Interview by Laura Medina
Swedish singer Adna just released her full length, debut album “Night” that is out now via Despotz Records. “Night” was just written in a mere 5 days, or five nights, hence the title of her album! I got the chance to chat with Adna about her debut album, “Night”, what was it like relocating to Germany from Sweden, her point of view in regards to the trilogy of music videos for “Night” and so much more. Here’s what Adna had to say to Femme Metal Webzine.
Hej (Hi/Hey in Swedish) Adna and welcome to Femme Metal Webzine. Thank you for allowing us to interview you today! I’m sorry if my Swedish is not so great, but I thought it would be nice to greet you in Swedish.
Ciao! (Google translate told me it’s how you say it in Italian). I appreciate that. Thanks for the support!
Would you mind introducing yourself to our readers at Femme Metal Webzine?Sure. I’m a nineteen year-old artist etc. from Sweden, now living in Berlin. I just dedicate every awake minute to the music, kind of. My debut album “Night” had its release just a week ago and now I’m working on getting farther.
“Night” could be described as dark, melancholy/mellow-like feeling that could easily make you feel like you’re walking thru the dark woods at night. How would you describe “Night” in your own words?Thanks for the description. I really like that one. I’d just like to describe it as a “Night” – album, to let everyone who listens to it get a chance to have their own thoughts about it, without having an affect on anyone.
“Night” was written in five days, or five nights I should say. Did you have a certain mindset or concept in particular while writing this album?I had booked a week in the studio, and the week before that I didn’t really have the material done. So, the deadline kind of made me do it. I’m happy, though, I choose working that way. It gave the album a theme.
I find that I am more creative at night; did you find more inspiration for writing your debut album at night versus during the day?Yeah, definitely. The night is filled with darkness and silence, and that leaves room for own thoughts and feelings and sounds. Nothing districts me, neither am I embarrassed of doing something wrong. I just get some own space to create something using whatever that’s inside.
“Night” was recorded in two different locations; first in Stockholm with producer Samuel Lindberg of O’Spada, and lastly in Gothenburg. Why did the recording take place in two different places if I may ask?I didn’t have my own studio at that time, and I really just wanted to try out two different studios. But now I prefer working in my own studio, of course. This way there’s no pressure. It’s just me working when I feel like working.
You recently moved from Sweden to Berlin, what has been your experience been like since moving to Berlin?I’m still trying to take it all in. It’s a city filled with art, wherever you might go, and I feel very much at home in this environment.
Yeah, we made a trilogy with music videos (for “Dreamer”, “The Prettiest” and “Night”). I had some ideas for all of them, and then we (my label and I) got in touch with Czlowiek Kamera, who is a film director from Krakow, working with just the things I wanted us to create. I wanted lots of double exposure in an artistic and modern way. I also wanted to capture the beauty of nature and the instruments, and so on. Czlowiek Kamera then added his thoughts and knowledge and created three really beautiful videos.
In the “Night” video, you are seen playing the piano throughout the video, what other instruments do you play along with the guitar?My main instrument would be my voice, I think. I spend lots of hours practicing my vocals. Beside that I play the guitar and the piano, witch I also perform with. Now when I’m back recording again I play all the instruments by myself. When knowing the theory it’s not too difficult.
Do you have any future plans on singing acoustically in a small venue of some sort? I think the perfect setting for you is an intimate setting where it’s just you and an acoustic guitar or piano in front of small group of fans.That’s nice to hear, thanks. I’ve booked a few gigs, but I’m hoping for more. I would like to continue on going solo, and I’m interested in doing bigger venues as well.
If you could sing with anyone, past or future, who would you choose and why?I think I’d be really nervous, but James Blake would be a dream. Justin Vernon. Paul Simon. Singing while Nils Frahm is playing the piano would also be the greatest thing ever.
One of my favorite songs from “Night” is actually “Night”, can you take us through the songwriting process for this song.I’m glad you like it. Thank you. That song was, from the beginning, a try out for a collaboration with another Swedish musician. But it ended up with me writing the lyrics and music. I prefer doing it by myself since I always already have an idea of what I want it to sound like.
What are some things you truly miss about Gothenburg since moving to Berlin?I miss my old friends, quite a lot, all the time. Luckily there’s Skype. There’s also this small café which I miss sometimes. It’s inside a record store in one of my favorite places in Gothenburg. I used to go there whenever I had some spare time, just to have some coffee, listen to good music and read a book. The perfect alone time.
I liked how you started each song with some Swedish lyrics, then added some guitar riffs or two and ended with you singing in English. Was this your intention when you began writing for “Night” or did this idea come up during the songwriting process?It’s how I write music, I think. I have a lot of thoughts, but I don’t always want to share them, so I write them down (in Swedish). It comes out as some sort of poetry, I guess. Then I collect the ones I like and try to create something with it.
Do you have any special live festivals, special performances or concerts planned to promote “Night”?Not yet, but I really hope there’ll be some, of course.
Do you have any final words you like to say to the Femme Metal Webzine readers and to your fans? Adna, thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to chat with us. It was an honor to speak with you and I wish you all the best of luck and more!Thank you for the support and for reading this interview. I really hope you like the Night. I appreciate it all, a lot. Thank you!
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