Inspired #136 - SOLE
Sole is a neo-classical artist and producer from Sweden, who has just released her stunning track - ‘über mich komme’. She took a moment to talk to us about her influences as an artist.
Who are you top three musical inspirations?
My biggest inspiration is definitely Nina Simone. Ever since I started to perform live, I’ve always singed songs of hers. She has a unique way of writing and interpret music, regardless of genre, with her ability in classical piano and her melody language. She definitely has her own artistic expression in the way she sing, write and perform, and this has always inspired me. She also has a strong voice and the desire to express herself and her values. Her strength in fighting for women and the civil rights movement is definitely inspirational!
Other than Simone, Leonard Cohen is definitely a musical inspiration, his way of writing lyrics is unique, beautiful and powerful. I love singing his songs and his words, they go straight to my heart.
And then we have Nils Frahm, a German composer. I found his music a few years ago and haven’t stopped listen since then. He has a remarkable way of creating different soundscapes with acoustic piano and synthesisers. And this has been a huge inspiration, combining the organic and the electronic to create ambient, neo classical soundscapes.
Is there a certain film that inspires you?
When I compose I often work with different spaces. My writing is based on an emotion placed in a specific room or scene. And because of this, the idea of film music inspires me. However, in some way, I have a hard time getting inspired by movies. In most cases, I find it fascinating how the music has been used to emphasise a scene or emotion, but that is more a fascination rather than inspirational. For instance I love the soundtrack of Call Me By Your Name, with its classical pieces. So, to answer this question, I don’t find movies inspirational, but I do get new and interesting thoughts and perspectives on life and relationships from some.
What city do you find the most inspiring?
That would probably be Paris I think. I love how the city has been a sort of venue for culture and art throughout the decades. Some of our biggest artists have lived a period of time in Paris, for instance Picasso, Dali, Edith Piaf, Nina Simone and Hemingway. And because of this, I often feel inspired when visiting this city. I would love to live their a period of time in my life, someday, to see what it would bring me.
Who is the most inspiring person to you?
Weirdly, I think that would be my parents, or my whole family actually. They have a way of living their life which inspires me. There is a strength and a will which I’ve rarely encountered outside of my family. Everyone goes their own way, finding their passion and meaning of life and how to live it. No one goes the same path as the other, and no one lets norms or society decide which is the right. There is also an open mind to the word family. I have been raised with the idea that everyone is welcome to our family, whether its the same blood or not. Friends, partners and even ex-partners are always family, as long as they need and want it. Our door has always been open, and this inspires me.
What were your inspirations when writing the track?
The main inspiration when I wrote this track was my grandfather. My grandfather fled from the second world war and East Germany when he was around 17 years old. During his escape he encountered several difficulties such as prison, unreliable fellows and was constantly chased by STASI. His trust in mankind slowly disappeared and on the run he wrote a poem about freedom. My mother found this poem a couple of years ago, and when I read it I knew I had to compose a track with his words. As the song grew I wanted to do something even bigger. My mother is the only one who’s grown up with her father and his memories, and because of this I wanted to do an attempt to translate their time, their lives, into one composition. In the track my mother reads her fathers words, and I sing my mothers. Three generations; four minutes.
How would you like to inspire people?
I’d like to show the world that everything is possible if you give yourself the time and effort that is needed. When I started this project, four years ago, I told myself that I would do this by myself. I did not want to be dependent on someone else or some label, mostly because I wanted to be able to make every decision by myself and therefore I started to study music production and engineering. When I studied and got more and more involved in the music business I got to experience the male dominance that still occurs in this industry. This gave me more motivation and confidence towards my goal, I wanted to be a part of the fight to make the industry equal. And I hope this will inspire people, most of all women.