Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Ingmar King
THE RELEASE
Ingmar King's musical journey began in 2020 at the tender age of 16, transitioning from years of classical violin and piano training since the age of six. With influences spanning the spectrum of modern music, the soulful resonance of Adele and the legendary charisma of Freddie Mercury from Queen have left an indelible mark on his creative spirit. Ingmar's talent has shone on both television and radio in Estonia, following his stint as a finalist on "Estonian Idol." He's graced stages across the nation during two memorable tours and numerous live performances. His latest single, recorded by the skilled French sound engineer Théo Laurent-Vitale of Berklee College of Music, showcases Ingmar's artistic evolution and passion for music.
In 'The Times We Had', the magic of creation began in the hallowed practice rooms of Berklee College of Music, where the artist set a challenge for themselves: craft a song in just 10 minutes. Yet, as inspiration flowed, that hour became a testament to the profound connection between music and memory. This song stands as a masterpiece in King's repertoire, a poignant reminder that the moments we've lived can never be reclaimed, but they forever reside in our hearts and memories. With this heartfelt composition, King invites us to embrace the preciousness of the present, a true gift in our lives. 'The Times We Had' is a musical journey that encourages us to treasure each moment, recognizing that the present is where our most cherished memories are born.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
Most of my childhood was spent listening to artists such as Andrea Bocelli who is actually an opera singer as well as the records of Elvis Presley. I mostly grew up on rock and classical music, playing Guitar Hero and started learning the violin at the age of 6.
If I had to list only 4 artists that have influenced me the most with their presence and music I would say they are: Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.
Were there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the creation of the music video, and if so, how did they shape the final product?
This music video was made in collaboration with director Alice Aleksandridi. The whole piece of work revolves around the current version of me singing while repeatedly switching to visuals of the younger and older versions of myself. We start the video off in the beautiful and scenic landscape of the very place I grew up in. It is located in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. Right there, next to the winding river, on a mossy little rock is where I wrote the lyrics to my earliest songs back in 2020. Moving on to the actual school and classroom I used to study in middle school and finishing the video off on a grand stage in the "Alexela Concert Hall", which is the same venue my first bigger performance on live television happened being just 10 years old at the time.
What was the most rewarding aspect of making the music video, and what message do you hope viewers take away from it?
The most rewarding aspect of any music video I have been involved with is seeing the initial ideas come to life. Realizing the long-awaited sketches and storyboards into amazing visual shots. The outcome is always incredible to witness. I am lucky to have such a good team behind me and thankful for all the people who came to lend a hand. With this video my special thanks go to the actors portraying the younger and older versions of me, they did a fantastic job! The message of my song conveyed with the music video is that we can never get back the moments and times we've had, but they'll always stay with us in our memories and hearts. To live and focus on the present moment, because the word "present" literally means a gift.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?
I recorded this song with the help of a French audio engineer and a fellow Berklee College of Music student Théo Laurent-Vitale, who also mixed the audio. We had booked a studio for 2 hours and after 1.5 we had finished recording all the violin tracks. Suddenly we decided on recording a few vocal takes. In the end, those swiftly done vocal takes were the ones that stayed on the final product. It goes to show that you just need the right emotion to be there and it will sound ideal. During the filming process, we had a tough time motivating the child actor portraying the younger version of me to pick up the violin and play it. But it all changed when the actor of the older version of me suddenly whispered something into his ear. After that, all the young boy wanted to do was play the violin. Unfortunately we never found out what the mysterious secret words were.
KEEP UP WITH INGMAR KING BELOW:
