Life, seven songs album. A-lot of storytelling in this project which is very much reflecting on us, myself and the times we are living. I invited the musician Anthony Johan Lovaas to participate in the album, he has vocal and guitar on 4 tracks. The album is mostly electronic based with slow vocals almost spoken, I use my vocals as sound and for storytelling.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune/s.
I usually start with 4 or 8-bar loops. Try to capture something that resonates with me, I try to create a feeling or emotion that sparks something within me. Sometimes I start with a beat and sometimes not. It no recipe yet for how I create things. It’s always blank to start with and I go from there. I write lyrics usually afterward or simply just start improvising into the mic directly over some sounds I have arranged together. I would say at least half of the lyrics in this album were improvised than I fixed it on the go.
What was the recording process like?
It happened all in my little bedroom studio at home, Anthony came to me and recorded vocals into the track I am Dead and guitars for other tracks. I had sent him the songs before for him to think of them and come up with what he wanted to add. Then we recorded it, and I arranged it afterward. It was pretty straightforward.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Maybe trying not to be too repetitive. I have no history of music theory or learning on any instrument I come from different background as an artist, so the learning curve is just there for me to climb up a little bit every day, one step at a time.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I don’t think so somehow, I am happy with how this first album of mine turned out.. There are few detail maybe here and there, some sounds and stuff could have got more attention.. But over all, I am happy with it.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I really like to give some applause to my friend and mixing engineer of the album, Þóroddur Ingvarsson, he did a really good job and had a good insight, he was super patient with me, so let’s give Þóroddur a big applause he sure deserves it.
FIND HIM HERE