Unni Lovlid Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 4th 2010 6:00PM by Gina Grinstead
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A vocalist, world traveler, and self-described perpetual searcher, Unni Lovlid is gearing up to bring her spellbinding, imaginative blend of traditional Norwegian folk and electronica to the United States. The 34-year-old from western Norway began her musical journey at age 16 with a London Sinfionetta workshop and has been writing and performing ever since. Lovlid's well known solo work--her third LP, 'Rite,' was voted one of the top world music albums of 2008 by World Music Central--is inspired by her collaborations with traditional and contemporary musicians from her home country, Poland, China, and Egypt. This spring, she'll perform first in Memphis for the Folk Alliance Festival and then in Austin for SXSW. And then, not surprisingly, it's off to Shanghai. Spinner recently had the pleasure of chatting with this upbeat and one-of-a-kind artist.

How did you get started making music?

When I was 16 I attended a workshop with the London Sinfonietta on the west coast of Norway. We worked with improvisation and composing, and the project ended in a concert that the students had together with the orchestra. For me it was a fantastic experience, and it marked me. Suddenly I was allowed to use the sounds that I heard inside, and they even liked them! When you experience something like that it is impossible to pretend it hasn't happened, you just have to continue.

Describe your sound.

The music I will present at SXSW is a mix of Norwegian folk, contemporary music, and electronica. Most of it is newly written material, but I'll also present a couple of pure traditional songs. I'm bringing the percussionist Thomas Strønen to join me, so that'll be fun!

What are your musical influences?

Traditional music is always my inspiration and the marrow of my sound. When I'm long gone and forgotten the pure traditional style will still be there. I love the strength and the fragility that it has in the same moment. My other main source is other musicians. I love to listen to others, and I love musical meetings in being different. My trio Seven Winds is based on that idea, and it gives the music a unique sound. You have to know who you are and at the same time dare to challenge your truths in the meeting of something equal and new. I'm always searching.

You've collaborated with a lot of different musicians. How do you meet them, and what's that process like?

When I choose to work with other musicians, I'm not looking for a style, or an already-decided sound, but I'm searching for that individual, that specific musician. I like to work with musicians who are impossible to replace. For me, musicians like Frode Haltli, Vegar Vårdal, Becaye Aw, and Rolf-Erik Nystrøm are like that. It's just they who sound like them. I would recognize them anywhere in the world after just a few seconds. Other times I'm invited to join different collaborations. In November last year I spent two weeks in a mausoleum in Cairo together with 16 Islamic men and 6 Coptic [Egyptian Christians]. It was a very nice experience, and I learned a lot about the different traditions and ways of thinking. This summer I'm going to Shanghai to work with classical Chinese musicians, then I'll go to Poland to work with some traditional musicians there, and when I'm back in Norway I'll work with a chamber choir. I love these changes, and it inspires me and keeps me awake.

What's the hardest part about being on tour?

I love being on tour. I love to travel, I work only with people I like, each concert is different, and the people who work at the different venues are really nice. So as long as there is an audience, I'm happy. But the tour has to be well organized, and I have to have people around me that I trust. Especially if anything goes wrong.

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

It was in Tang An, a little mountain village in China with 600 villagers. I was sitting in the drumtower high up in the mountains, together with the elder men of the village. All the men were dressed up in dark blue silk. I was the first woman who had been invited to sit together with them in the temple. And as I was asking them for permission to invite four of their musicians to Norway to work with me, two people slaughtered a pig next to us. After the men had given me the permission, all of us went together to the mayor's house and ate the pig. On the ground floor of the house there was a pig farm and on the first floor was the room where we ate. The best meat I've ever eaten.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Elvis.

The Beatles or the Stones?

The Beatles. I have been to a Rolling Stones concert and have friends who are really fans, but for me they're number two.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I listen to anything that I find, and I don't feel guilty.

Gina Grinstead is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.