Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Mina Stern

What is your earliest memory connected to music? 

When I was on vacation a few weeks ago, my family and me listened to music in the car.  We like to show each other the newest artists we’ve descovered or some songs we like  and it’s always beautiful to share music, listen and sing to it. Especially with my sister I  hat lots of fun listening to the music she likes and singing to it, even tough we didn’t  really know the lyrics haha:) 

How did your passion for creating music begin? 

My father is an artist too so I kind of grew up with music since I was a little child. I always  sang the songs of disney films I liked and at the age of eight I wrote a song of my own. It’s  always been a way to understand my own feelings, to forget time and also to just have fun  within creating, writing and playing instruments. I dont know what I would do without music.  

What’s the story behind your current music project? 

My current music project isn’t something specific or big. The story behind it is to just go  with the moment and all the ideas I have. My goal is to release all the songs I’ve been  creating lately, and they’re all based on daily stories, feelings and fears of a teenager.  Without setting myself too much boundaries or rules, I like to just tell the things I  experience and how I experience them. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music  before? 

I would describe my sound as intimate, melodic indie pop, with singer-songwriter roots.  It’s honest storytelling combined with atmospheric production and timeless pop  influences. 

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? 

I’ve learned something about creativity that completely changed the way I approach making  music. For a long time, I tried to force creativity by actively searching for ideas. Theres  nothing wrong with that, but more often than not, it led me to dead ends. The best ideas  usually arrive when you least expect them. A lyric, a melodie or a feeling suddenly appears  out of nowhere. I’ve learned that you can’t force those moments. You have to make space  for them and trust that they’ll come when the time is right. 

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

In my creative process piano and guitar are the most essential instruments. I usually use  them as the foundation of my songs, building on them with vocals and additional sounds.  My songs are produced in Pro tools, making it an essential part of my workflow. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now? 

Right now I love to listen to Phoebe Bridgers and especially her song “You missed my  heart” because of it’s beautiful piano melody and the detailed storytelling. I also like to  listen to Bon Iver and his unique sound. 

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? 

My personal ecperiences have influenced my music from the beginning. An encounter, a  moment or a feeling I have in my life, is the essential thing I like to write about in my songs  and of course it also influences my artistic vision. The little things I experience in my  everyday can be an inspiration but also a story, wich listeners can relate to. I think they’re  very valuable. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? 

I hope my listeners can take from my work, that it’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to be  scared of the future and of not being sure if what you do is right. Being a teenager isn’t  always easy, its an up and down all the time. I hope I can encourage my listeners, that  even though there are difficulties, they can stand up for themselves and realise their  dreams. 

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far? 

Your passion doesn’t define you. What defines you, is what you’re willing to do for that  passion. 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at? 

I would love to perform in the Letzigrund Stadium in switzerland one day. It is very big  and out of my league, but a dream of mine:) 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? 

Olivia Rodrigo. She’s my most favorite artist because of her honest lyrics and  melancholic songs. A collaboration would be absolutely insane.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links) 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4jHFBDhjq3KcyKvxQxoBk5?si=0lBuBBFJR9yb0UHJJUNo OA&utm_source=copy-link 

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical  journey? 

I would love to release my own album someday. I think that will have to wait a few years,  but as soon as the time has come I would want that dream to come true. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? I hope they discover at least a bit potential in me as a young artist.