Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Mathilde Widding
• What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember the specific warmth of my parents’ old vinyl records playing in the living room. The crackle of the needle hitting the groove before the music filled the room is a sound that has stayed with me forever.
• How did your passion for creating music begin?
I grew up in a home where music was the constant heartbeat of our daily life. Whether it was someone singing, the steady strumming of a guitar, or the crackle of a vinyl record in the background, music was always present. From a very early age, creating became my way of navigating deep emotions and making sense of the world around me. Translating those internal thoughts into lyrics and melodies has always felt like a natural thing for me. Today, I feel incredibly blessed spending time in the studio, crafting music that carries a raw nerve and a genuine honesty— it truly feels like an authentic extension of who I am.
• What’s the story behind your current music project?
My current project is a deep dive into “dusty soul.” It’s about bridging the gap between the classic 60s soul era and the modern R&B. It’s an exploration of growing up, moving through heartbreak, and finding strength in vulnerability.
• How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? I usually call it “organic, dusty soul.” It’s raw and unpolished, centered around emotive vocals, vintage textures, and a rhythmic nerve that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
• What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? That perfection is the enemy of soul. I used to be very calculated, but I’ve learned that the “mistakes”—the breath in the mic or the slight crack in a vocal—are often where the real emotion and magic lives.
• What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? I would have to say the piano and the guitar, because i’ts usually where everything begins. Beyond that, I’m obsessed with vintage-style preamps and microphones that capture that warm, saturated analog feel, even when recording digitally.
• Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’m really inspired by the “Daptone’s Records” aesthetic and artists who manage to keep that authentic, grounded soul vibe alive today.
• How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? Growing up in Tromsø, the stark contrast of the seasons—moving from the deep, moody polar night to the endless clarity of the midnight sun—has naturally shaped my creative vision. But more than just the landscape, my music is deeply rooted in my personal journey. Being an ‘outsider’ during my upbringing, I often felt that others found it hard to understand my intense devotion to music. That sense of solitude became my sanctuary, where I spent countless hours honing my craft alone. These experiences have fundamentally shaped who I am and how I think. It has instilled in me an unfiltered honesty that now defines both my character and my creative process; I don’t just write songs, I share pieces of a journey that is raw, authentic, and entirely my own.
• What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope they feel a sense of “honest comfort.” I want my music to be a space where it’s okay to feel melancholic, but where you also find the groove to keep moving forward.
• What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Patience. Building an organic career takes time, but the connection you make with people when you stay true to your own sound is worth every second of the wait.
• What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Performing at iconic festivals like Glastonbury, Roskilde, or Coachella would be an incredible experience and a massive milestone in my career. There is something uniquely powerful about reaching such a vast audience in those settings. At the same time, my heart beats for the heritage of soul music; playing legendary, intimate venues like Ronnie Scott’s in London or the Apollo Theater in Harlem would be a true dream come true. To stand on the same stages as the legends who paved the way for this genre is a goal I’m constantly working toward.
• If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? From the present, it would be a dream to work with Lee Fields and Son Little. Lee Fields is a true powerhouse whose raw, soulful energy and decades of experience bring an unmatched depth to the genre. Son Little’s ‘future-soul’ approach and his gritty, bluesy textures also deeply resonate with my own artistic vision. Looking to the past, Amy Winehouse remains my ultimate inspiration; her fearless storytelling and the way she blended jazz sensibilities with a raw, modern soul edge is something I strive for every time I step into the studio.
• Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
On all streaming platforms worldwide.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mathildewidding
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mathilde.johnsenwidding.9
Spotify:
• Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey? My dream is to release my debut album and take my live show across Europe. I want to continue building this community of soul-lovers and keep evolving my sound without losing that raw, organic core.
• What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope that listeners—will discover the timeless value of raw, honest, and unpolished soul and R&B music. Beyond the ‘soul-diva’ vocals, I want them to see that there’s just a girl behind the music, trying to be as authentic as possible with her storytelling and production. Ultimately, I hope they discover a sense of connection in that transparency, realizing that the most beautiful parts of music often lie in its imperfections and its truth.
