Foto-© Sebastian Madej
Die norwegische Singer-Songwriterin Hilde Skaar, aka SKAAR, tauchte 2018 mit ihrer Debütsingle Higher Ground plötzlich im norwegischen Netflix-Drama Battle und damit auf zahlreichen Playlists auf. Da war sie gerade einmal 19 Jahre alt. Es folgten doppeltes Platin, 2020 ihr Debütalbum The Other Side of Waiting, im darauffolgenden Jahr veröffentlichte sie Waiting, ein Akustikalbum mit Auszügen aus ihrem Backkatalog. Jetzt erschien erst kürzlich mit Mad Woman Pt. 1 nicht nur ihr drittes Album, sondern auch ihre Ankunft im Jetzt.
Die Musik, die sie als Teenagerin geschrieben hatte, passte nicht mehr zusammen mit der gelebten Realität und so ist Mad Woman aus einer Abrechnung mit der Vergangenheit entstanden, die mitten in der aktuellen Realität einer jungen Frau ankommt: „What is most important is I’ve finally been able to say things out loud to myself”, sagt SKAAR, “and now I’m gonna say it out loud to the world, as well.” Die Geschichte der Aufarbeitung hat sie in zwei Teile verpackt. Der erste Teil spiegelt SKAARs mentalen Zustand auf dem Tiefpunkt wider, den sie unbedingt überwinden wollte. Der zweite Teil handelt von dem Tag, an dem sie ihre Kontrolle und ihren Geist zurückgewinnen würde, indem sie dieses Album zu ihren eigenen Bedingungen schreibt. Der nun veröffentlichte erste Teil besteht aus sieben Tracks, die ihr lange verdrängtes Trauma aufarbeiten: eine toxische Beziehung und prägende Ereignisse ihrer Kindheit.
Wir haben Hilde, die gerade mit Tori Amos als Support durch Europa tourt per Mail einige Fragen geschickt und sie in Hamburg zum Portrait-Foto-Shooting getroffen – unser Interview mit der norwegischen Newcomerin gibt es hier!
Bandinfos:
– Name: Hilde Skaar / SKAAR
– Founding year: 2016
– Location: Stord, Norway
– Release: Mad Woman, Pt.1 (March 24th, 2023)
Questions:
What is your first memory of a contact with music? And when did you start to play music/sing?
My first musical memory is when I was on a road trip with my sister and her boyfriend when I was little. It was a beautiful summer day and we were driving on the west coast of Norway, and I remember hearing a beautiful voice on the radio. It was Chris Martin with the scientist and I remember thinking: this is so amazing, I need to do this!!
I started singing from a very early age, it has just always been something I do. And I started playing guitar when I was in 6th grade case my brother did it and I always wanted to be just like him.
We read that pop music was an important impact for you from an young age on – what pop acts did influence you at the time, what do you like about that genre in general and how do you like your own music to turn out?
My biggest influence from an early age was Coldplay. And then Florence and the machine, Robyn and later when I grew older, Banks. Banks is my faaavorite artist!
I just love pop because it’s so instant and “available” for everyone. I love that you can go through the biggest or the smallest things and then turn it into a song that everyone can hear and sing along to or relate to. There’s a huge community feeling in pop music I feel like.
You’ve now released albums in 2020, 2021 and in 2023 – seems like you’re on the edge of your creativity. How do you keep creative, even more how did you manage during the time of the pandemic?
I think the only reason I stay creative is that the way I process things is to write about them. It feels like with every new chapter I need to write about it and it’s just the best way for me to move on. So it’s not cause I’m trying to but because I need to to keep myself sane.
You wrote Mad Woman in two parts. How was that process and why did you decide to split them?
It really felt like two parts. The songs have two different vibes and I really wanted the songs that were darker to not be outshined by the lighter ones, so I decided to make it a two-part album.
Do you see them as two bodies of work combined in one album or do they need each other?
Both yes and no. I feel like part one is very much a body if it’s own but I feel like part two needs the darkness from part one to serve it’s purpose. So all in all it feels like one body of work!
Mad Woman is a title that bears a lot of connotation – especially when you look back in the history of women’s position in society. What does the term mean to you?
Mad Woman is a term I feel have been used a lot in history. And most of all to disregard women when they speak up and stand up for them selves or others. I have felt like this a lot the last three years and wanted to explore that concept a bit in this album.
In the bio you were quoted “The whole album is about my journey to dare to listen to myself, believe myself and let it go.” – It must feel good to turn trauma into empowerment. Do you hope the songs can do that for other people too?
100%! I feel like as a woman you’re thought to follow the rules and not do anything crazy. If you stand up for yourself or stand for what’s important to yourself it’s easy to be seen as emotional or unstable. I’ve struggled with this a lot and I’m still working on myself to be better at listening to myself and my body and not let anyone tell me how to act or what to do. This album is about exactly that, the journey to become better at following your gut and to stand up for yourself. So I hope that other people can listen to the album and feel empowered and seen.
We read that our favorite song Something Like This was written shortly after your first session with a therapist – which impact did it have on you and how did the song come into life?
Yes that’s true! In my first therapy session I felt like I had an epiphany and that I finally understood myself and the whole universe haha! I felt so confident and just needed to write about that feeling. Later on I understood that I know nothing and the way you feel and think changes all the time. But it was nice to feel invincible for a moment! The song came to life right after that first session and I just wanted to channel that empowered feeling. It’s my favorite song to play live cause I get to relive that!
Can you already give us some hints on Mad Woman Part 2, what and when we can expect, how the songs will sound?
Ooo exciting!! It’s a bit lighter than part one but still has a lot of sadness, anxiety and vulnerability. But it’s more uplifting and has more hints of hope in it. It’s also a bit more organic which I love!
What’s next on your schedule?
I’m still on tour with Tori Amos and have been for three weeks! So I’m just gonna play lots of concerts and have fun in Europe! After this tour we’re playing our own shows here and there – excited!!
What should we know and what shouldn’t we know about SKAAR?
You should know that I’m a singer, songwriter, artist and human being. I make pop music that’s both very uplifting and depressing at the same time, and our live shows are reeeeeally fun!! I also love love love dogs. You shouldn’t know that I have a candy fobia cause I’m embarrassed:)
What are you doing when you’re not doing music?
Drinking beer with friends, watching TV, taking care of my plants, petting dogs, going on walks in the park 🙂
What was the last record you brought?
I think all my demons greeting me as a friend by Aurora!
What did you learn in 2022?
Listen to your gut, and being anxious can sometimes be your body trying to tell you something important. So listen to your body and respect yourself and your limits!
Which song makes you dance every time?
I gotta feeling by blackeyed peas hehe
How would your Bedroomdisco look like?
All my friends together being really drunk and singing along to I gotta feeling :))
SKAAR live:
02.09.23 Darmstadt, Golden Leaves Festival
