With a storming appearance on BBC2’s ‘Later With Jools Holland’ in the bag, and a headline UK tour all prepped, Norway’s rock princess IDA MARIA talks to XYZ about her rising fame, getting into African music and composing with colour.
XYZ: You played The Great Escape festival this year, what did you make of Brighton?
IM: I love Brighton because that’s where the sea is. The first time we came to Brighton the whole band just ran out of the van straight down to the sea. I think it’s a Scandinavian thing.
IM: I love Brighton because that’s where the sea is. The first time we came to Brighton the whole band just ran out of the van straight down to the sea. I think it’s a Scandinavian thing.
Which bands influenced you most growing up as a teenager?
When you are growing up and you listen to music its like, “wow”. I was listening to everything, soul, jazz, rock. My dad would listen to old soul and blues and I discovered rock ‘n’ roll, about 12 or 13 – that hit me quite hard!
When you are growing up and you listen to music its like, “wow”. I was listening to everything, soul, jazz, rock. My dad would listen to old soul and blues and I discovered rock ‘n’ roll, about 12 or 13 – that hit me quite hard!
Did you always know you wanted to be a musician?
It seemed so impossible but at the same time it seemed possible because you could hear that other people were actually out there playing that music. So I’d hear Jimi Hendrix and it’d be like, shit, I want to play like that, but I ended up being an average guitar player!
It seemed so impossible but at the same time it seemed possible because you could hear that other people were actually out there playing that music. So I’d hear Jimi Hendrix and it’d be like, shit, I want to play like that, but I ended up being an average guitar player!
How are you coping with your rising profile?
I don’t really notice it that much. People come up to me and want pictures, but it’s just nice. I have a couple of stalkers but it’s not that bad, I’ve got some good people around me.
I don’t really notice it that much. People come up to me and want pictures, but it’s just nice. I have a couple of stalkers but it’s not that bad, I’ve got some good people around me.
Do you think it was all meant to be, do you believe in fate, or do you think it’s all just random?
I’m not sure that I believe in fate. It felt really natural. I’d been writing all these songs and had a really strong wish for where I wanted to go. When you know what you want it’s easy for people to understand.
I’m not sure that I believe in fate. It felt really natural. I’d been writing all these songs and had a really strong wish for where I wanted to go. When you know what you want it’s easy for people to understand.
How does your synaesthesia affect you, does it have an effect on your creative process?
I don’t really know, I didn’t really know there was a name for it until about a couple of years ago. It happens if you trip on LSD, but for me it’s just the way I see things. In some ways it makes the creative process a bit different. I collect colours at the same time that I collect music. It’s how I put my inner visual language into words.
I don’t really know, I didn’t really know there was a name for it until about a couple of years ago. It happens if you trip on LSD, but for me it’s just the way I see things. In some ways it makes the creative process a bit different. I collect colours at the same time that I collect music. It’s how I put my inner visual language into words.
What are you listening to at the moment?
A lot of different African music, Nigerian and Caribbean. There’s so much to pick up there that you have to go and investigate it yourself. I think I’m digging gold right now! I just take everything in and then see what comes out.
A lot of different African music, Nigerian and Caribbean. There’s so much to pick up there that you have to go and investigate it yourself. I think I’m digging gold right now! I just take everything in and then see what comes out.
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