and you thought you knew.. Ragz
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"I used to stand and stare at my dad’s vinyl collection – it contained all kinds of goodies! So musical influences started off with lots of folkie music from the 60s and 70s. Later in life, the music of Joanna Newsom, Jeff Buckley, Scott Mathews and Regina Spektor have all become an important part of my emotional state!"
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There are some brilliant and highly innovative artists in Liverpool... it's an ever evolving part of a vibrant and dynamic City who's art and music is every bit as much of a major global landmark as the Liver Buildings or Mathew Street have become. For singer/songwriter Ragz however, her adopted city is where her bright and innovative brand of contemporary folk/pop music is taking flight. Songs such as Breathe, Resless Lullabye, and You In The Back, are, without a doubt, some truly magnificent examples of just much this Norwegian-born songstress is breathing new life into her craft with the rest of us looking on in amazement! She's a great girl and a fine composer ladies and gentlemen... and so it was a real pleasure to get her to take our virtual flight from John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, to Edmonton, Alberta to answer the inevitable questions..
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The Interview - November 25 2006 |
| Welcome to IOM Ragz... can we begin with you telling us a bit about your background? |
I’m originally from a little town in Norway and practically grew up in one of Norway’s many beautiful woods. Writing music was a bit of a hidden passion until I left home – I used to shout lyrics and melodies inside a waterfall next to our house, but that left me with a soar throat rather than any kind of satisfaction!
I left Norway for Liverpool in 2002 and believe I have found my feet here, both musically and personally, over the last few years. |
| What would you say have been your main musical influences? |
I used to stand and stare at my dad’s vinyl collection – it contained all kinds of goodies so influences started off with lots of folkie music from the 60s and 70s. Later in life, the music of Joanna Newsom, Jeff Buckley, Scott Mathews and Regina Spektor have all become an important part of my emotional state! |
| What could you tell us about “high points” in your musical career? |
I think, right now, we’re in and out of the studio working on our first album and it feels good! |
| How about low points and how you managed to get over them? |
It’s hard to stay balanced sometimes and the low points mostly occur when my confidence takes a holiday… it comes - back though!
Other things, like no money and bad gigs are more obstacles than low points maybe… still.. if everything was easy I’d get bored!
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| If you could turn the clocks back, is there anything you would have done differently? |
No things I’ve done and things that have happened has made me who I am and gotten me to where I am. Who’s to say what had which effect.. I might end up changing the wrong thing! |
| Who did you work with on your most recent projects? |
Because of the nature of my music and of my life, most of my material is a result of many hours on my own. Sounds sad, but really it’s not – honesty comes along when I have to be with myself!
Bringing it on to the stage and into the studio, however, has involved a handful of brilliant musicians and technicians. My guitarist has been a blessing beyond anything! |
| If you could pick a favourite track from your recent work what would it be? |
They all represent different things, so wouldn’t’ know what to pick. I’d give you one answer today and then change my mind tomorrow! |
| What musical instruments/equipment do you normally use? |
My voice is my main instrument, but both piano and guitar joins in on a tight second place. |
| Do you have a favourite instrument either as a player or appreciator? |
Oh.. a harp.. or maybe even a melodica. Give me one of those any day! |
| Can you remember your first stage and/or studio experience? |
Yes… I was 8 and I had to play a singing MALE thief ‘cause I was the tallest one in my class! Way to confuse a little girl, eh - Scarred for life ( I loved it really! ). |
| What five albums would you want to find if you were stranded on a desert island with enough food, water, a copy of IOM, a fantastic audio system, and any one musical instrument of your choice? |
Can I make five compilation albums?? No…? Mp3 CDs… with room for thousands of songs?
Ok, then - it’s gonna have to be Scott Mathews “Passing Stranger”, Nina Simone “Greatest Hits”, Joni Mitchell “Blue”, Led Zeppelin “IV”, Bjørk “debut” (mind you, my answers will probably change next week!)
And.. a baby, grand piano! |
| Do you have a favourite album cover of all time? |
Not really… although I really like Emiliana Torrini’s one for “Fisherman’s Woman” and Bjorks “Post” |
| and what, may we ask, are the five albums you listened to most recently? |
Regina Spektor “Begin to hope”, Nick Drake “A Treasury” , Ray LaMontagne “Trouble”
I’ll stop at that, I think! |
| What five movies did you watch most recently? |
None actually… (could make something up to fill the slot… nah!) |
| Which artist would you most like to meet or borrow a bag of sugar from as a next door neighbour? |
If John Lennon was still with us, it would be him! |
| If you could have been responsible for writing the best song or piece of music ever written, what would it be? |
My mums lullaby – it’ about sleeping trolls! |
| If you could have three wishes, what would they be? |
To be able to fly, butterflies in my tummy and John Lennon lending me sugar! |
| On to the more intimate side of Ragz.. what did you dream about last night AND you can't say 'I do not remember'... |
Someone had taken my bathtub out of my flat – couldn’t find it anywhere.Found a note though – but my sight was too blurred to read it…! |
| And, if we were to “shadow” you on a typical day, what might we see you doing? |
I walk a lot – you’d see me doing that in Liverpool. Maybe eat an apple too.. or almonds (they’re great!!) |
| What did you do, the day before yesterday? |
I got rained on… Liverpool is Liverpool! |
| If you had to move to another country for a year to record an album, but you only had a few suitcases and an hour to pack… what would you take? |
Clothes, my guitar and an mp3 player………… (if I could I’d pack a piano too!!) |
| What bugs you most? |
On bad days it upsets me if I fall over or walk into things/people but then on a serious note: I do struggle with arrogance in people! |
| What makes your day really shine? |
Silver weather when the sky looks like silver and the air is crisp. Autumn especially has this effect on me.. everything goes marmalade! |
| I hate to end it all like this Ragz, but.. finally, what are your plans for 2007? |
Finish our album, get it circling – keep gigging and all that comes along with that!!
Cheers for reading!
x |
| Ragz.. thanks for dropping by... the delightful Sandra will see you to the car! |
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Ragz was interviewed by Elley Wilson - November 25 2006
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