Songwriter and artist Rebekka Bakken gives us seven new Christmas songs on the album Winter Nights. – There is a lot to write about and many tones that sound when you tune into the Christmas message, the Christmas season that holds heaven or hell.
/ 20/11/2020 / Kristian DugstadName: Rebecca Bakken
Current with: Winter Nights (Album)
TONO member since: 2000
Rebekka Bakken, can you tell us a little about who you are?
I am a singer and songwriter, and have done most of my work outside of Norway, but after moving back a few years ago I have also been able to work a little in this country.
A few weeks ago you released the Christmas album Winter Nights – Your latest, in a long series of releases. But where did it all begin? What is your musical background?
Music was always central to the family when I was growing up. Everyone played an instrument or two and the family loved to play and sing together. We didn't have a stereo or radio and not many channels on the TV so music was what my parents liked; folk music, Roger Whittaker hymns and what we made up ourselves. December brought lots of darkness, togetherness and an even larger repertoire; Christmas carols. I started playing the violin at the age of 5, and had a fantastic teacher, Ole Foss in Lier, who introduced me to classical music and the experience of the magical meeting between the strings, the bow and me. This experience resonates with me to this day and is central when I write or perform music.
Throughout your career you have expressed yourself through various genres. What would you say is the sound, the form, the musical expression of Rebekka Bakken?
My musical expression is a melting pot of many different types of music. I learned to play the piano and sing songs from Norwegian songbooks from school. Here I was introduced to Norwegian popular and folk music with songs by Ole Paus at the forefront. I think a lot of my musical expression is based on folk tunes, classical music and the fantastic Norwegian folk tradition of the 70s/80s and early 90s. Then I have branched out into the styles I ended up in later from collaborations with others; blues, soul, rock, folk and jazz. And today I live by “man tager det man haver”.
October 30th you let go Winter NightsHow has the response been?
It's been good. I've worked a lot on this album and I'm really happy with it myself, so it's especially gratifying that it's been received so well.
In what way is working on a Christmas album different?
The process is not much different except for the songwriting part. It is a luxury to have a theme that inspires in this way with so many angles that Christmas provides. I really love Christmas and it was not strange for me to write lyrics and music related to this holiday.
Over half of the songs on the album are your own compositions. How do you think differently as a songwriter when writing a Christmas song?
I don't think that much differently, as I always work intuitively and so this part of the job takes its own form and I just follow – in the same way as I do with any other composition. But the theme is different and thus it gives different impulses in the material itself.
Christmas is heavily influenced by nostalgia and tradition. Is it challenging to create completely new music for such a canon?
These 7 songs I composed all came very easily to me and I could probably have written many more. The Christmas theme holds so much. There is a lot you can write about and many notes that sound when you tune into the Christmas message, the Christmas season that holds heaven or hell – or if you just want to ride the wave of nostalgia and tradition.
What Christmas music do you listen to yourself?
There are so many genres of Christmas music now and I like variety. I like to turn on the radio in December and hear what is served to me, and when I get bored I put on things I never get tired of like Christmas music from Bing Crosby, Mahalia Jackson, the Vienna Philharmonic, Bach's Christmas Oratorio and a bunch of Norwegian artists like Bugge Wesseltoft or Ola Paus.
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You are a distinguished songwriter, with well over 100 works registered in TONO. Where and how do you write?
I write whenever I want. Preferably with a bit of time pressure as I like to be lazy. The last half hour before I go on stage is a favorite, when I have nothing to do and am sitting in standby mode but I am focused. That's when some new notes tend to come. I never know when the lyrics will come and lately I've been struggling a bit with the flow in this area. It helped to write some Christmas music and lyrics, then I got some oil in the machinery.
What inspires you?
Life inspires me, the different perspectives, the notion of being in others and other people's situations, as well as what I observe around me and within me.
Have you experienced that you have changed as a composer and lyricist throughout your career?
Yes, fortunately, one is constantly changing and maturing. This is wonderful because one never runs out when the starting point is never the same.
Do you have equipment or tools that are indispensable in the process?
Piano, pen and music paper.
It's difficult to completely avoid the corona situation. How have you and your work been affected?
I had just finished packing my suitcase to go on tour in Europe the night before it all started. I got a phone call saying the tour was cancelled and this was the only disappointment I experienced this year. Because I know that when faced with challenges and crises I have a choice between only two reactions; to be in resistance or to be open or rather grateful for the unknown. I chose the latter as I can't do anything about this situation, and thus my year has been quite good. I couldn't have been in a better country than Norway under such circumstances, I have had a unique chance to reflect on my own values, goals and desires in life as well as a luxurious amount of time with those I love.
What is the first plan to be realized when society fully opens up again?
I had a bunch of concerts down in Europe in 2020 that were moved to 2021 so next year is spread out with concerts that will be done the moment communities open up. Then I want to go down to Piedmont and drink lots of wine and stretch my legs while maybe eating a good pasta and a piece of cheese between beats.
What is your career highlight so far?
I can't choose one, here are two that immediately come to mind:
A highlight was when I stood on a stage in Tyrol with a bunch of old jazz legends from New York and sang Norwegian folk tunes that they accompanied and improvised around. I felt incredibly stupid but gave it my all anyway because the promoter had invited me as a guest and I at least owed the audience an effort. After the concert the guys came over to me and exclaimed; “Man! You are one of us!”.
Another highlight was standing on stage in a sold-out Vienna State Opera and there was a huge cheer and constant stomping between songs. Vienna is my hometown and I feel very close to Austria – it was an incredibly warm experience.
Can you share your greatest music experience – as a listener?
I had been teased by the guys in Roy Hargrove's band at the breakfast buffet at the festival hotel in Leverkusen. We were both supposed to play the same stage that night and I felt humiliated and pretty pissed off. I sat backstage and listened to Roy Hargrove and the band begin their concert and swore out loud that I wouldn't catch a single note from those nasty people there. The music continued and assaulted me, melting me so much that I threw my bitterness in my bag and snuck up to the hall to hear more. I stood there for the next two hours and enjoyed it. Very special to soften like that and go from aversion to being captivated. It was a fantastic concert with fantastic musicians. The Roy Hargrove Factor.
Finally – Can you give us a tip for a Norwegian artist you listen to a lot these days?
Anders Jektvik. He's great. Otherwise, I have to mention that there isn't a song by Ole Paus that I haven't heard. I've loved and listened to him since I was a little girl.