Photo blog: Walks in winter wonderland.....

Signal de Bougy

Essertines-sur-Rolle

Le Brassus

Route du Marchairuz

Montreaux

xox

My interview with UK singer, Lucy Rose

I am ridiculously happy to post the below outcome from my interview with one of my current favorite singers, the lovely Lucy Rose. 


I first bumped into Lucy Rose's music on youtube. After having listened to another song, by another artist, her song "Night bus" came up as a recommendation. I played it and was mesmerized by her soft and amazingly beautiful voice.... Now, she is one of the most frequently played artists in my Spotify account.


For those of you who don't know her or her music, first, let me provide you with her wiki bio.

Lucy Rose is a Warwickshire-born singer/songwriter. She has notably contributed vocals on the Bombay Bicycle Club albums Flaws and A Different Kind of Fix.


Lucy Rose never played her material for anyone until she left home after completing her A-levels. At eighteen she moved to London and began experimenting and performing with other musicians. It was at this time when she met Jack Steadman, the frontman of Bombay Bicycle Club. After becoming friends Steadman asked if she would like to perform vocals on a song he had written and was recording. The acoustic album Flaws came out with Steadman on lead vocals, and Rose performing backing vocals most notably on the titular track Flaws, as well as others on the album. She also performs some backing vocal duties on Bombay Bicycle Club's new album, A Different Kind of Fix.


Lucy Rose often plays with a band though the only constant member is a guitar player Björn Ågren. The other members change. She has two singles out called Middle of the Bed and Scar, whom Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club helped with by singing backing vocals on as a returned favour. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_rose

- Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm 22 years old. Currently recording my album in Rowington with my friends. Sitting by a log fire with my dogs. About to head to America with Bombay Bicycle Club supporting and singing with them for a month. 

- What you are most excited about at the moment?

The album and 2012. Touring, gigging, everything. 

In your own opinion, what is your biggest musical achievement so far?

I'm not sure. There are things that I've loved, but it's so difficult to know what an achievement is.
When we released Scar we did a little instore at Rough Trade and over 400 people turned up. That has been one of the greatest moments. 

- It must be very hard being a young woman trying to break her way into the music industry. How are you coping with everything?

I'm surrounded by friends that I trust. The people that play in the band with me are all close friends and I have a really good relationship with everyone I work with which makes things a lot easier. 

- Do you think it is more or less hard for a woman to make her way in the industry today?

I don't think it makes a difference, you've just got to write good songs.

- What inspires you to write? 

Everything, books, films, personal experiences. And of course music. 

- What music do you listen to yourself?

Neil Young, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Nico, Beth Orton.

- Do you get recognized now, walking down the street? ...and if yes, how does it make you feel?

Sometimes at gigs, but that's it. I don't mind it but don't love it. 

- I stumbled across your music  by chance on youtube. It was your song "Night bus". It is such an amazing song (and your voice is BEAUTIFUL)! What inspired the lyrics? 

A friend of mine was going through something difficult and this song sort of came out of me. 

- Do you have any specific goal you'd like to reach with your music and if yes, what?

I'd like to make a career out of it and that's it. 

- What instruments do you play? 

Guitar, piano, drums, bass and clarinet. 

- When did you know you wanted to be a musician? 

Not sure, probably about a year ago. 

- You are obviously very talented... Is it natural born talent or did it come with a lot of hard work?

I don't practice that much, but I'm not sure I'm very good, so I don't know. 

- Which is your own favorite Lucy Rose song?

Shiver

- Any alternative career paths that ever interested you? 

Maybe being an accountant. 

- Describe your dream concert and audience?

A concert where people enjoy themselves is a dream. 

- In which environment do you feel most inspired? 

When I feel a little down and lonely. 


- If you could chose musicians to collaborate with, who would they be?

Feist. 

- Do you have any plans to come play in Switzerland?

Yes I'm hopefully coming to Switzerland this year. Played a gig in Geneva last year and loved it. 

- What advise would you give to other women out there, still trying to find their way to where you are today?

Keep working hard, don't rely on the industry, you can do it without them. 

- If you could ask the readers of this interview for one thing that could help your career moving forward, what would it be?
Spread the word, please tell your friends if you like it.....

Thank you Lucy for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to do this!!

You can also help Lucy by buying her new single Red face on iTunes

Buy her two other singles on Amazon.com:

Middle of the bed

Scar

Listen to Lucy Rose on Spotify


Find out more about Lucy:
Official web site
Myspace.com
LastFM


xox

Love February

Love February by anderssonlinda

Diamond top, €147
Helmut Lang skinny leg jeans, €440
Dolce&Gabbana dolce gabbana shoes, £475
Juicy Couture cherry jewelry, $78
Victoria'S Secret Fresh Vanillas Dream On Softening Body Butter, $15
Kiehl's Since 1851 Midnight Recovery Concentrate, 1. 7 fl. oz., $68

xox

Snow storm running - A true story

Tonight I was home from work pretty early, so I wanted to go running as it was still light. ....and well....yes....it seems that I sliiiiiightly underestimated the weather. On the top of the hill, after about 1.5 km's of running uphill, the thermometer showed -14 degrees and as you might be able to spot in the video, I am barely moving forward while trying to run, as the wind was simply pushing me backwards =)) Call me a freak for filming this, but I thought this is a kind of "one off"...and honestly, I thought my fingers would fall off due to the cold, which is why the video is quite short! ....and another funny thing is that here I am still blissfully unaware of the challenges to come, namely, snowdrifts up to the thighs that there was no way to avoid besides going back again....and well.....that was simply not an option......so I went through them! Ha ha haaaa! No way of filming those unfortunately ;) What an evening......
In the end, I managed .......
- to survive
- 5.5km's 
- with one slightly twisted ankle
- some back pain while avoiding to fall flat on my face, thinking that one of the smaller snowdrifts was hard while instead, I sank right through it while running downhill 
- and with gloves that need to be seriously disinfected or thrown away (I will spare you the details....but I will say this, -14 degrees in these conditions is C.O.L.D) ;))


Now I'm sitting in the sofa, enjoying the fact that it's Friday, feeling some kind of light adrenalin kick from this experience while enjoying a glass of wine.... TGIF!


What are your weekend plans?
xox

By request: Current Beauty Favorites

Dear Someone who requested this post via Formspring,
Thanks for the idea! I hope this is what you were looking for ;))

Current beauty favorites by anderssonlinda

Benefit Some Kind of Gorgeous Lite, $29
(Nominee) Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Original Foundation SPF 15..., $26
Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara, $30
Bare Escentuals® bareMinerals® Blush, $19
Amazon.com: FantaSea Makeup Blending Sponge Cosmetic Blender: Beauty, $11
philosophy 'sweet on you' candy hearts shampoo, shower gel & bubble..., $16
Smith'S Rosebud Lip Balm, $7
Decléor Aromessence™ Angélique, £43
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser From Beauty Flash, £12
Dermalogica Age Smart Super Rich Repair From Beauty Flash, £14

xox

In my iPod, beginning of February 2012

• The Weepies - Antarctica
• Lucy Rose - Red Face
• Feist - The bad in each other
• The naked and Famous - Young Blood
• Death cab for cutie - You're a tourist
• Sia - Don't bring me down (live)
• The Weepies - Old coyote
• Bombay Bicycle Club - Rinse me down
• College feat. Electric Youth - A real hero
• The Perishers - Nothing like you and I
• Joshua Radin - Road to ride on
• Coldplay - Paradise
• Paramore - Decode
• Maria Taylor - Matador
• The Weepies - Not dead yet

Love them all ♥
xox

In my corner of the world....

Left to right: Sweat pants and Hoodie from Abercrombie.
Black ankle boots from ASOS.com
French manicure.
Fluffy, fury home boots from H&M.
Jeans "Stella" from True Religion.
Beige boots from Diesel.

Currently, I'm:

Happy about: Having weekend and especially happy that this very Saturday is without plans! Am also very happy that I went for a 10km run on Tuesday =)) It was certainly not a fast run (1:04:51), but it was pitch black and there are also a lot of hills here..... On top of this it was really spontaneous. I just wanted to go for a run that was a little longer than my standard 5km's and it just felt so great that I just wanted to continue and once I had reached 7km, there seemed like no point in stopping until I had managed 10km.
I also recently did quite some shopping (see top right picture).... I bought a pair of jeans, two pairs of boots and some new cosy clothes recently that I just LOVE....and did a new French manicure. Yep, this makes me happy! 

Disappointed about: You know....I love living here in Switzerland, but must say, I get easily fed up of all the paper work it requires. Nothing ever seems easy or straight forward and everything is managed by paper with signatures. I wish they would move forward and adjust to other means of managing this (such as e-mails, SMS approvals etc.). It's like it's never really possible to just relax, because there is always a letter to write and post to someone, somewhere. I guess if you never had it differently, you don't think about it, but it has made me realize how lucky I was in this sense, living in Sweden.

Looking forward to: Hopefully having visits of some of my amazing friends in both March and April! Am also looking forward to go home to Sweden for a long weekend at the end of February (my dad is getting married AND turns 60!). I will finally see my little niece again and I can't wait =)))))

Listening to: Red Face by Lucy Rose, over and over again..... She is so talented!! This live session could just as well be the actual recording, it's so well performed.

Also have the new single from Owlmother, You can not be touched, playing in my head (and on my Spotify).

Hoping: To confront my fear of the chair lift again tomorrow when we go skiing....well, of course as I'm scared, parts of me simply doesn't want to try it again ;))

Wondering: If I should sign up to run the 10km in the upcoming race in Lausanne and if yes, what a realistic goal would be in terms of time. It is a lot more uphill than the 10km's I did during the Lausanne Marathon....hmm....
Thinking about: What questions to ask my next Interview "victim" ;p 

Planning: A lot of things actually....the details about our trip to Sweden in August and also checking out some details of another trip idea that is soooo exciting. Will share more if the idea turns into something concrete....

Smiling about: The same idea as I'm mentioning above...again.....more to come...maybe! 

Wishing: That companies would give up on dress codes. Honestly, I have no idea what to wear anymore now that I'm not allowed to wear jeans. Jeans look fab! ...and besides, half of my wardrobe consists of jeans, just sayin' ;) Yes yes, I know......a modern world problem.

Sad about: Chris has a VERY important exam on the exact date of my birthday, so I will be spending it alone....and yes, I know I know, it's just a birthday, but I've never ever been alone on my birthday before and I STILL LOVE BIRTHDAYS =))

Wanting: Can't decide on the color, but I am head over heels in love with these watches above on the right from Marc Jacobs!

Feeling: Great and happy, but really really tired in my body from all the sports I've done this week.... Am even wondering if my legs will be able to properly carry me on skis tomorrow =) Anyway! It's all worth it! I feel as if I'm in great shape again after all those years of just sporadic training and a back that was constantly giving me troubles....like another life. Grateful! Yes, that's it! I feel grateful!

xox

Photo blog: The long weekend in review

There are pros and cons of living far away from home......an obvious con is living so far away from your near and dear ones, but the pro, or the "glass half full perspective" to that is the amazing feeling of having one of your very best friends visiting you when you haven't seen each other for more than 6 months!! Simply amazing.... It was as if time had stood still. Here, some snapshots:

We went shopping and tried on some glasses....and yes, we are meant to look ridiculous ;))

...and I actually bought these =)))

On Sunday, we went to Les Rousses in France for an afternoon of skiing =)

We had soooo much fun!! It was the first time Madde skied in 15 years or so.....

Not the best weather, but the best company!

For dinner, we had Crepes....

...they tasted divine!!!

Such a fabulous weekend!!! The only bad thing is that it went by so fast.....

xox

My latest hang-up ;))

I can not stop watching and laughing at these!!!! ....and the guy is so good at it too! Can unfortunately not say I don't recognize some of these phrases either ;)
Enjoy!


xox

Learing to ski: Learn to love your enemy?

Dear Chair lift,



Sorry for being so blunt, but I hate you. This year, I shall learn to, maybe not love you, but to appreciate you..... The fact is, I don't trust you. Actually, your age and experience even works against you. No offense, but I find it hard to believe that you are really strong enough.......you know, fit for purpose?

Let's work on this together, shall we?
xox

PS. I am still a bit shaken by you not letting me off so gently on Sunday...you probably didn't notice as you were in such a hurry, but I actually had to jump off you from almost one meter's height! Anyway.....I will try my best to think that "what's done is done" and disregard this little misshap until next time.