INTERVIEW

Kate Havnevik is a Norwegian singer and songwriter from Oslo. In her first interview with THE HUQ, Kate talks about her music, her inspirations,  the comparisons to Bjork and Bat for Lashes, and lots more.

Read below and explore the mind of this beautiful songstress.


Kate can you introduce yourself to our readers please?  Hei hei, like we say in Norwegian. My name is Kate Havnevik, pronounced Hav-Ne-Veek..... I am a Norwegian songstress.....

 What is your first memory of being inspired by music?

Both my parents are musicians, classical flautists, so I think music has affected me since I was a seed my mum's belly…. But my first memory of being inspired is when I was a kid and marching around in the living room with my big brother to Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet, there are some really powerful parts in that piece that I still love. I also remember my dad playing Kate Bush's Babushka in the car and driving fast over the speed humps!

When did you realize you could actually do this as a career?

As a 13 year old I started playing classical and jazz guitar, I totally idolized my guitar teacher and wanted to be a musician. I had times I wanted to be a dancer or an actress too, but always figured I had more to offer in music.

What has been the hardest part in getting your music out there?

The financial part of releasing a record is always the hardest. It's very well to spend all your money on making an album and then put it out on itunes, but how are people going to know about it and go and buy it? You need to spend money on printing up the cd's to sell online or get them distributed in shops and PR and PR is soooo expensive! Thank God for the Internet which at least give everyone a chance to build a fan base and be active to promote or share music. Phew! 

What was the inspiration behind your debut album, Melankton?

Believe it or not but in the very beginning I was inspired by old Icelandic crooner songs. They had these gorgeous string arrangements and bell-like sounds. They sounded like they came from the soul. David Byrne also inspired me and Sigur Ros for making songs that breathe…. long songs that took their time to grow and to end.

Now that we are discussing Melankton, can you tell us about your experience filming the video for 'Unlike Me'?

It was amazing! But I must say when we had our diving test the day before the shoot I thought to myself 'this is never going to work', I just didn’t manage to dive and get comfortable. I had never dived and been breathing through an air tank before. But it was too late to turn back so I didn’t air my worries to anyone. The next day, when we started filming, I handled the diving really well. I actually loved it. I was just floating around underwater like in a different world. The water was lukewarm and there was some chlorine in it still, it was a water tank that was used for diving classes, but it was impossible to see anything, so I couldn’t really even see the underwater cameraman filming me. We had underwater speakers so I could hear the song and lip-sync. It was a lot to think about: lip-sync, perform, look in the right direction, look natural, and make sure I had enough air to breathe… I had a diving instructor by my side out of frame all the time. And every time I needed air I tapped my lips. The whole shoot was 8 hrs…. and I must say I was freezing and completely exhausted when it was over… but it was a great experience and I was so happy with the result!

That video by the way is arguably one of the best released in recent times, I applaud the director/producer.

THANK YOU!!!!

Moving along.. When is your next album coming?

My next album has been through a rollercoaster of challenges. A lot to do with my own turbulent private life the last year or so as I split with my long term partner, but also the creative challenges have been big and confusing. You set out to do one thing and end up with something else, and maybe that’s ok, but you have to settle with it and be really proud of it.

Two of the songs for the new album were released on itunes only this spring, Halo and Show Me Love. Halo was placed in Gray's Anatomy and Show Me Love was a perfect summer tune. My next step is to release a 5 track EP in connection with my tour supporting OWL CITY in September. The EP will only be available in hardcopy on tour and in my web shop. Then the full album will come out in the beginning of next year. Don't ask me why it all takes such a long time. I learn on the way......

What producers are you currently working with and what is the direction of this album?

The producer of the album is my long-term collaborator Guy Sigsworth. He produced 5 songs on Melankton and this time he produces the whole album. I love the soundscape he creates and invents around each song. He is a genius! The direction of this album is a little tighter than Melankton, shorter snappier songs, very varied and slightly more pop, but with a quirk! The songs are more ‘straight to the point’ and direct.

What is the chemistry like working with these producers? Are you able to dictate/control the musical direction?

It's a complete collaboration, but I will definitely tell the producer what I want and if there is something created that I don't like we will take it out. Sometimes I will start the song in a certain direction and sometimes Guy will and we will interact on the way and create something we both like. But in the end I am the artist who has to perform the music, be the face of the music, and stand by it 100% so I need to be completely happy with it and proud of it.

How do you feel about the comparisons being made between yourself, Björk and Bat for Lashes?

I am extremely flattered! They are both amazing artists.

They say that electronica is a dying genre, what are your thoughts?

I don't think it's a dying genre, but it might slightly change. They will just come up with a new name for something very similar.... All good music reaches through whatever it's called....

Are there any emerging artists that you're really into right now?

I really like Norwegian singer Ida Maria's album 'a Fortress around my heart', she is raw and real and is doing really well internationally. Owl City's new album is GREAT!!!! Icelandic artist EBerg is one of my favorites… I love Swedish songstress Jenny Wilson, she has 2 albums out here. I also really like Florence & the Machine. He/They are not new but Patrick Watson’s song The Great Escape is so beautiful it made me buy the whole album!!! Lovely! And I really like a new British singer songwriter called Ellie Goulding but she hasn’t released anything yet.....

Where do you hope to be by 2010?

I hope to have my new album ready to go printed and boxed, and a music video in my pocket! Would be nice with a tour lined up and............ a trip to Hawaii and a big tub of ice cream!

What advice would you give to musicians trying to get off the ground?

Play as much live as possible, that's where the future lies, and record your album yourself however your recording equipment is and sell your CD at your shows and online! Be very active online on twitter and facebook and whatever else will come up. Don’t wait to be discovered! Just go for it. If you take yourself seriously other people will too.

Where can we buy your music?

You can buy my music in my web merch shop http://www.backstreet-merch.com/bands/khvnk/ on amazon.com, itunes and hopefully in your local music shop if there still is one.

Thanks for the interview, Kate, we at THE HUQ will continue to support and promote you and your music.

Thank you for having me! Kate xxx