- But, at the same time, I have become incredibly strong from this and have gotten a lot of resources to work with. It is exciting now that I can give myself more freedom. To see how far I can go, how far I can reach. And to let go of the control, not to mention to let go of controlling others. Now, more than ever, I am able to let life in. Now that I don't have so much control, I realize that the world is so much bigger. Discover that I have shut out so much. I really don't need to take responsibility for all the misery in the world.
Again the room is filled with strong and singing laughter.
EMOTIONAL ADRENALINE KICK
-What is more important for you, lyrics or melody?
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The message is what's most important and it comes through in both the lyrics and the melody. I want to trigger human feelings. Communicate. It can't all be expressed with words. The music emphasizes and gives a new dimension to the feelings. If I wanted to express pain verbally, I would only be able to get so far, before people would start to process it intellectually. If I scream, on the other hand, people feel it in their guts, viscerally. I want to grab people by their roots. I want to involve people emotionally, and not let them just study a phenomena outside of themselves.
-Is the interaction with the audience important to you?
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It is an enormous adrenaline kick. You don't need drugs on stage! All the attention, the warmth, the enthusiasm and energy that comes from the audience in that moment is phenomenal. The more people that listen, the more centered I become. I feel safer and deliver much better. I get more and more uncomfortable the smaller the audience. We artists are lucky in that respect: most people seek to belong, to have the energy flow freely between one another. Whether it's religion or drugs.
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I feel that happens to me on stage. When the room is really cooking and I give and give, I get so much back in return. It is like symbiosis. I am part of a larger entity. It's not just the music that makes this happen, it's people recognizing something familiar and, as a result, taking part in a larger oneness. I experience this strongly on stage, but also in nature.
-Do you seek inspiration and strength from other art forms?
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I like to read, get a lot from reading novels and poetry. The best part is talking to other people. To be together with other people is what I seek the most. I also see other artists, both foreign and Norwegian.
- You're not a typical artist type?
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I am a social animal. I scale the walls if I'm alone for too long. Then I'll use the phone and stay on it for a while...