Lucie Niemela found me; I did not find her. She was on my last.fm page one day. And I was like cool! Some person from Finland! Which isn't Scandinavia.
Sometimes singers and bands harass me on last.fm and they kind of suck. For example, I've had a few requests from bands/singers I think are terrible and I don't know how to gently dance around the subject that if I post something about them, it's just going to be me being like "wah wah wah 'Call Me Maybe' is like 'Purple Rain' compared to this!" But Lucie's pretty good- and in a week where I want to post about nothing that isn't Fiona Apple-related, this post will be an exception to that golden rule.
She's a very amicable presence and her music is quite relaxing. And her answers were prompt! Kudos, Lucie. Here's a little insight into her inspiring Czech-Finnish psyche:
UC: How did you end up in Finland? What has it been like for you in Finland?
Lucie: I decided to learn Finnish when I was fifteen. That happened after I heard the ski jumper Janne Ahonen on tv say “hyvää huomenta” (=good morning). I won a grant to go to a Finnish language course in Jyväskylä in 2001, that was my lucky year that changed everything. Since then I kept coming back to Finland, then I met a Finnish guy and fell in love… I moved to Finland permanently in 2004. Living here has been great although I admit it’s difficult to deal with the long winters and it also took me some time to adjust to Finnish culture. I come from quite collectivist culture where people help each other and solve other people’s problems almost a little too much. Finnish people are quite independent and self-reliant. That’s why I felt isolated sometimes, especially in the beginning but living here has taught me I can make it on my own.
UC: How does your Czech heritage influence your music?
Lucie: It doesn’t show that much in the music or melodies but it shows in texts. I was raised to be aware of problems in relationships and to feel empathy for others. I guess my Czech heritage lives in the fact that I always write a song for someone.
UC: You are currently trying to play the Flow Festival. How has that been going for you?
Lucie: Not very well, I’m afraid :) I’m not going to make it this year.
UC: What made you get into music initially? Where do you hope it takes you?
Lucie: I started composing when I was eleven and I played and sang every day but just for myself. I put over 150 of my songs into a drawer. Then I came to Finland and met amazing musicians. I even studied at a conservatory for one year but then I quit and didn’t write any songs for two years because I thought I was not good enough. I chose the easier way of getting an academic job.
Fortunately step by step I found the courage and started performing here and there again. Then in late 2010 it suddenly hit me: my music was good enough, I had a lot to say and I was meant to do this. I recorded a demo and sent it out to Finland and Germany and six months later I was in the studio! The result is now in my hands, on the internet, on the radio… So basically the journey to music happened once I arranged in my head who I really was.
Where will it take me? I just hope to play as many concerts as possible, interact with people, share stories and emotions with them. Music is about communication and connecting and I love it.
UC: I hear you're very popular on the Finnish concert circuit. Is that true? Because I've not yet been to Finland and would not know!
Lucie: I’m not dramatically popular (....yet:))) but my songs have been aired on Finnish radios and I have played all over Finland. My fanbase is growing and I can’t wait to announce my autumn tour.
CHECK HER OUT. she's worth your time!
Sometimes singers and bands harass me on last.fm and they kind of suck. For example, I've had a few requests from bands/singers I think are terrible and I don't know how to gently dance around the subject that if I post something about them, it's just going to be me being like "wah wah wah 'Call Me Maybe' is like 'Purple Rain' compared to this!" But Lucie's pretty good- and in a week where I want to post about nothing that isn't Fiona Apple-related, this post will be an exception to that golden rule.
She's a very amicable presence and her music is quite relaxing. And her answers were prompt! Kudos, Lucie. Here's a little insight into her inspiring Czech-Finnish psyche:
UC: What are up to right at the moment?
Lucie: I’m busy with my concerts in June. Then I will have a short holiday and then I will start writing and arranging new material for my second album that I plan to record next year. I’ve been writing in Finnish lately so I might prepare another album in Finnish language only :)UC: How did you end up in Finland? What has it been like for you in Finland?
UC: How does your Czech heritage influence your music?
UC: You are currently trying to play the Flow Festival. How has that been going for you?
UC: What made you get into music initially? Where do you hope it takes you?
Fortunately step by step I found the courage and started performing here and there again. Then in late 2010 it suddenly hit me: my music was good enough, I had a lot to say and I was meant to do this. I recorded a demo and sent it out to Finland and Germany and six months later I was in the studio! The result is now in my hands, on the internet, on the radio… So basically the journey to music happened once I arranged in my head who I really was.
Where will it take me? I just hope to play as many concerts as possible, interact with people, share stories and emotions with them. Music is about communication and connecting and I love it.
UC: I hear you're very popular on the Finnish concert circuit. Is that true? Because I've not yet been to Finland and would not know!
CHECK HER OUT. she's worth your time!
Just tweeted this interview because the entire internet should read it.
ReplyDeleteeven Snooki.
thanks Al!
ReplyDelete