Eva and the Heartmaker Interview: SXSW 2010

A dynamic pop/rock duo from Norway, Eva and the Heartmaker are Eva Well Skram and Thomas Stenerson. Skram, a songwriter, met Stenerson, a guitar player, on a tour in 2005, and they started working together that fall in his studio with some of Eva's songs. They decided they made a good team, and soon became husband and wife. Their first record, 'Behind Golden Frames,' earned them both radio and publishing interest. Spinner caught up with Skram in advance of the pair's appearance at SXSW.

Describe your sound.

I find it difficult to describe our music, because music is so much more than just a few words. But I guess you could say that it's pop music with the sound of '60s and '70s instruments like Wurlitzer organ, electric guitar, bass and drums. And lots of backing vocals.

What are your musical influences?

We are both fans of music from the sixties and the seventies, like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Band, David Bowie, etc. But also newer bands like the Raconteurs, the Cardigans and Radiohead.

What's your biggest vice?

Probably the fact that we change our mind all the time. What we think is a hit today will be thrown away tomorrow, before we take it back a couple of days later just to realize it was a good song after all. And so it goes. On our latest album we recorded one of the songs about nine times, but ended up with the original version.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Some old Norwegian ice skater named Johan Olav Koss. I think I was about eight, and I actually kissed the TV once when he was being interviewed.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Well, I like the latest albums of Britney Spears, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, but then again I'm not so embarrassed about that.

What are your creative muses?

It could be anything from a walk in the park to meeting new people at a party. I often "steal" stories from my friends and make them into songs if I run out of ideas. It's also very inspiring to visit new cities or countries and experience other cultures.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

To protect my band mates and myself, I guess I have to stick to the saying "what happens on the road stays on the road."