Showing posts with label Greys Anatomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greys Anatomy. Show all posts

Oct 27, 2010

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.... 


...and please sign her mailing list:

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 !!!

- 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:

Aug 14, 2009

Have no envy - no fear...

JOSHUA RADIN
Why am I writing about Joshua Radin?
I'll tell you why...
He's music inspires me so much because he has something that unfortunately too few artists have in their music today - voulnerability and openness!

If you ever see him live, you'll understand that even more than by just listening to his albums, as he almost makes you feel like you are sitting in your own livingroom while he's playing you a private concert... This is rare!
He also shares the stories behind his songs, inbetween the music, with such honesty, which is really wonderful!
I hope he will always stay this down to earth and relaxed...

The first time I heard a Joshua Radin sing was while watching an episode from Greys Anatomy season 2 ( episode 18: "Yesterday") where it features his song "Closer".
It was love at first hear (?)! That voice was so amazing and the lyrics too! I had to check the ABC website right after the show to find out more.
This was in 2006 and I have been hooked ever since ♥♥♥

The genre of Joshua's music is a mix of acoustic, folk and pop. I've also heard a few times "whisper rock" as a genre description. You can ready more about him or check out his current tour dates by visiting his Myspace page.

I currently have his latest album "Simple times" on repeat, which is probably why I felt I wanted to share this music-tip with you. I just never seem to get tired of if.....
It has helped me through some hard times and some of his songs are also very uplifting and inspiring, such as "No envy, no fear"!
One of the songs on this album, "One of those days", was in a way the soundtrack of my 2008.

A little "fun to know" is that Joshua played his song "Today" at Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's wedding. Other potential candidates had been George Michael and Justin Timberlake, but in the end they chose him... Pretty cool!

In mid July (2009) he played in Lucerne here in Switzerland at the Blue Balls Festival and there was of course no way I was gonna miss that! I went there with two very good friends of mine and I am sooooo happy we went! It was amazing!
(not only the concert itself of course - but the trip too)!

I even had the good fortune of briefly meeting him after the concert and he really seems like such a sweet and relaxed guy.
I was buying his CD and got it signed by the man himself.... It made me feel like such a little groupie! Hahaha! Back to the age of 14 in 2 seconds (wish there were more everyday things that could bring that effect!).
Anyway... I went back to my friends and realised that one of my cousins is also a big fan of him so I thought I'd take a chance and go back to see if I could have another CD
signed as I thought that would be a very cool thing to send to him. Especially as I knew my cousin wouldn't be expecting that at all.
I bought the CD and stood in the, by then, long line (me and like twenty-something 14 year old drewling girls! (To avoid misunderstandings, let's be clear... I'm not the drewling type!! ;)).
When it was finally my turn he gave me a very funny look like "Hmmmm.... Haven't you already been here?" and I expected him to say something like "I already signed yours! Bye!, but instead he said "I remember you - you are Linda"! I have to say I'm impressed by this guys memory....

To finish this artist recommendation off - I'd like to share 2 things with you.... First the song that has been the most played song for me during the last half of 2008 as I think it's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. The lyrics are so amazing and especially gripping to anyone who has ever been left behind by someone or ever caused heartbreak to someone else in that way.... To those of you who know more details about this time in my life (this is where the filter mentioned in my blog description comes in), you will understand when you hear the lyrics.



The second and last thing I want to share in this post is the lyrics to one of Joshuas songs that I find very inspiring! The song is called "No envy no fear" and people! This is really what we have to stop in our lifes to be happy and move on! Don't envy others and let go of your own fears....

No envy, No fear by Joshua Radin

"Some are reaching few are there,
wandering from a heros chair
Some are scared to fly so high,
well this is how we have to try

Have no envy and no fear

Brother brother we all see,
your hiding out so painfully
See yourself come out to play,
a lovers rain will wash away

You envy and you fear, so have no envy, no fear

When your sister turns to leave,
only when shes most in need,
take away the cause of pain,
by showing her were all the same.

Have no envy and no fear

...and every day we try to find,
we search our hearts and our minds
The place we used to call our home,
cant be found when were alone

So have no envy, no fear...."

Thanks for listening dear blog readers!
Take care of your hearts (but don't keep them locked-up!) and be careful with the hearts of others...

xox
Linda