Ultima-current and critically acclaimed DJ and songwriter Charlotte Bendiks draws inspiration for her music from her native lands. – There is a lot of inspiration to be gained from being in nature, and in the north there is a lot of very beautiful nature and a lot of beautiful light.
/ 06/09/2019 / Kristian DugstadName: Charlotte Bendiksen
Age: 34
Current with: Home Erotic / Bon-Sexy out at Accidental JNR today!
TONO member since: 2015
Who is Charlotte Bendiks?
She likes dogs, Jacuzzi, cycling, bonfires, getting pacifiers, hummus, free wifi, Mezcal, dark days and nights, talking fast and dancing slow, fun puns, memes and much much more…
What is your musical background?
As a music lover, I became involved in the festival and event scene in Tromsø in my teens. I learned a lot about the electronic underground scene from working with the Insomniafestivalen and became an avid record collector and occasional DJ.
What made you start writing music?
After playing records and listening to a lot of electronic music for a few years, some good friends suggested I try making my own music and introduced me to Reason and Ableton Live.
What was the first song you ever wrote?
Lofoten was the first song I made, it was released on my first EP on Love OD Communications in 2013.
What inspires you?
Inspiration can come in all sorts of forms and situations, what worries me is that in our new everyday life we don't have enough free time to really be inspired. We live in a daily life that requires artists to produce more and more content to be relevant.
I think that being bored is always good for creativity, something that I find difficult to make room for in an increasingly busy everyday life where we are always connected to multiple digital platforms.
How do your roots in Tromsø and Northern Norway influence your music?
There is a lot of inspiration to be gained from being in nature, and in the north there is a lot of very beautiful nature and a lot of beautiful light.
Where do you start a song? With a rhythm? A single sound?
Each song starts with a story or an experience, which I understand musically after divination in coffee grounds.
Do you have any equipment or tools that are indispensable in the writing process?
I really like having a test panel. That is, I invite close friends who know me and my music to listen to drafts of songs I'm working on, their feedback really helps me make decisions to finish a song. The biggest problem I have with finishing a song is self-confidence, so it's really nice to get constructive feedback from outside.
Diego Scaro is a good friend who is often involved in the process, we like to meet to eat nachos and listen to new ideas together.
You've spent a lot of time in Berlin. What's the difference between the club scene there and back home?
The biggest difference I notice is that in Berlin they are more aware of the political side of club culture. There are several organizers and forums that work hard for gender equality (this includes gender, ethnicities and religions) which I think makes the club scene more diverse and interesting. And then you have the beautiful Görlitzer park where you can hear drum circles all summer long.
Audio House composer, are you working on new music all the time?
I wouldn't call myself a "House Composer", lol. I always have something new I'm working on, but there's often a break in the studio continuity because I make my living by traveling around playing music.
Do you often premiere new songs in front of an audience during a DJ set?
I like to test out new songs in DJ sets to hear how the sound mix works on large systems at clubs, and preferably at several different clubs and facilities before I finish the mix and submit it for mastering.
When can we expect a new release?
TODAY!
You're playing at Ultima Nights. How do you feel about being part of a festival for contemporary music? What do you mean by contemporary?
I'm really looking forward to playing a slightly longer set than I usually do (in Norway) at Ultima, which is a festival for contemporary music. I want to challenge the audience and play music that I don't play very often in Norway.
What can the audience expect?
A patient progression in the set and a lot of music I haven't played in Norway before.
Read more about Ultima Nights where Charlotte Bendiks performs here.
What is your career highlight so far?
I love storytelling, so I think the phone interview that was printed in Mixmag in 2017 is one of many highlights for me.
Can you share your greatest music experience – as a listener?
It's too hard to choose... I can name some music that has been great to listen to; Inga Juuso, Ionut Cercel, Stallions Stud, Ana Helder, Andres Landeros, Lena Willikens, and much, much more.
