Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Johanna Reine-Nilsen
Introduction of the project
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember listening to albums on car rides with my family during the summer. My earliest and most defining music memories are from my teens, when I started discovering music I still listen to today.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I studied jazz music right after I finished high school. After some time focusing mostly on jazz standards and improvisation, I had an urge to write my own stuff. I had previously written songs, but nothing that ever made its way out into the world. My passion for writing and composing music really came alive when I let go of what I thought it should sound like and started writing intuitively.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My current project is always improving and evolving with me. It started with a couple of songs that I presented to some classmates, who are now my band. We’ve now been playing the music for about four years, and I’ve released two albums. What first began as an interest in songwriting has become the most important work I do. I always thought singing was my one true passion, but now songwriting is equally important, if not more.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
It’s folk music with a lot of different influences, driven by the melody and lyrics, with a soft sound consisting of guitars and three-part vocal harmonies.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
The fact that I’m free to make whatever I want, continues to challenge the way I write and compose. Not only the music itself, but also the process. There’s no one way to make music, and I have to remind myself of this every time I’m doing it. I’ve also almost entirely replaced the piano as my instrument of choice with the guitar, which has changed the process for me.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My guitar, a notebook and my phone are the essentials. I mess around with different chord progressions and try out melodies, write lyrics and record demos in GarageBand on my slow, but adequate iPhone.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’ve started listening to Weyes Blood after a bunch of recommendations. Very cool sound and a Karen Carpenteresque voice. Also listening to The Lemon Twigs´ amazing new album.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I always write from a personal place. I would love to write music people dance to, but I’m wired a bit toward the melancholy.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I think my music gets better the more you dive into it. It is not very in your face, but is full of details – in the arrangement, the lyrics and the harmonies.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music gives me a lot of joy and sorrow. I’ve always loved listening to it, and it being a soundtrack to what’s happening around me. At the same time it’s my job, so I have to take it seriously as I’m enjoying it. Like life itself, music is multifaceted, and I come to realize many important lessons from music before I do in real life.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
It would be very cool to play Roskilde festival! A dream festival is Glastonbury. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Off the top of my head I would say Big Thief. I’ve been listening to them for years and think they’re really great.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links) You can find me on all streaming platforms! I myself prefer Qobuz.
Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/JohannaReineNilsen?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=07964361-05 06-4062-8f12-b2d5b272e62b
Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/johanna.reine.nilsen
Bandcamp:
https://johannareine-nilsen.bandcamp.com.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
You never know what’s next in this field of work, so the one thing I dream for is that more people continue to discover my music and come to my shows! I’d really like to play more outside of Norway.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? I hope my listeners are curious and open to discovering different sides of the music.
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