Gudrid Hansdottir Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 2nd 2010 9:10AM by Jen Kessler
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Singer-songwriter Gudrid Hansdottir has been gracing Scandinavia with her floaty, soulful blend of pop and folk since her solo debut in 2007. The Faroe Islands native released her second album -- 'The Sky is Opening' -- in June 2009, and the record earned her Album of the Year from the Faroese Planet Awards. Spinner recently spoke with Hansdottir about her upcoming SXSW performance.

How would you describe your sound?

It's very Scandinavian. There's a little bit of a Swedish pop sound that I've captured in my music, but it's also a lot like '70s folk. It's a mixture of the two.

When did you start playing solo, and what was your music career like before that?

I started playing solo three or four years ago. Before then, I was in a band -- a couple of bands -- and we were always playing rock music. We played my songs, but my songs never really fit into the rock sound, and I wanted to play more folk and pop. That was around 2007, and that's when I released my first album. I've been playing music for many years, but I didn't actually release anything until then.

Did you consider using a stage name when you went solo?

Yeah. I was once in a band where I called myself Isadora because I didn't think my name sounded cool. The band that I was playing with was called Isadora and the Rebels, and I liked it -- I think it's a beautiful name. But when we quit that band, I just decided to stick with my own name.

What would you consider your musical influences?

I've always been very fond of older music, mostly rock and folk from the '70s. I grew up listening to that kind of music, so it's been following me ever since. I'm inspired by bands like Jethro Tull. But I also really like Scandinavian music, [especially] Swedish pop, and I think my music reflects that.

Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?

No, not really. I listen to good music, and I'm not embarrassed by any of it.

Do you have any vices?

Oh yeah, plenty. The chocolate thing -- that's a really bad one. I quit smoking, thank God, but the chocolate and the sugar thing -- it just sticks. I can't get rid of that one.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles. They just have the best songs.

Your latest album, 'The Sky is Opening,' won Album of the Year at the Planet Awards. What was the recording process like for that album?

I recorded the album on the Faroe Islands in a new studio. It was just built, and I was the first one to record there. It's downtown, in the center of Torshavn, the biggest city in the Faroes. We hung out there for two months recording the album, and it went really well. I was really pleased with all the musicians and people who helped me -- they were very cool. Then I went to Germany to mix it, to Berlin, which was also a great experience. I went to this very famous old studio called Hansa Studio, where bands like U2 and Depeche Mode have recorded albums. It was a great experience for me, just to be there and to watch how the album was mixed.

You played in Austin this past December. What was that like?

It was very cool. There are a couple of musicians in Austin who are doing this project called the House of Songs, where a couple of Danish songwriters and a couple songwriters from Austin do this exchange program. Another artist from Denmark and I went over there to stay in the house for two weeks and meet the songwriters from Austin, write songs with them and perform with them. Two artists stay for two weeks, and then two more come. The project is going to be running for a year. There have already been a couple of Danish artists there, and now, I think a couple of musicians from Austin are coming to Denmark to play a few gigs. I was really lucky to be a part of that.

How did your musical experience in Austin compare to your experience at home?

It was amazing. I'd never played outside of Europe. I mostly play in Scandinavia, but I've also played a little in Germany. The crowd [in Austin] was completely different than what I'm used to. People really listened, and they were so positive. I've never experienced anything like it. The crowd was also really open – they were talking to me between songs, asking me questions. I'm not used to that. In Scandinavia, the crowd is silent. It was a really great experience for me.

Are you excited to come back?

Oh yeah! I can't wait.

What will you bring to SXSW?

I'm just going to bring good music! I don't have a band coming with me, but the musicians [from the House of Songs] are going to play with me. I'm really excited about that, and I think we're going to have some good shows there.

Jen Kessler is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.