The Commander-In-Chief interview. In this interview we talk about her viral videos and more. October 23, 2014.
The Commander-In-Chief Interview
1. There must be so many great things happening with you these days. A new album and more I am sure for the Commander in Chief?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: Yes, Craig and I recorded a classical crossover album this summer, which is up for release the 4th of December this year. We shot 4 high budget music videos to promote the recording, 2 of them which we have already put out on YouTube. Our video for Paganini Caprice 24 premiered on Guitar Worlds website and was shared 22.3 K times by their readers! We release a stunning video for Por Una Cabeza about a week ago and the feedback on that one has been amazing! We did a couple of shows in Norway, that were well received and garnered positive press. We did an amazing show in London this weekend, playing at kings Place- a great classical music venue. Right now we are promoting a pre-order campaign for our upcoming album through PledgeMusic.
2. The videos you did with Craig Ogden is absolutely great. Where did the ideas come from for to make everything happen?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: The guitar duels/duets concept is the brainchild of my manager Elisabeth Hagen & myself, so when I refer to we, I’m referring to the two of us. We already did a classical/electric guitar duel in late 2013 and that was very well received.
I noticed that surprisingly many said that they couldn’t wait to hear more! I was originally only planning on doing one classical recording, but I quickly realized that I had tapped into an undiscovered niche marked that there was a demand for.
My manger contacted Craig Ogden in January this year. He is a very popular,successful chart topping classical guitarist. He saw the video we had done for Zigeunerweisen and was very eager to collaborate on something. At that point we had found one song that we wanted to do, the most challenging song on the recording. I knew that it would probably take me many months of practicing to be able to play it. Since you cannot except people to wait 6 months between every time you release a new YouTube video, I thought that having a big body of work would be better if the popularity of the guitar duel videos continued. We were first thinking about doing an EP, but I pushed for an album.
I let my manager pick a pool of songs, and then I ultimately had the last say on which songs I wanted to do , since I was the one who had to sit and play these tracks over and over again to learn them. Craig was then notified which songs we wanted to do. Craig and I arranged most of the tracks together. I prepared for months before the actual recording. During the recording my manager was the musical director since her background is classical music.
As far as the music videos are concerned, I attended one brainstorming session. My only input was that I wanted everything to be in a modern cutting edge setting. Since all the music is very old, I wanted to take the old classical music and present it in a modern wrapping.
It fell on my manager to plan the rest and come up with ideas. She was the one who directed and edited the videos. All of the ideas were ultimately hers.
3. Finding the inspiration and influences to work in a studio and play live would it be different or the same to you?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: I love to be in recording studios,. What I’m most infatuated with is the finished product you get after a session. I prefer to spend time & money recording rather than performing. When it comes to the classical/electric guitar duels what you hear on the recording is what you will get live. What we offer is a very organic sound, since it’s two guitars. This is something that can be re-created live easier than lets say a metal recording. I usually record lots of guitar harmonies and different guitar parts. It’s interesting how you can put together all these heavy instruments on a metal record and get this perfect mix, but then spend ages sound checking to get everything balanced live. When I do this collaboration with Craig, sound checking is very quick and easy, I don’t have to worry about cymbals bleeding into my vocal mic or in-ears.
4. During a year how many shows do you do on average?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: That depends, as a solo artist in heavy metal I have to pay session guys, which means that I have expenses before any gig.
5. Could you describe some of your earliest influences in life?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: Phil Collins was my first hero. I really wanted to play drums and paid attention to the rhythm in songs instantly. I was a big fan of Elton John as well, as good songwriting is what appeals to me. I grew up listening to opera and classical music since my mother is an opera singer. The first rock band I became a fan of was the Offspring, it was the first time I ever heard rock drumming on mainstream radio. When I was 10-11 all that was being aired were boy bands and 90’s Euro-dance. I got into classic rock bands like Deep Purple a bit later and eventually I got into modern heavy metal and extreme metal. When I first picked up a guitar in 2005,I was a huge R.E.M., Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane fan. I discovered Heavy Metal through guitar magazines mainly, but was convinced that there had to be more metal bands than just Metallica. Most mainstream rock publications likes to give you the impression that Heavy Metal died with Nirvana, so when I figured out that there were magazines only dedicated to heavy metal it was like discovering a new continent or distant planet. I figured out that the metal scene had been thriving in creativity and that Norway had lots of cool bands as well. There were some years when I only listened to extreme metal.
6. How important is it for a musician in this generation to spend time on social media?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: Crucial, but it cannot take up too much of your time. A social media profile is key for up and coming artists. Before, you had to get signed in order to have a career, now creative acts who think outside the box are given a fair chance vie platforms like YouTube etc. Competition is stiff though as all bands and musicians shamelessly promotes themselves all the time. What the average consumer experience in today’s world is what I guess only A&Rs used to experience before. Which is bombardment from what seems like an eternal pool of artists, all convinced that they are doing something you’ve never heard before. There are a lot of people who just turn a deaf ear to it and get annoyed. The best way to get fans is through word of mouth and big publications. But ultimately you have to start on Social Media and keep yourself active and updated.
7. You are known to have some excellent viral videos. Must be a good feeling to know that your music has been viewed that many times?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: It makes me very happy! The best compliment you can get as an artist is that people like your music :) Music is an artistic media that is meant to be heard by as many people as possible.
8. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: I haven’t been listening to music for a long time I’m afraid. I got a really cool turntable for my birthday this year, but I haven’t really gotten around to use it properly. I got a cool Vreid Vinyl I was listening to and some cool Wagner. When I have some free time I like to check out new bands and artist or I’ll listen to Movie Soundtracks.
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: I have been travelling quite a lot this year, and what struck me in the beginning of the year was how hard it is to find time to practice! Last time I was travelling I would just get out my guitar and play at the train station, air port etc. When things are hectic you cannot expect to sleep much if you wanna hang out as well.
10. Where do you see music in general going in 100 years from now?
The Commander-In-Chief Answer: I don’t know. There will always be people who wants to pursue this career, there will always be those who practice like mad. But I think you’ll have fewer virtuoso’s as young kids seems so caught up in gadgets. The whole idea of figuring things out for yourself is also dying out, with all these ” easy broken down” ways to learn instruments. Your initiative is not really put to the test in today’s world. You cannot kill creativity, but of course I wonder if truly great artists will just drown in all the information people are bombarded with all the time. Ultimately we have all become to dependent on technology, if the electricity goes we cannot really do anything. Our everyday gadgets can do all the thinking for us, we don’t even have to remember our address or phone number anymore. Likewise pro-tools and auto tune has become the norm, which has lowered the expected standards of musicianship. I have also been thinking lately about the deterioration of how we express ourselves. Listen to someone like Tom Lehrer, and his eloquent way of insulting and parodying people or how the dialogue in movies have deteriorated as well. Of course you gotta ask yourself where this is leading.
11. Do you ever go by your real name or are you from now known as the Commander in Chief.
Only The Commander-In-Chief. I’ve been using this name for many years now and it feels like my identity. Only close friends and family use my real name :)
Thank you very much for the interview, awesome questions!
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