Introducing ‘Haloes’ Singer-Songwriter Ina Wroldsen
The songwriter for some of pop music’s biggest acts, Norwegian artist Ina Wroldsen has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. Bursting onto the scene in 2008, the songstress first lent her writing prowess to English-Irish girl band the Saturdays for their single Chasing Lights. She later wrote for Britney Spears, Leona Lewis, the Pussycat Dolls, and more. After a few years of working behind the scenes, Wroldsen decided to jump back into creating and recording her own music, forming the group Ask Embla with artist Arnthor Birgisson. After achieving massive success in Norway with their 2013 album, the songstress focused on her solo work while also continuing to write and partner with artists and producers – including her vocal feature on Calvin Harris’s track “How Deep Is Your Love” and writing for Rag’n’Bone Man on his debut album. Now with her new single ‘Haloes’ and accompanying video making the rounds, Ina Wroldsen is ending 2019 on a high note while also preparing for a fantastic and music-filled 2020.
We got the chance to chat with her about everything from ‘Haloes’, top three lessons she learned as an artist, songwriting and more…
Your latest track ‘Haloes’ is such a feel-good track, what went into the making of the song?
When Steve Mac and I wrote Haloes, we wanted to use euphoria as a metaphor to describe the feeling that we get when we just let go and connect with each other. Whether that’s eye contact on a bus, unexpected friendship or a bunch of strangers uniting over a common love for music at a concert. I truly believe there is magic all around us. I know that sounds like a cliché, but we all need a little reminder now and then to stop rushing through life. Yours truly very much included.
The video for the single is beautiful, what inspired the concept?
I am an absolute control freak, so I like to write my own treatments for my videos, and I like to work with a guy called Thor Brenne who is the most amazing director. He did all of the HEX ep videos. He is a true artist when it comes to creating visuals. I always see pictures when I write the songs I love the most. Whenever I thought of Haloes, I saw this summer of love vibe in my head. Now hippies have been done enough, but at that time, I was reading a lot about Timothy Leary and his “turn on, tune in, drop out” movement that he started in the early sixties. He is such a fascinating man. What a life story. I thought this was a suitable quote for Haloes, as I believe we all should turn on and tune out a little bit more. Without the LSD that is. Nature, love, Netflix and wine is more than enough for me. I am extra enough.
You’ve written for The Saturdays, Britney Spears, Leona Lewis, and more, what is your creative process when working with other artists?
The Saturdays early sound is just my first attempt at trying to write pop songs that didn’t sound like country (I always wrote everything on my guitar in the early days). I wrote “He About To Lose Me “ for Gwen Stefani, then Britney heard it and loved it, so that was that. Then you have songs like “How Deep Is Your Love” which was my first meeting with writing House, I have a lot to thank the Disciples and their stunning beats for with that cut. Both “Rockabye” and “Symphony” were started already with Steve Mac and Ammar Malik, my job in those cases was to try and figure out the identity of both records and write big choruses. With Martin Solveig (“Places”), we started from a point of view that we wanted all the parts of the record to sound like a hook and when we wrote “Breathe” (Jax Jones) we wanted to turn melancholy into a party record. Every process is different, but I really believe that when it comes to staying relevant in the songwriting game, one needs to follow the times, understand the current trends – even when they don’t really appeal to you, whilst always staying true to yourself and your creativity. Every artist and genre require a different point of view. That’s what I like the most about songwriting.
How do you tackle writer’s block when you’re writing new music?
Ideally, I’d write three days a week and I spend the rest of that time looking for inspiration. The best advice I ever got was this: “You cannot live a life that’s good and peaceful if every single thing you write about has to take grow from your own experiences” Songwriting is a lot like acting for me in that way. I take a situation and I put myself in his or her shoes. Then I write their story from my point of view, from how I hope I would have dealt with that particular situation. However, I have only had one case of really bad writers block. I got too stuck on what I “thought” I should be doing, and I forgot to listen to my own voice. This happened quite recently, and because being an artist means alot less freetime, I am connecting those dots and learning to separate and prioritise what I need to focus on at any given time.
What are the top three lessons you’ve learned as an artist
1. The feeling of thousands of people singing your words and melodies back at you cannot be described in words. It is truly amazing, and I am grateful to my bones every single time people come to my shows. I honestly still can’t believe people pay actual money to come hear me sing my songs.
2. It demands ALOT of time and waiting. I have a newfound respect for artists, as I have never worked so hard and waited so much in my whole life. Constantly traveling, constantly behind on emails, creativity and life stuff in general.
3. Cardio is essential for jumping around on stage and singing for 70 minutes… I have had to make training a part of my job. And I NEVER thought those words would ever come out of my lazy mouth. It just can’t be done without it. A sad fact, I have had to make peace with.
In terms of collaborations, which one has been your favourite so far?
That’s really tricky. If I have to pick one, it’s gonna have be Dynoro and Obsessed. Simply because I find Eastern European dance music to be so interesting. I love how there is always an element of their folk music in what they do. They are not afraid of pop and also, Dynoro’s production of obsessed is one of my favourite productions I have ever heard back on anything I have written in that genre.
Do you have plans to release another EP or album soon?
I am very excited about my forthcoming releases. I feel like they are very true to who I am, what I want to say and what I stand for. Sounds like the most generic thing to say, but that’s honestly how I feel. I can see them all in my head when I hear the music, I think that is a good sign. Whatever I do, I want to stand behind it, feel it and believe in it 100 % I can really do that with these next records. I really hope you like them!
With 2020 around the corner, what do you have planned for the new year professionally?
Well, I miss songwriting for other people, so I am dipping back into that pool now, I need more than one outlet for my creativity, and I am ready to put on that particular swimsuit again. At the same time, I am very focused on keeping track of the goals I have set for myself with my records that are coming in 2020. I hope I get to do more shows outside of Norway as well as in my beautiful country. Playing my records live in front of an audience with my band, really makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Make sure to check out Ina Wroldsen latest video for the track below!
