Interview | Introducing…Jenny Lysander

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How would you describe your music?

As soft psych folk.

When did you first realise that music was for you? What does it mean to you?

It’s the cliché for me. I never realised music was for me, it has always been there. I have never had to push myself to do music. I’ve tried to push it to improve faster, but it didn’t work. I’m not the kind of person who can practice regularly for even an hour every day. I like to look at it as a wild thing that can’t be tamed. With that being said, for the periods when I do write songs, I too feel like a wild thing that can’t be tamed, I let everything else go and get completely absorbed.

What’s the worst thing about being a musician?

I am so relieved and happy and proud to be working with a label like Beating Drum who simply works in a way that makes sense, with respect for the music as well as the artist. That’s definitely not to be taken for granted…

What do you write about and what inspires you?

‘Nature is the vehicle of thought’. It’s very simple. Different settings in nature inspire different mind sets, and depending on your mind set you colour your surroundings in different ways. It’s easy to have a very creative relationship with nature if you allow yourself to be sensitive.

If you could invite three music artists round for dinner, alive or dead, who would they be and why?

How about John Dowland, Beethoven and Shostakovich? I’ve always been curious about these three. They all share something that seems like a loss of something vital, and through the emptiness of that something springs their genius. I think that would make a stimulating topic.

If you could have written one song, which would it be and why?

… one that hasn’t been written yet? Wait and see.

What are your ambitions for your music?

For now my ambitions are humble. I want to follow up the release of my debut album Northern Folk as well as possible, make sure that the songs find where they’re supposed to be and… Just take it from there. Nice and easy with time to breathe. I think it’s more curiosity than ambition that drives me, and I never know when I’ll get an irresistible pull.

Finally, we’re always looking to expand our musical horizons. Do you have any recommendations of bands or artists we should be looking out for? 

For this time I’d definitely say Scottish songwriter Robin Adams who just released his new album The Garden that is inspired by the painter Vincent van Gogh. It’s a beautiful album full of greenery.

 Northern Folk is out on April 27th on Beating Drum