Estonian/ Swiss singer songwriter INGRID LUKAS shared her inspiration and gave us some insight into her music ahead of the release of her new single ‘We Are’.
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
I am going to drink coffee. Enjoy the early summer sounds. Wind, bees and little crazy birds. I will try to take it slowly and easy. I will have a meeting about a music therapy practicum and after that I will have a long band rehearsal to prepare for two gigs this Saturday.
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Nordic Electronic Folk Pop. We sing mostly in English, but there are some exotic, Estonian spices in it.
What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?
“Out here. In there” Sidsel Endresen and Bugge Wesseltoft
“Alina” Arvo Pärt
“Takk” Sigur Ros
“Kid A” Radiohead
“James blake” James Blake
Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
I am in love with the song “You Can Close Your Eyes”. It’s originally from James Taylor but I absolutely adore the version of Torun Eriksen. I was hiking in the Swiss mountains when I heard that song somewhere in the background. Since then I am hooked. The phrase “You can stay as long as you like” is touching me deeply.
Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?
Yes. There are two main characteristics in our sound. I am making flying nordic soundscapes with my synths and vocals. My drummer is playing deep and urban electronic beats.
What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?
I think the main challenges are 1. “Constancy” To keep on doing what you love through all ups and downs of the waves 2. “Authenticity” To find your own way in facing all the challenges in the music industry. In my opinion, it will get very tiring if you can’t be yourself and need to play a game, someone else’s game. 3. “Love – love – love” If you lose the connection to yourself, to your body, mind and soul – it`s over.
Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
From inside and outside. “In” each one of us is a rich garden full of beautiful, different and colourful flowers, we just need to start to discover them. This is a whole universe on itself. I wrote a song about it: “Joys of Sea” on our third album “We Are” and of course – the outside world influences me. People, relationships, stories, little beautiful moments that touch me. I grab them and put them into sound and songs.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when put music together?
The songwriting process is very easy. We – women have the gift, that something magical can grow in us, even if we are not doing anything actively. We can just feel, wait, enjoy, be thankful, live, and again wait and be astonished and ready. When the right time has come the new song can see the light of this wonderful world.
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
I remember well our gig in a little Norwegian village. It was just flowing. We – the band and the audience created a room full of sound where all the beautiful hearts could meet. It was fulfilling, peaceful and magical.
And the worst?
It is funny. I have had some of these “very bad” gigs. Most of the times it starts before the gig when things start to take a difficult direction. Too many, mostly unpredictable things happen and the result is sometimes just too much to handle. These things influence the performance. If I feel uncomfortable on stage, that affect my bandmembers and so on. But at the end – these “bad gigs” have always been good teachers. So – there is actually not such a thing as “bad gigs”.
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
A mushroom collector in the forest.
Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?
Glastonbury Festival, Melt Festival, All tomorrow`s parties, Bad Bonn Kilbi.
If you could perform alongside any other band or artist, who would it be?
I would love to perform with Sigur Ros or Radiohead – that would be incredible.
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
Yes. Our new single “WE ARE” is coming out on the 3rd of June 2016 and our album “WE ARE” will be released on the 24th of June 2016. Enjoy and Cheers!
