The more I learn the less I know

I know that the more I learn the more I know, but sometimes it feels the other way around. The more I learn about music theory for example, the more I understand how much there is to learn. I felt kind of cool and technical when I started to record songs for my university course, but now I got a reminder of how big the world of recording is. Only how to mix the song could be a course itself. And this thing about building a sound and getting the song to develop in the direction you want, it's extremely difficult. I feel like the song is the leader and that I just come along and see what happens, which is cool and fun and can lead to a nice result. But I wish I had the ability to create the sound and feel that I am looking for. And that I had the ability to know what I am looking for. 

Right now I'm working on a song that I wanted to sound dance and disco. We'll see about that...

If I could turn back time

So freakin' good! Love this song by Deportees. I like that it's so negative. I mean, positive is good - but I guess we all wish we could go back and change what has been sometimes. And even thought there is no point to get stuck in thoughts like that, it's just nice to know your not the only one. I love how the music is full of hope even though the text isn't. Brilliant combination.

If I could turn back time I wouldn't keep a thing
I would change it all, and make it undone

Deportees - Turn Back Time

Related:

About Deportees

Thoughts on Danish politics: Left or right?

As a Swede, I have viewed Denmark as country where the politics are a bit right wing extreme. They have a reputation of having a very restricted immigration policy... well, almost having a racist policy I would say (even if that should't be said out loud) and is generally considered running a policy similar to the Swedish party Sverigedemokraterna¹

Now I live in right in the multicultural city of Copenhagen, crowded with people from here and there. And even though there is racism everywhere in this world, I don't experience Denmark as worse than Sweden for example. I had forgotten about my prejudices but got reminded about them when I spoke to a Swedish friend that asked if I experienced Denmark as racist. My answer is, no, I don't. Some say that Copenhagen is different from rest of Denmark. I say that the citizens of Copenhagen is still a big part of Denmark's total inhabitants. But still, even thought people might be open, the fact that they have a strict immigration policy remains. Why that is and if it's good or bad is another discussion.

My point is that Denmark surprised me and made me confused since I discovered, while living here, that it doesn't fit in the right wing box. Because they spice this right wing extreme traits with some serious (extreme) left wing policies. Or what do you say about 40-50% income tax(!!) and the world's highest student grant with 5000 DKK (apx. $810) right into the pockets of the Danish students every month? They also have 200% tax on cars (seriously) and very bike adapted roads. I thought Sweden was extreme in relation to the rest of the world when it came to taxes, but Denmark is certainly the one and only winner in the tax race.

Just saying that I don't really know where I have you politically, Denmark. Here is Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thoring-Schmidt.

Used through Flicr's creative commons licence

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¹ Sverigedemokraterna got 5,8% of the votes in the Swedish election 2010 and now has 20 seats in the parlament. They are a very controversial party whose election campaign video was stopped from going on air due to racist content.

Hyper yodeling hocus pocus

A Swedish bear came to visit. He is a true rock fan, so now I have gotten new inspiration for music I don't listen to that much. Lately the only rock in my loud speakers has been The Hellacopters, but now I have a new band I'm gonna check out! And Zeppelin, you deserve more of my music listening time.

We found a second hand music store where the bear found and LP with Focus. Here is their song Hocus Pocus, listen how this hyper crazy person can yodel!

Focus - Hocus Pocus (Live '73)

Time to pray at the Store bededag

Since I wrote about the Swedish Valborg, I guess I should write about yesterday's holiday in the country I live. Yesterday was Store bededag which would be Great prayer day in English. After googeling it, my Danish roomie could tell me that it was many small holidays put in to one to be more efficient...(?) and that they eat some kind of special wheat bun. We also noticed that all the stores were closed.

Wikipedia also told me that Danish students used to "stroll the city ramparts" the day before Store Bededag to honor the students who died when people of my country invaded Copenhagen in 1659. But I guess Sweden and Denmark are okay now.

I told my other roomie that we should think of what we wanted to pray for. She said that the more relevant question was to who we were gonna pray to. I suggested that we could send it out to the universe, and that someone probably would receive it.

It's time to pray... got me thinking of this song. It's poor quality, but how refreshing isn't it to watch this video and send a little prayer?



Related posts:
Celebrating Valborg

Trying to climb that mountain

When I started this blog my intention was to write much about everything that has to do with singing. But everything that has had to do with singing for me lately is nothing else than a big cloud of frustration. That is not only uninteresting to write about, it doesn't give much of inspiration to write either.

Singing is easy and everyone can do it. But I lost myself somewhere on the way and it's freaking hard to find my way back. After more than 1,5 years of constant frustration and hard work I took a break from singing at the start of this year. And I'm still struggling to get back into it. I do have a long list of things I learned through the Academy at CVI here in Copenhagen, and if it wasn't for that it would have been hard to keep up the motivation. Still it's hard when the goal feels so far ahead. Like a mountain that is very hard to climb. Ahhh!

WARNING: If you are allergic to cliches, stop reading now.

I'm gonna climb that fuöåcking mountain!!!

In the beautiful country of Switzerland, where my dear friend Flavia lives, mountains like these can be climbed. Other facts: picture was taken in 2008. I never studied at Harvard.

Celebrating Valborg

Valborg is a Swedish holiday taking place today! What do we do? We have HUGE bonfires, drink lots of alcohol and have fire works and stupid little firecrackers. We eat nice food with friends and family and we welcome first of May with a song that starts "1st of May, welcome!". We are so very eager for the summer to come. Especially in my hood, the north of Sweden, we just want the snow to go away!

The Danes don't celebrate Valborg, so I spent the evening putting together my new closet (doesn't look very impressing at the moment) and drinking wine with the sweetest roomies! And to my dear friend from Norway: hope you had a great day! All of Sweden has celebrated you today :)

Right here and right now, I celebrate with a picture of fire that I took in Canada 2007.

Photo by me

Related posts:

About Sweden

Call It What You Want

 Foster The People, I like them more and more!

"Yeah, we're locked up in ideas
We like to label everything
Well, I'm just gonna do here what I gotta do here
'Cause I gotta keep myself free."

Foster The People - Call It What You Want

Related: 

Pumped Up Kicks and Deportees-vibes

New job

I have started a new job! I call people in Sweden and ask them about things... and surprisingly, most people are really nice. Only very few are not. And some are funny. "You have to call my agent if you want to talk to me - bye!" Best are the retired people that has much time and seem to enjoy that I'm calling to ask which way they prefer to receive TV.

If someone calls and you have time to answer their questions... well, you have the chance to make someone's work day better.

Loop Away

Found this youtube clip from the Bernhoft concert at Vega that I went to. I think he's damned skilled to perform like this. When you loop it has to be tight and spot on to sound good, especially when there are so many layers... what do you say? It's quite long, but so enjoyable. If you don't wanna see him instructing the audience on how to dance you can go right to 02:00. But you probably wan't to see that, ey?

Bernhoft - Fly Away (Live at Vega)

Related posts: 

About Bernhoft

Impressing Bernhoft concert at Vega

Det går bra nu!

Back in C-town! The past few days couldn't have been better! It started off with Björn's birthday party, where all of us was nerdy musicians. Three guitars, one bass and many singing voices made the jam very interesting. I miss playing music with others! 

Then I visited my sister and her family. Was super nice to see them again, and so exciting with the little baby. The five month little person has so much hair that my sister had to cut it!! And it's almost down to her eyes already again... crazy cute little baby. 

And so I came home and found that the kitchen is filled with furniture and that I now have two sweet roomies. Then I had a great singing lesson and got a job. Det går bra nu, as we say in Sweden :)

Sweden tomorrow!

Tomorrow I'm going to Sweden to party at a birthday party, see good old friends and to visit my sister and her family. It's extra exciting because they just got a second daughter before Christmas. And the first one, gosh she has grown fast! She is so smart and cool and I'm really looking forward to seeing her!

I have to catch a train tomorrow morning and it's way past my bed time. This is my good night song. Her voice is wonderful. I will be posting more of her here. Good night!

Florance + the Machine - Never Let Me Go (MTV Unplugged)