My interview with singer/songwriter Kate Havnevik (known from Greys Anatomy OST's)

This is a very exciting moment in my blogger journey and also the Grand Finale of my series "Hobbies, Interests and Passions".


In my opinion (and many others opinions of course) Kate Havnevik is one of the most talented singer/songwriters of today and it is with great pleasure I press the "Publish" button on this post containing my interview with her.... 

Please make sure you help Kate out in her current quest, to not only release her new album with a change to be in the thank you credits of her album, but also in gathering money for charity!

...and please sign her mailing list:

http://www.reverbnation.com/katehavnevik

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
xox

- Have you always known you are talented? (and if not, how and when did you know?)

Well I started playing guitar when iwas 13, and I picked it up easily and knew I had a talent for music, but I didn't know if I could sing, I only realised I could sing when I was about 18 or so...

- When you write music, do you start with the lyrics or the melody?

I do it both ways, but I would say melody comes easier to me...

- What inspires you to write? 

People, and traveling... so many different people out there with different lives.

- What has been your biggest struggle so far? 

Putting out my 2nd record has been and is a bit of a struggle but I will get there.....

- What music do you listen to yourself?

All sorts of music, anything from Nina Simone to Radiohead.

- Is there any music you just can not stand to listen to? 

Yes there probably is, but I can't remember what........ I guess I have surpressed the memory of that music.....

- One of my favourite songs is "Nowhere warm" and I've always been curious about what inspired those lyrics (amazing!!)....can you tell me? 

The lyrics are filled with a feeling of longing for someone and not giving up the hope that they will return or that you will be with them again. It's a longing for love.

- What advice would you give someone who would like to make a career in the music industry?

Well there are so many different jobs in the music industry, but if you wanna be an artist then write as much music as possible, get home recording software, learn it and record your songs, go out and play gigs, I think you have to be very proactive these days, don't wait to be discovered or for someone else's approval , discover yourself and make a record..... get it online for people to hear.

- What is your musical ambition and/or aim? 

To keep making music without repeating myself too much..... moving forward......maybe sideways....... but not backwards.....

- Which instruments do you play? 

I mainly play piano, guitar and melodica and I sing of course. Voice is also an instrument.

- Any alternative career paths that ever interested you? 

Psychology, Visual Art ….... working with kids.... love kids.... 

- You have had quite some songs featured on Greys Anatomy (this is how I found your music). How did that happen for you and what impact has it had on your career? 

It had a huge impact on my career, suddenly my music was getting into people's livingroom all over the place....... it opened a lot of doors and I am ever so grateful for that. They way it happened was that my demos was given to someone who place music in TV and film in LA, they then gave it to Alex Patsavas, who is the music supervisor for the series and she really liked the songs, it was luck and timing, and my lyrics fit well with the various theme's in the show. It was fantastic for me.

- How much time do you spend in the studio? 

It's my life and my work to be a musician and composer so I spend a lot of time in the studio and the studio comes with me everywhere I travel...

-Tell us a little bit about how you feel when you create music and what keeps you going.....

I feel different all the time, happy, sad, melancholy, angry, tired, energetic, crazy ! but I think a lot of my music has a certain melancholy feel to it, it is in my personality and nature I guess, but we all have a need for variation, you can't do or feel the same all the time,,,,,.....

- Describe your dream concert and audience?

Hollywood bowl with visual projections, a small string orchestra , brass players and a band, warm weather, people are relaxed and listening but also responsive and involved.....a few humming birds are buzzing around ….... an owl in the distance.........the moon is high.......... a starry sky........... and there will be a magical feeling of a very special night....

In which environment do you feel most inspired? 

Very hard question, I get inspired all kinds of places, the inspiration comes from things I store in my head and different things trigger them...

I probably get more inspired in a big city or on a train than by a sun-set though...... I get inspired by people....

- If you could chose musicians to collaborate with, living or dead, who would they be and why?

I would play in a band with Jimi Hendrix and we would use looping pedals and create a massive wall of sound ! Because he rocks! (rocked)

- If you could have given yourself some advice 10 years ago, what would it have been?

Don't get so hung up in what the industry says, it's a waste of time, they never know what they want anyway, do your own thing and trust yourself.

Make a record and put it out yourself and go out and play it live for people!

- What are you most excited about at the moment?

I am very excited about the release of my new record and also about the Pledge Music campaign I am doing where people can pre-order my new CD and also buy lots of different exclusives...

I make little videoblogs and give everyone who takes part some free downloads etc....

It gives me the opportunity to raise money to release my album myself, I recommend this website to all independent artists out there !!!

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/katehavnevik

- When will you have a concert in Zurich? ;))

I really hope to come to Zurich to play in 2011!!!!! Let's aim for that ! Cross our fingers..... ! 

Kate xxx

Become a fan of Kate on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Havnevik/10107311233?ref=ts


Join Kate's fans and listen to her music on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/katehavnevik


Read more about Kate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Havnevik