Louien is a singer/songwriter based in the Norwegian capital, Oslo and a leading light in the Nordicana genre, which has given a voice to artists and bands embracing their style of country, folk and roots-based pop music. She is a member of the band Silver Lining (performing under her actual name, Live Miranda Solberg) alongside her solo career, and that’s where she came to our attention after the release of her stunning 2019 debut album, NONE OF MY WORDS. FIGURE ME OUT followed three years later and earned her a Spellemann Award (Norwegian Grammy) nomination. Her recent release, EVERY DREAM I HAD, is a compelling collection of songs showcasing her full vocal range and, in true Nordicana style, refuses to be framed by any one genre.
The last time we spoke was in March 2020, weeks before the pandemic. You had just released your debut solo album, NONE OF MY WORDS. How did you manage during that time?
Probably better than I would have anticipated. In Norway, we have grants you can apply for, so money-wise, it worked out, not perfectly, but it was okay. I like being at home as far as the isolation goes, but it was difficult, and we did not have the opportunity to tour NONE OF MY WORDS. We did get to play a few scattered gigs, but we did not have that tour feeling. We had a lot of plans for the album, which we did not realise and did not get the opportunity to go abroad and play.
Where did the name Louien come from?
Actually, it's from my mother. Her name is Louise. She grew up on the west coast of Norway, where people often shorten their names into nicknames, and Louien was her nickname growing up. It seemed natural to me to use that name.
There appears to be no end of outstanding vocalists, particularly women, in Norway and Sweden. Did you have vocal training in your early years?
I had some formal training in my early twenties, but that was more about learning breathing techniques and conveying emotions. I grew up singing a lot; I was in the school choir, my dad was a great singer, and we would sing a lot of harmonies at home together. I went to Christian summer camp when I was young, where we had gatherings and would sing. Singing has been part of my everyday life since I was little.
You are also a member of the quartet Silver Lining. What was the driving force behind your decision to pursue a solo career?
I wanted to express different parts of myself, which was not possible as part of the group in the same way where there are compromises which are good. But, sometimes you have other things to say. I also wanted to challenge myself and see what it is like to be on my own, and it feels good to be the boss sometimes.
Is your solo career commercially more successful?
It is difficult to say, but in Norway, probably yes. Louien has been easier to sell to more people than Silver Lining because the band appeals to people who like traditional music, which is a smaller scene in Norway and possibly worldwide. We can see in the streaming numbers that Louien is currently reaching a few more people, though that may be because Silver Lining hasn't released new music in a while.
How would you describe your new album, EVERY DREAM I HAD?
I would say that it leans towards melancholic pop music from the '60s and '70s but also approaches Americana and singer-songwriters. It makes me happy, but I'm unsure if it makes others happy. I have tried to make this album a happy listen and not as conceptual as my debut album, NONE OF MY WORDS.
That debut album was written at an emotionally challenging time for you. Is writing easier or more difficult when you are in that frame of mind?
I think that the songs come more forcibly when you are depressed or have really strong emotions. When I wrote NONE OF MY WORDS, I hadn't written that much before, and in the beginning, it can come to you more easily because you have storage that needs to be emptied in terms of writing. I don't feel that way anymore, and I feel that the ideas come to me quite easily, but I have to work harder to conclude and make an actual song out of the ideas now. That is also because I have become a lot more aware of the songwriting process, am stricter with myself and have higher standards than I used to have.
The members of your regular band play on the new album. Given that they are also all songwriters, did that create any conflict?
There was no conflict. We did have conversations, but in the process, it was quite easy because I was the leader of the project and had the last word. The band members are all very creative and open when it comes to sharing their ideas, but they do not take it personally if I don't like an idea and vice versa with me. All of us have become more mature working together over the years. I tried not to be too protective, as that can really kill the process.
Did the others have any input into the songwriting?
I brought the songs to them, but I hadn't put them all together, so in some cases, they had input in rearranging songs and putting the chorus first. They might not have written the songs, but they definitely made them come to life, and I would not have recorded some of the songs if it hadn't been for them.
Does the album's title reflect the inspiration for the songs?
Of course, the album is not about every dream I have had in my life, but it reflects on some of the years I have lived. The title comes from the second track on the album, Please. I usually look through my songs for a line that I like, but mostly because I'm a daydreamer, I spend a lot of time in my head – it's my way of escaping.
Where did you record the album?
We did some live recording in an incredible studio in Sweden just across the border from Norway. It's called Silent Studio, an old-school building that they converted, and it has been in use since the late 70s. The guy who started it still lives there. He set up all the gear and microphones for us. He also put in mouse traps as there are a lot of mice there. We spent five days there playing music and putting together the basics for the songs. Something about the room made it feel like we were back in the 70s while we were recording there. It was magical.
The artwork is very different from your debut album, which was quite psychedelic. You have shown your face on this album's cover.
It was really scary for me to release that first album. I felt I needed to hide away, not so much to hide, but some camouflage. I don't feel that way anymore and we had so much fun taking the pictures for this album. Also, the record label thought it would be nice to have my face on the cover. It probably makes sense for me to show my face this time round.
Are you aiming for a local or more international market with the album?
We have been pitching it towards Germany, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and Ireland as well. Touring in all these areas can be difficult, so we've had to limit the reach to these areas because I can't tour everywhere.
Can you get radio play for your music in Norway?
I've been really fortunate as my songs have frequently been on the radio for the past three years. We only have one radio channel that is not for industrialised pop music. It's a small channel, but it is connected with our national channel, The Norwegian Broadcasting. It is run by five or six music journalists who control what is played and they are open to mainly Norwegian music.
What is the most popular music in Norway?
Pop music like AURORA and Sigrid. They are Norwegian females who make big, flashy pop music. Country music is huge here, but it is more the easily accessible Nashville type of music. There is also smaller community support for alternative music like Americana. After the pandemic and with the financial difficulties that everyone is facing now, people are not going out as much anymore, even though there is support for different types of music here.
How helpful has the Nordicana brand been for you, and was that term consciously created to give artists like yourself a category?
I'm not sure where the term Nordicana came from. It might have come from a journalist or someone outside the music community. Die With Your Boots Records started as a group of people who loved listening to country music and have released artists like Signe Marie Rustad and Malin Pettersen. They opened a club in Oslo, and it took off from there. A lot of people were listening to roots music and came out of the shadows. It's more of a coincidence, really. Sometimes, I feel astonished by the whole thing. You make your music in your room, and suddenly, a whole community of musicians, some of whom I have grown up with, come together and work together. It is an uplifting and warm community.
We will get the opportunity to see you perform at Dietmar Leibecke's Static Roots Festival in July. Will you be performing solo or with a band?
I'm super excited to play at that festival and will be bringing my band with me. I have toured as a trio in the past, but I want to represent the music in the best way possible. The bass and drums are a huge part of this album, so I will have my band with me. We met Dietmar at the Americana UK Festival last year, and I played in Oberhausen with Silver Lining last year.
Intreview by Declan Culliton Photograph by Julia Marie Naglestad