Daniela Reyes has been showered with positive reviews for her debut album Engangsdager. The album has been nominated for two Spellemann awards this year, without it being terribly important to her. – I have made the same album regardless of whether I win or not.
/ 22/04/2022 / Kristian DugstadWho is the songwriter and artist Daniela Reyes? Tell us a little about your musical background?
Hmm the songwriter and the artist is probably not very different from me, Daniela. Started playing the accordion when I was five, and started writing songs when I was around 12. Since then I have only played and done what I want, while it has become clearer and clearer to me what that is. In the “Daniela Reyes project” I mostly stick to songs, but as an accordion player/musician I can easily hang out with other genres.
You've been a member of TONO for over ten years, so there's no doubt that the urge to create came early. When and how did the need to express yourself through music arise?
I heard the Beatles and decided I wanted to learn guitar. One summer I was suddenly sitting at the cottage writing songs every afternoon.
All creative processes are unique – How does music come about for you?
I'm interested in lyrics, and this part of the songwriting process is very idea-based. Then I sit down at an instrument and just play a little bit, I work very intuitively, and play my way to something I like. I kind of think that my song is finished here, and it can be pulled in many different directions genre-wise and musically. So the job from here is often to find a good context to put the song in, without drowning out the idea itself.
What tools do you use the most? What instruments do you prefer to write on?
Writing book and pencil. I often play guitar or harmonium, and want to try my hand at piano and accordion more in the future.
Do lyrics or melody come first?
The lyric ideas come unstructured in all sorts of settings, so I often have a small pile of starting points when I sit down at an instrument.
In the fall of 2021, you released your debut album, Engangsdager, to headlines such as “Striking debut,” “The world needs more of Daniela,” and “An impressive debut.” What is it like to share something so personal and receive so much praise?
Stop it! We spent a lot of time finding the right musicians and ways to make the sound big without it overshadowing the core (lyrics and melody.) In addition, we recorded several things in a slightly old-fashioned way, which I think made it more musical and less perfected. So it was cool that people understood the point, not to make a too nice and smooth sound, and rather go for a slightly different aesthetic.
Songs are basically an honest genre, and in your lyrics you really invite in. Is it
the challengers to be so open?
It's a little different from song to song, but basically not. Before I released the album I thought it was a small thing if people sang along to the songs, but none of that matters to me at all anymore. On this album, most of it happens inside me, so there are a lot of thoughts. Right now I'm sitting with some new lyrics, which mix more with the world and it's much more difficult I think.
You are the sole author of all the works on the album. Has this been a solitary project?
No, I actually enjoy writing alone. I'm open to writing with others, but so far it's been
It would have been best to do it yourself.
You have been nominated for two Spellemann awards for the album; Viser og Visepop and Lyricist of the Year. What
Does that mean anything to you?
That's cool. I think I might look at things a little differently than others. I don't know if it's cocky to say that, but since both my parents tend to get nominated, I actually thought most of the records would be :) And I've made the same record regardless of whether I win or not. But of course, it's great to have awards anyway.
Your performance of the Balloon Song in the TV program Every time we meet received a lot of publicity. Recently you played
also with your mother, Maj Britt Andersen, at the support concert for the victims in Ukraine. This, together with
The Spellemann nominations mean an ever-growing attention to you and your music. How
Does it feel like an insecure musician?
Hehe, I don't know if I'm more or less insecure after everything that's happened in the last year, but larger audiences certainly don't scare me.
You've been playing a lot of concerts lately, and at the end of April you'll be performing both in Bryne and in Oslo. How important is concert performance to you as a songwriter and performer? What does it mean to meet the audience?
It's very important! I can get bored of sitting alone with my own stuff, so it's usually really nice to just play and talk to lots of different people.
How aware are you of your different roles as a composer and lyricist on the one hand, and a performer on the other?
Not very conscious in my solo project, but definitely more so when I'm a musician in other bands.
What role does TONO membership play in your music career?
Anything that manages/helps me keep track of finances and rights is 10/10!!
What would you say is your career highlight so far?
It depends a bit on what you measure, but it was definitely cool to release the first album.
Can you share your greatest musical listening experience?
Paul McCartney in the Globen and Susanne Sundfør solo in Asker Kulturhus, I saw both concerts when I was 12 years old.
Finally, can you recommend some Norwegian music that you listen to?
Hmm, I listen to a lot of different things. I listened to Valkyrien and Konradsen yesterday for example, and they're both super nice.
Read TONO's interview with Konradsen here..