Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Silja Rós

THE RELEASE

Hailing from the heart of Reykjavík's singer-songwriter scene, Silja Rós is a multi-talented Icelandic artist making waves on the global stage. From an early age of 17, she found her voice and passion performing her own music live, establishing herself as a multi-instrumentalist with a gift for writing music, not only for herself but also for other artists. Not limiting her creative abilities to music, Silja Rós is also a renowned actress and scriptwriter, currently penning an upcoming Icelandic TV show set to air in 2024. Her artistry is uniquely characterized by her emotionally resonant voice, which has not only dominated Icelandic radio charts but also earned her albums the coveted title of "Album of the Week" at Rás 2, further securing her status as an influential figure in the music industry.

Her latest single, "Share U", offers a tantalizing taste of what's to come on her forthcoming third album. This summer-ready track, seamlessly fusing groovy jazz-inspired pop with masterful vocal arrangements, showcases Silja Rós's musical growth and versatility. Recorded and mixed by Magnus Dagsson, who also lent his talents on guitar, bass, and keys, the song benefits from the rhythmic prowess of one of Iceland's leading drummers, Bergur Einar, with the final mastering touch provided by Skonrokk. Notably, "Share U" follows her recent Eurovision pre-selection performance with the song "Together we grow", further demonstrating Silja Rós's diverse musical range and her commitment to creating soulful, captivating music.

THE INTERVIEW

What song or moment in time sparked your passion for music?
Music came very naturally to me, I always connected music to happiness and found myself writing music in my room as a kid which later turned into my career. I’ve always found it easier to share my emotions through music.

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

I’ve developed a lot in the last 10 years or so. I would say the core of my singer-songwriter era would be Damien Rice. Later on I started to seek inspiration from other genres like jazz, neo-soul and RnB. I would say today that the other 3 artists would be Jacob Collier, Norah Jones and Olivia Dean.

How does your creative process work from the moment you develop the idea to the completion of the record?

It varies between songs. But usually the songwriting part comes very quickly to me, especially the topline. I then tend to spend more time in the studio arranging the songs. With “Share U” I wrote it by myself in my bedroom on a small midi keyboard, the lyrics came easily and I didn’t really think about it. At first I thought I wouldn’t release the song and kept it hidden for a couple of weeks. But then my boyfriend heard it and loved it. We then took it to the studio, Magnus Dagsson recorded all instruments except the drums which Bergur Einar performed and recorded. Me and Magnus arranged the backing vocals which were inspired by Jacob Collier and Skonrokk mastered the song. I write a lot of music every week so most songs end up staying hidden while others get released.

As for this release, who is the producer and what about the production moved you?

Magnus Dagsson, my boyfriend and coworker, produced and mixed the song. I’m very proud of the backing vocals and I also love the groove.

When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?

Some songs carry more meaning than others and are more personal to me. With this one I would like the listeners to form their own connection to the song and the lyrics. I love to hear it from people how they connect with the song, sometimes it’s even better & more meaningful than the original story. That’s the beauty of music.

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