By Jim Barber
When a musical artist can channel her personal internal conflicts, the battles between the darkness and light-weight that resides inside every one among us, and create music that not solely makes those that battle not really feel alone, however really feel heard, empowered, and really feel hope – nicely, that’s the signal of a songwriter and performer who isn’t solely abundantly proficient, however who can be unashamed to be trustworthy, genuine and to make use of the automobile of artwork and creativity to course of the great, the unhealthy and the ugly of the world and of our personal lives.
Such is the well-deserved acclaim and respect being directed in direction of Norway’s Lily Löwe upon the discharge of her revelatory new album Lovely Catastrophe. It’s a work of emotional depth and psychological catharsis that’s impactful as it’s endlessly entertaining.
Beginning off as a solo artist, Löwe (full identify Lill Sofie Wilsberg) has now constructed a band round her for each studio and reside efficiency, which options a number of the most completed of Norway’s heavy rock gamers, together with guitarist Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt (Jorn), Patrik Svendsen of Tonic Breed on bass, drummer Eiliv Sagrusten of Invasion and second guitarist Stian Hansen.
Collectively, in 2023, they crafted the primary Lily Löwe album, merely entitled LÖWE (which interprets to ‘lion’ in Norwegian) a more-than-worthy launching level for the profession of this proficient younger Norwegian artist and a basis of melodic excellence that has developed into what of us are listening to from the collective’s second effort, Lovely Catastrophe.
Lily isn’t afraid to take deep thematic and lyrical dives into a number of the vagaries and vicissitudes of human existence corresponding to combating one’s self price, our place on the planet, all the assorted points of life that impinge upon a human’s psychological well being, the significance of self-empowerment, of standing up for oneself. She believes everybody has that capability for good, however that there’s additionally the capability for negativity, for the demons to typically take chunks out of our positivity, our pleasure, our high quality of life.
“For this album, I used to be going right into a session with my producer Oscar Mathisen. We’ve been working along with me because the songwriter and him because the producer for another artists, after which we determined, ‘hey, possibly we should always attempt to work collectively.’ So, we did all of the melodies for the ‘Puppet Grasp’ music from this new album and that was our very first thing. All of the songs had a sort of theme that was extra darkish, so we felt we should always proceed down this route. Nevertheless it’s additionally probably the most pure factor for me to do. I really like to put in writing about issues like heartbreak and feelings and all that stuff,” she mentioned over Zoom from her dwelling in Norway.
“You realize it’s about how all folks; we’re like divided. We’ve our darkish aspect after which our good aspect. For me, it’s like I’m splitting my darkish half off when I’m writing. There’s lots of stuff about psychological well being and issues like that, however I additionally wish to empower folks, particularly different girls as nicely. So, it’s pure for me to combine all these issues collectively. A number of instances it’s like I’m speaking to my youthful self, and the way I dreamed about doing this for thus lengthy and realizing, regardless that I’m a woman, I can do that, and I can do all of it on my own. Rock music continues to be closely dominated by males, so I need the opposite girls on this enterprise, and particularly the youthful women listening to music who even have desires to say, ‘okay, I can do it. I can do it too.’ And listening to music, and particularly now that I’m writing and recording and producing music, I actually perceive the way it will get folks via robust instances. It’s all the time been a protected house. After I take heed to music there’s a lot occurring in my thoughts, however with music I do know I might be artistic, and I can really feel protected.
“It’s a method to get that darkish aspect out, no less than to get it out of your head. A lot of what I write about are issues which have occurred in my life but additionally issues that occur within the lives of those who I do know. I’ll base a music on an actual life expertise however then make up the remaining to make it extra dramatic. I discover lots of inspiration that approach. It’s a sort of remedy. Being artistic in any approach helps me. That’s what retains me going. I come from a background of costume design and make-up design within the movie trade and that has all the time been a pleasant factor. Now I’m taking a bachelor’s diploma in screenwriting, and I’d love to try this, and possibly some directing. I directed my final three music movies and edited it and every little thing and all of that additionally provides me an outlet. I simply have this should be artistic.”
Fortunately, Lily got here from a household that inspired creativity.
“Each my dad and mom love music. My mother loves to put in writing and my dad, he’s all the time been drawing this one little bizarre creature since I used to be little. They’re not musicians, however they love to color. They’re very good individuals who’ve all the time supported me in my music and no matter I’ve executed,” she mentioned, as she talked about those that impressed her to grow to be a musical artist.
“I keep in mind early on it was Pink, as a result of she was pop, however she was so rock and roll in her angle too. I keep in mind having one among her albums after I was six or seven years outdated and pondering she was unbelievable. Then later it was extra about rock bands, particularly emo bands like My Chemical Romance; they had been an enormous inspiration for me, but additionally Marilyn Manson. He’s nonetheless one among my greatest inspirations but additionally Girl Gaga. I believe it’s been lots of totally different mixtures of pop and rock. I really like Falling in Reverse even when I don’t make that sort of music, Ronnie Radke [the band’s frontman] conjures up me a lot – I simply love how his mind works. The music he makes continues to shock me.”
Lily has used all of those inspirations, delving into how they create, in addition to her personal various experiences in several creative media to develop a course of for making music that works finest for her. And the ultimate consequence, as exhibited so boldly and so authentically and so memorably on Lovely Catastrophe, is the proof.
“After I’m on my own, when I’m out strolling or no matter then an concept may simply pop into my thoughts. So, I document it on my cellphone. Different instances I would like to put in writing issues down as a result of the act of writing actually helps me keep in mind and course of the concept. Largely I work with concepts for melodies or for lyrics, however then typically I can go right into a session and say, ‘okay this can be a theme I wish to do one thing with, and right here’s a music that I discover inspirational. I need mine to have the identical vibe, or in the identical tempo or no matter.’ After which I work with the producer and finally we begin writing lyrics that match that concept. More often than not, phrases and melody are initially after which we put within the guitar and bass and drums. So, every music comes collectively in several levels,” she defined.
“I don’t play any devices, so for me I’m buzzing the melody that I like. Typically it’s profitable and typically it’s not. On my first album [the aforementioned LÖWE] I began quite a bit with lyrics and a few with the songs on this album as nicely after which I sit down with the producer to drag all the opposite elements collectively the way in which I’m listening to them in my head. It’s that melody that’s actually the hook that every little thing hangs on. Every thing comes off of that. With the music ‘Haunted Home’ [a single from Beautiful Disaster] my producer put collectively this little songwriting camp. So, it was me and two producers and some songwriters after which I had this concept for a haunted home as a result of I assumed it was the easiest way to explain anxiousness. I used to be like, okay, you are feeling trapped, you may’t breathe, and also you’re typically at nighttime and every little thing’s scary. You’re on edge and it’s simply f***ing horrible – similar to being in a haunted home. However on this case, the haunted home is your physique or your thoughts. I wished to put in writing a music about anxiousness however wished one thing visible. I wished a metaphor that folks can perceive, I wished that imagery of being scared and alone in a haunted home to essentially symbolize what it feels prefer to have anxiousness.”
The music ‘Demons’ is the one from the album which appears to be getting probably the most consideration, no less than by way of the variety of streams on-line. Apparently, this music was introduced into the album creation course of by one of many producers Ola Frøyen and penned by prime Norwegian pop star Ehle.
“She instructed me that she actually favored my sound and that she wished to put in writing a music for me. Usually it’s been essential to me that I write every little thing myself, however I trusted Ola and after I heard the music I beloved it. I solely needed to make a number of adjustments. And I beloved the theme of the music. It slot in with the opposite songs on the album. ‘Demons’ talks about revenge and setting your self up in order that nobody can damage you anymore,” she defined, saying the way it has a darker tone than songs corresponding to ‘Wild,’ one other critically and popularly acclaimed music from Lovely Catastrophe, which is extra of an old-school banger about empowerment and never being afraid to be your self.
“It’s undoubtedly an influence anthem. And it’s alongside the identical theme because the title observe. I beloved writing that music. ‘Lovely Catastrophe’ was, for me, probably the most enjoyable a part of the method. I truly had the lyrics on my pc for such a very long time however realized after I was beginning to get the songs prepared for this album, that it was time to return to those phrases. I really feel just like the music; it begins very slowly after which it grows and turns into extra highly effective. Nevertheless it’s additionally so playful too. It’s extra about relationships and being true to your self, you understand, to not lose your self, and who you’re, in a relationship. It was from one among my girlfriends who had a nasty relationship and that’s the place I bought the concept. I solely have good exes, so I don’t have inspiration for a music like that from them,” she mentioned.
From the start, Lily has chosen to forge her personal path, preferring to be in command of her personal creative future by self-releasing her music. Studying to beat challenges, a few of that are inherent to being an unbiased artist, others which the universe will randomly throw up into one’s path, is all a part of the rising course of.
“It’s been a problem. I’ve been working with lots of totally different folks and looking for my very own voice. I’ve been working with new producers [two of which are the aforementioned Frøyen and Mathisen, as well as Jonas Holteberg Jensen] and pushing myself out of my consolation zone by working with new folks and attempting to push each my writing and my voice additional. It was additionally a course of in getting the proper band collectively, which we had for the primary album however then my drummer [Magnus Galguften] handed away. He did some work on Lovely Catastrophe, so he’s taking part in on ‘Wild’ and ‘Haunted Home,’ and we have now slightly tribute to him within the music video for ‘Haunted Home.’ It was very unhappy, man. He was simply 49,” she mentioned.
“It was such a shock. So, the entire strategy of placing this album collectively has been a mixture of very inspiring and enjoyable but additionally with lots of heartache. And being unbiased means I’ve to do every little thing, and I additionally need to pay for every little thing. But additionally, I don’t wish to surrender my masters, the masters of my recordings. I wish to personal my very own music, so there’s a worth you pay if you wish to go that approach. Nevertheless it’s essential for me to personal my very own artwork. It’s so private to me and I don’t need anybody else deciding how you can use it or telling me how you can do it.”
An album launch present for Lovely Catastrophe was held in Oslo on Feb. 20, with an look on the MC Rock Pageant in Eidskog, Norway set for Could 29, with extra dates on the European summer season pageant circuit to be introduced.
For extra info, go to https://www.lilylowe.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Moreover his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
