In the vibrant and evolving landscape of Nordic music, a powerful movement is emerging, characterized by artists who are forging their own paths, unburdened by conventional industry pressures. This International Women’s Day, a collective of compelling voices from the Nordic region has opened up about the intimate rituals behind their creative processes and offered invaluable guidance to aspiring musicians. Their collective message is one of authenticity, perseverance, and the profound beauty found not in perfection, but in the consistent, personal journey of artistic creation.
The concept of creating "HER way" signifies a deliberate departure from prescribed molds. It is an embrace of the hyper-personal, a commitment to drawing inspiration and strength from within, and a dedication to the unique experiences that shape an artist’s voice. This sentiment resonates deeply within the contemporary music scene, where the digital age has democratized access to creation and distribution, yet simultaneously amplified the noise and the pressure to conform to trending sounds and aesthetics. The artists featured in this discussion, including Charlotte Dos Santos, garbagepink, mags, and Cyan Kicks, represent a vanguard of this new wave, demonstrating that true artistic impact often stems from unwavering self-belief and a commitment to one’s authentic vision.
The Wisdom of the Trailblazers: Advice for Emerging Artists
When asked to impart wisdom to younger artists embarking on their musical journeys, the responses from these Nordic creators were both poignant and practical, underscoring key principles for navigating the often-challenging world of music.
Charlotte Dos Santos, a celebrated artist known for her genre-bending soundscapes, offered a concise yet profound piece of advice: "Stay curious, spend time on your craft and be your biggest fan. Remember your why and look inwards." This sentiment emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and self-advocacy, crucial elements for building resilience in a competitive industry. The act of "remembering your why" is particularly vital, serving as an anchor during periods of doubt or creative stagnation. Dos Santos’s focus on introspection highlights the intrinsic motivation that fuels sustainable artistic careers.
garbagepink, an artist recognized for her distinctive electronic and pop fusions, provided a powerful directive for sonic exploration: "Don’t be afraid to make music that sounds different. Don’t necessarily make music that you think people might like. Make the music you like. Trust your gut." This advice directly challenges the commercial pressures that can lead artists to dilute their unique sound in pursuit of perceived audience appeal. It champions artistic integrity and the courage to experiment, suggesting that genuine innovation often arises from a place of personal preference rather than external validation.
mags, whose work is characterized by its emotional depth and raw honesty, articulated a philosophy centered on authenticity and expansive creation: "I would like to inspire other artists to live and create in an environment and way that feels authentic and expansive to them. I believe that one of the most powerful ways to make an impact is to remain authentic to oneself in how we create, love and live. I live and create with that in mind and hope to inspire other artists to do the same." Mags’s perspective underscores the interconnectedness of an artist’s life and their creative output, advocating for a holistic approach to well-being and artistic expression. The notion of "expansive" creation suggests a desire to push boundaries and explore new possibilities, both personally and artistically.
Cyan Kicks, the indie-pop band known for their energetic anthems, offered a comprehensive set of advice that addresses the practicalities of career building alongside the artistic spirit: "I think the biggest thing is not waiting until you feel ready, because most artists never do. You just start and grow into it. Courage is way more important than perfection, and imperfection is much more interesting than perfection. The thing you might think makes you weird or different is usually the thing that makes you interesting as an artist. Talent is great, but consistency is what really builds a career. And through all of that, try to protect the part of you that genuinely loves music, because that’s the thing that will keep you going when everything else gets hard." This advice directly tackles the common hurdle of perfectionism, advocating for immediate action and embracing the learning process. The emphasis on "consistency" as a career-building tool is a crucial insight, as is the reminder to safeguard the core passion for music, which serves as the ultimate wellspring of motivation.
The Genesis of Sound: Sources of Inspiration
The wellsprings of inspiration for these artists are as diverse as their musical styles, revealing a rich tapestry of influences that inform their work.
Charlotte Dos Santos finds her muse in the everyday: "I draw inspiration from daily life, experiences, dreams, and books. I love history and I love learning about our ancestors and people who came before us." This broad approach suggests an artist who is deeply connected to the human experience and the continuum of time, drawing parallels between past and present to inform her forward-looking music.
garbagepink employs a synesthetic approach, integrating different sensory experiences into her creative process: "I love experiencing music together with visuals. In the studio I sometimes play my track over a muted music video on YouTube to see how it comes alive with the footage." This unique method highlights the multi-dimensional nature of her artistry, where sound and imagery are intertwined, pushing the boundaries of how music can be perceived and understood.
mags delves into the deeply personal for her songwriting: "When it comes to my songwriting I usually draw the most inspiration from my own lived experiences. The good, the ugly and the bad. Usually trying to capture the universal by being hyper personal and radically honest. Hoping that it makes someone feel less alone in their experience and/or feelings." Her commitment to radical honesty and personal narrative resonates with a desire to foster connection and empathy, aiming to alleviate feelings of isolation through shared human experience.
Cyan Kicks draws from their internal emotional landscape, transforming internal struggles into cathartic art: "I draw inspiration from my own mental landscape, I take stories for my songs from what’s shouting the loudest inside me at the moment. It’s usually something heavy or intense, my songs rarely come from happy places. That said, even difficult emotions or experiences can be approached in a positive way and I often try to do that too. When I turn frustration or pain into a song and listen to the first version on repeat it actually helps heal the wound the song originally came from. I hope it can do the same for others too." This introspective approach underscores the therapeutic power of music, not only for the creator but also for the listener, offering a pathway to healing and understanding through shared vulnerability.
The Architecture of Creation: Unpacking Creative Processes
The methodologies employed by these artists reveal a blend of intuitive spontaneity and disciplined practice, showcasing the varied ways in which musical ideas are brought to fruition.
Charlotte Dos Santos views creativity as an ongoing, subconscious process: "I think my creative process is every day – I think its like this for most humans really, we’re always thinking and downloading information in the back of our minds, subconsciously. And having designated days in the studio is important too, to get the music down." This perspective highlights the importance of continuous input and subconscious processing, with dedicated studio time serving as the crucial phase for translating those internalizations into tangible music.
garbagepink likens her studio approach to rapid artistic sketching: "I usually get my ideas in everyday life, writing down notes or recording voice memos when something comes to me. In the studio I work very quickly with the production. When I went to art school we did croquis, drawing fast sketches without overworking them. I approach music in a similar way. I try to capture the foundation of a song quickly before thinking too much, then build from there with vocals and layers of guitars." This method, inspired by the art of quick sketching, prioritizes capturing the essence of an idea before over-analyzing, allowing for a more fluid and dynamic development of the song.
mags has experienced a significant evolution in her creative workflow, embracing cross-disciplinary collaboration: "I have seen a shift in my creative process in the past year. I have always written autobiographically with myself and (unusually) one other subject being the main characters. Recently I have had an urge to broaden and challenge that way of writing. As a part of that journey I have been dipping my toes into other forms of art through my creative studio CPC studio (cross pollination creatives). The idea of tapping into multiple creative mediums at once to create the most fulfilling creative experience is really driving my creative process at the moment. A recent example of that is my latest headliner concert at Vega, where I hired an actress, a light artist and one musician to be on stage with me instead of a full band. It was a concert, a light installation and a theater performance all at once. I love the different ways artistic mediums can cross pollinate one another and I cannot wait to see how that will play out through my next project." Mags’s innovative approach to her creative studio, CPC studio, exemplifies a forward-thinking artistic vision that seeks to break down traditional silos between disciplines, aiming for a richer and more immersive artistic experience.
Cyan Kicks employs a collaborative and adaptable songwriting method, valuing both structured sessions and organic development: "We write songs both as a band and with external songwriters. It usually starts with a conversation about what we want to write about and what kind of vibe we’re going for. Most of the time we keep it really simple in the beginning, just an acoustic guitar or piano to find the direction instead of spending time building a full production right away. The nice thing about that approach is that the song doesn’t get locked into any specific style too early, so we can take it in any direction later on. For some reason, recording vocals for a new song for the first time is always really intense and emotionally draining for me. I also need a lot of peace and focus during the writing process – if it gets too loud or chaotic, I kind of shut down. We’ve had a couple of co-write sessions where people were bouncing off the walls and those sessions just left me frustrated and didn’t really lead to anything good. We’ve done a lot of writing on trips abroad, and then we finish everything at our own studio in Helsinki. Co-writing has actually developed me a lot as a songwriter. It used to make me really nervous but now it feels much more natural." The band’s emphasis on starting with a stripped-down foundation allows for greater stylistic flexibility, while their candid acknowledgement of the emotional intensity of vocal recording and the need for a focused environment provides insight into their process. Their successful integration of co-writing highlights a mature approach to collaboration and personal artistic growth.
The Enduring Power of Authentic Expression
The insights shared by Charlotte Dos Santos, garbagepink, mags, and Cyan Kicks serve as a powerful testament to the evolving definition of success in the music industry. Their journeys underscore the profound impact of embracing individuality, fostering resilience, and cultivating a deep connection to one’s artistic passion. The creative process, often perceived as a linear progression, is in reality a nuanced exploration, marked by moments of spontaneous inspiration, deliberate practice, and the unwavering courage to begin, even when perfection feels out of reach.
This International Women’s Day, these Nordic artists are not only celebrating their own achievements but are also extending an empowering invitation to a new generation of creators. They advocate for a future where artistic expression is guided by personal truth rather than external expectations, where the beauty of imperfection is recognized as a source of strength, and where the pursuit of a genuine love for the craft serves as the ultimate compass. Their collective message is clear: the most compelling music, and indeed the most fulfilling artistic careers, are built not by fitting into a mold, but by daring to create "HER way." The implications of this philosophy extend far beyond the music industry, offering a valuable framework for navigating personal and professional challenges with authenticity and purpose in an increasingly complex world.
