THE WHOLE WORLD IS MUSIC

Caroline Waters has moved from a musical expression with piano, big band and big sound to the little, naked format with only her voice and guitar. Now, she is fully embracing her home market.

Caroline was in the middle of her fifth release, the CD Being Totally Alive, when she felt pain in her neck and arms. She was able to go through with the release concert, but after that it stopped…for a long time.

• I finally understood that I had to give my body time to rest, she says.

The piano has always been Caroline’s instrument, ever since she heard her father, Per Asplin, play. He was a pianist, actor and singer, and wrote the Christmas musical, Putti Plutti Pott. As a child, Caroline had leading roles in several of her dad’s productions, and the two performed side by side for many years.

Now, Caroline was faced with the fact that she couldn’t play the piano. But her need to create was still great, and she found that she could play the guitar with less effort. This resulted in a solo recording with some of her most requested live songs, by songwriters such as Suzanne Vega, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, in addition to her original material. The title of the album is Exposed, and it can be found in Norwegian CD-stores right now.

• It is the first time for me to release something so naked, says Caroline. – I have gone from a 30-piece orchestra to just me. Makes it easier to tour, for sure!

And after hearing Caroline at the release concert she recently gave at Cosmopolite, I can confirm that she has a unique ability to communicate, and that she achieves a remarkable intimacy with her audience when it’s just her and her guitar. But she has also found her way back to the piano, and she has chosen to release Being Totally Alive at this time also. The songs on this album is piano based, and Caroline is joined by several top American musicians. At her concerts in Norway, she is joined by cellist Aage Kvalbein, and the beautiful tone of the cello emphasizes her emotional and vulnerable expression.

Caroline has been busy writing, and doing theatre and music her whole life. She has also been teaching her craft. But she admits it hasn’t been a particularly lucrative profession, at least not if you measure it in money. – I just have to trust that the money will come when needed. I have always been freelance, and made it work. But sometimes it is come hell or high water!

Come Hell or High Waters is the title of Caroline’s musical that she is currently writing. It is based on her life story, much like the novel she just finished. One wonders where she gets all the creativity and ideas.