Viking Magazine - August 2017 - 46

Q&A
Finding Her Rhythm
Norwegian jazz pianist Maren Selvaag looks to her Scandinavian
heritage and beyond to fi nd musical inspiration.
BY HANNAH PEDERSON
aren Selvaag didn't always love piano lessons. Like many
children, she started playing piano at age 7 because her mother
wanted her to. In her teen years, composing jazz music became her
creative outlet, and she was hooked on music. Selvaag honed her
musical skills in college, receiving a master's degree in jazz piano
performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Last year she
released her debut album, " Close to Shore, " and she continues
to travel the world performing. Viking caught up with the
talented musician.
M
Q How do you mentally
prepare for performances?
A The best thing is to know the
material. I like to know it by
heart without scores and do a
test performance in my studio.
It's great if I can dive in, rest and
come back to the music like a
dough that is rising. If all of that
is in place, the mental part is a
piece of cake. Sometimes there
is not enough time to do all of
that and then I go to my courage
reservoir. I fi ll it up regularly by
daring to learn new things and
proudly failing miserably in the
process.
Q What is your favorite piece
to perform and why?
A " Clair de Lune " by Claude
Debussy. It was the fi rst piece
that ignited the passion for
music in me. I still discover new
things in it - the rhythm, how
organic it is and the subtle way
the music helps emotions to the
surface.
46 VIKING AUGUST 2017
Q How would you describe
your musical style?
A I hope that it's honest,
optimistic, playful, gracious,
unpretentious and inviting.
Q Who are your biggest
musical infl uences?
A I am inspired by interesting
beats and rhythms, and I listen
to anything from hip-hop to
Eastern European traditional
music. I am also very much in
love with harmony where you
have both beauty and resistance
like Stravinsky or Swedish
pianist Bobo Stenson.
Q How has your
Scandinavian heritage
infl uenced your music?
A My Scandinavian heritage is
a big part of my musical identity.
I grew up in an art museum
where my mother worked, and
my family has always honored
traditional crafts and art. I am
so grateful to have had that as
sonsofnorway.com
a big part of my life from early
on because it has shaped who I
have become as a person and as
an artist. Most of my life I have
been encouraged to do exactly
as I wanted, and that is what I
do in music.
Q What advice do you have
for budding composers?
A Find something that you are
curious about, and go explore.
In my experience, creativity and
aesthetics are constants - you
don't just wake up one day
without any of that, so trusting
that I have everything I need
within makes the process fl ow.
Q What's up next for your
career?
A This past year I reached
many of my life goals, so I'm
in the process of creating new
ones. I'd love to write music for
an orchestra and perform it. I'd
also like to tour more and play
concerts in the United States and
other countries.
Name: Maren Selvaag
Occupation: Pianist,
composer, artistic director
Hometown:
Lillehammer
Current City: Oslo
Learn more about
Maren Selvaag at
marenselvaag.com,
and follow her
on Instagram
@marenselvaag.
PHOTO BY ANDRÉ LØYNING
http://www.marenselvaag.com http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - August 2017

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