We don’t get so many solo artists on here, so it’s always a pleasure to add one to the collection. Hailing from the Netherlands, but with roots in Norway, today we have Luíra…
Simple things first – where are you from?
I was born in Amsterdam, but I found out a few years ago with a DNA test that I am half Norwegian and have roots here in the North. About my father’s family I didn’t know so much, so this was really a surprise. Before I moved to Tromsø I visited Norway around 16 times, because I love the serenity and stillness of the untouched nature here. It felt like coming home, already from the first time. So, in the end maybe not such a coincidence I feel so at home here!
How long have you been playing as a solo act?
I started with solo project Luíra in 2017, a few months after my band Adeia broke up. Mostly I was writing new music and learning how to be a good producer. I started at the end of 2017 producing lessons with Sander Gommans (ex-After Forever, Trillium, MaYaN).
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Haha! The band name comes from my name, Laura. It’s actually how you pronounce my name in Norwegian, literally!
What are your influences?
I come from classical music, and then I started my band Adeia. Classical chamber music I still love to play! But to be honest, I always listened to a lot of different music styles from early age, to name a few: Queen, Beethoven, Muse, Devin Townsend, Tchaikovsky, Björk, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Pachelbel, Warduna, Opeth, Sinding, Mike Oldfield, and Simon and Garfunkel.
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Describe your music. What makes you unique?
What makes my music unique is that I combine my classical roots with folk influences, with a little glance to my heavy- metal past. And besides this it’s my choice of instruments, from the violins and viola to the Sami drum and my violin drum to the bass tagelharpa and the different vocal techniques I looove to use! (from creepy voices to grunting and throatsinging).
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Mostly, when I start writing a new song, I start with lyrics. This is not easy to answer for me, but to name a few themes: personal experiences, our beautiful nature, climate change and the fact that so many people/ governments put their heads in the sand (I am vegan and try to inspire other people), injustice in this world and (psychologically) abuse (and overcoming trauma).
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Live shows are planned for next year, after the release of the whole album. I love live shows, the plan is to bring my music live as close as can be to how I wrote the songs. It will be awesome!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
I don’t know, haha! I mostly focus so much on the music,… like I am completely alone and in my own world. I intend to forget everything around me :)
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
I play acoustic violins/ viola and play on a Nord Stage Piano. And I play on the bass tagelharpa, Sami drum and violin drum.
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What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
At the moment I am promoting my single Secret Medicine from my upcoming debut/ solo album Free.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
For the coming months are my plans to mix my coming album Free, send it to the masterer (Creative Headroom) to learn more about producing, writing new music for my second album and to start with preparations for the live concerts next year!
Luíra: official
