SENSUAL AUTHORITY

The artist, Caroline Asplin, was world known in Norway as a child star. She has come a long way building a new career, nationally, as well as, internationally, now with a more powerful expression and a new last name.

Compassion, the CD, came out four years ago, and this year brought a new release: "Talk With Eve", the live recording.

-Caroline, what's new in your music and lyrics since "Compassion"?
- New!

Caroline fills the room with laughter that comes from deep in her belly and lungs.
- That's a hard one, but the arrangements are rougher. More funky. My lyrics have always been pretty varied, but I hope they are better. The lyrics of "Talk With Eve" are, if nothing else, more accessible. "Talk With Eve" is a live recording. I am much more fond of, and satisfied with, myself now, and it shows in how I express myself to the audience. I let go more, dance on stage ­ all this effects the music.

-What do you want to express?
- Good music!
There are so many things that fascinate me. I have to express myself. I'd go crazy if I didn't. My music and lyrics are images of what I care about in the moment. Pieces of my life: Love, strife, and last but not least, joy. This CD is a culmination of the last three years of my life.

-Could you have been a poet?
-I was born an artist ­ I couldn't survive without the attention. I need the feedback from the audience.

Two dark blue eyes, surrounded by a thick, red mane, stare straight back at the journalist, intensely.
- But do you have a message?
- The title cut, "Talk With Eve", is about finding ones own path. About letting go of conventions. Reaching boundaries and expanding them. Simply doing what you want to do not what you're Œsupposed' to do. I grew up in a conservative family. Strict rules on how to live and behave. Most people usually go through a rowdy adolescence before they calm down. I started late. I was in my twenties, and I'm not done yet. Ends with a naughty laughter. My teenage years were too grown up.
- I needed control. Part of the control included doing things properly. Didn't dare to smoke, or drink, or go to parties. I had a lot of responsibility early on because of my work as a child star.
- No one else could do the job. That's why I missed out on playing with other kids and spent most of my time with adults.