The music industry, often perceived as a monolithic entity, is experiencing a significant evolution, driven by a growing wave of independent artists who are redefining success on their own terms. This shift is particularly evident within the vibrant Nordic music scene, where a new generation of female artists is challenging established norms and embracing hyper-personal narratives. To commemorate International Women’s Day, a cohort of compelling voices from the region—Charlotte Dos Santos, garbagepink, mags, and Cyan Kicks—have generously shared insights into their unique creative rituals and offered invaluable advice to aspiring musicians. Their collective wisdom underscores the enduring power of consistency, the profound beauty found in imperfection, and the crucial importance of remaining authentically oneself in an often-demanding industry.
The impetus for this exploration stems from a broader cultural conversation surrounding gender representation and creative autonomy in music. For years, discussions have centered on the underrepresentation of women in key industry roles, from production to songwriting, and the pressure to conform to specific sonic or aesthetic archetypes. This initiative, by focusing on the "HER way" of creation, highlights a conscious effort to move beyond these pressures and celebrate the diverse methodologies and personal journeys that define contemporary artistry. The artists featured represent a spectrum of genres and stages in their careers, yet their shared commitment to introspection and authentic expression resonates powerfully.
Foundational Advice for Emerging Artists: Embracing the Journey
When asked to impart wisdom to younger artists embarking on their musical careers, the responses from these Nordic innovators offered a tapestry of encouragement, emphasizing self-belief and unwavering dedication to craft.
Charlotte Dos Santos, a Norwegian-Brazilian artist known for her ethereal R&B and soul-infused sound, encapsulates this sentiment with a call to enduring curiosity and self-advocacy. "Stay curious, spend time on your craft and be your biggest fan," she advises. "Remember your why and look inwards." Her words suggest that the external validation so often sought in the industry can be a fleeting distraction from the internal compass that truly guides an artist’s development.
The electronic and experimental artist garbagepink, hailing from Sweden, champions the courage to deviate from conventional expectations. "Don’t be afraid to make music that sounds different," she urges. "Don’t necessarily make music that you think people might like. Make the music you like. Trust your gut." This philosophy directly addresses the commercial pressures that can stifle artistic originality, encouraging a focus on intrinsic artistic satisfaction over perceived audience appeal.
Finnish artist mags, whose work often delves into deeply personal narratives, advocates for a holistic approach to creative living. "I would like to inspire other artists to live and create in an environment and way that feels authentic and expansive to them," she states. "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." Her perspective highlights the interconnectedness of an artist’s life and their creative output, suggesting that authenticity is not merely a stylistic choice but a fundamental way of being.
The Finnish pop-rock band Cyan Kicks, represented by their vocalist, offers a robust perspective on the often-debilitating pursuit of perfection. "I think the biggest thing is not waiting until you feel ready, because most artists never do," they emphasize. "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 multifaceted advice underscores the practical realities of building a sustainable career, balancing creative impulse with disciplined effort and emotional resilience.
Sources of Inspiration: A Multifaceted Creative Wellspring
The wellsprings of inspiration for these artists are as diverse as their musical styles, drawing from the mundane realities of daily life to the introspective landscapes of the human psyche.
Charlotte Dos Santos finds fertile ground in the everyday. "I draw inspiration from daily life, experiences, dreams, and books," she reveals. "I love history and I love learning about our ancestors and people who came before us." This appreciation for lived experience and historical context imbues her music with a sense of depth and universality.
garbagepink’s creative process is intertwined with sensory experiences, particularly the interplay between sound and visuals. "I love experiencing music together with visuals," she explains. "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 approach suggests a synesthetic sensibility, where auditory and visual elements inform and enhance each other.
For mags, the most potent inspiration arises from the raw, unvarnished truth of her own experiences. "When it comes to my songwriting I usually draw the most inspiration from my own lived experiences. The good, the ugly and the bad," she says. "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 aims to foster connection and empathy among listeners, demonstrating music’s power as a tool for shared human understanding.
Cyan Kicks delves into the often-turbulent terrain of their inner world for creative material. "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," they describe. "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 practice not only serves as a cathartic outlet for the artist but also offers a therapeutic resonance for their audience.
The Creative Process Unveiled: From Conception to Completion
The methodologies employed by these artists in bringing their music to life reveal a spectrum of approaches, from organic, continuous ideation to structured, collaborative efforts.
Charlotte Dos Santos views creativity as a perpetual state of being. "I think my creative process is every day – I think it’s like this for most humans really; we’re always thinking and downloading information in the back of our minds, subconsciously," she posits. "And having designated days in the studio is important too, to get the music down." This perspective emphasizes the importance of both passive absorption and active creation, recognizing that ideas can gestate over time before being concretized.
garbagepink’s process is characterized by spontaneity and a swift, intuitive capture of initial ideas. "I usually get my ideas in everyday life, writing down notes or recording voice memos when something comes to me," she explains. "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 "sketching" approach, borrowed from visual arts, prioritizes capturing the essence of an idea before it becomes overly refined.
mags has recently experienced a significant evolution in her creative workflow, moving towards interdisciplinary exploration. "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," she notes. "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)." Her innovative approach of blending music with elements of theater and visual art, as exemplified by her recent concert at Vega, demonstrates a commitment to pushing creative boundaries and creating immersive artistic experiences.
Cyan Kicks employs a blend of individual songwriting and collaborative efforts. "We write songs both as a band and with external songwriters," they state. "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." This foundational approach allows for flexibility and avoids prematurely locking the song into a specific genre. They also highlight the intense emotional toll of initial vocal recordings and the necessity of a focused, calm environment for their writing process, contrasting it with chaotic co-write sessions. Their experience with international co-writing has also been a significant developmental tool, transforming initial nervousness into a more natural and productive engagement.
Context and Implications: The Evolving Landscape of Music Creation
The insights shared by these Nordic artists arrive at a pivotal moment for the music industry. The rise of digital distribution platforms and accessible production tools has democratized music creation, enabling artists to bypass traditional gatekeepers and build direct relationships with their audiences. This has fostered an environment where authenticity and individuality are increasingly valued.
The emphasis on "HER way" of creation is not merely a celebratory nod to International Women’s Day but a reflection of a broader societal shift towards recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives and methodologies. The data consistently shows that while female artists may be gaining more visibility, significant disparities persist in areas like music production, songwriting credits, and executive leadership within the industry. According to a 2023 report by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, women continue to be significantly underrepresented in songwriting and production roles, underscoring the ongoing need for initiatives that amplify female voices and creative processes.
The artists’ collective advice—to stay curious, trust one’s instincts, embrace imperfection, and remain authentic—offers a powerful counter-narrative to the pressures of marketability and conformity. Their commitment to personal experience as a source of inspiration and their varied approaches to creative execution demonstrate that there is no single "right" way to make music. Instead, success is increasingly defined by the artist’s ability to connect with their audience on a genuine level and to sustain a fulfilling creative practice.
The implications of this artistic philosophy extend beyond the music industry. In an era increasingly defined by curated online personas and the relentless pursuit of external validation, the emphasis on introspection, authenticity, and the acceptance of imperfection offers a valuable lesson for individuals across all fields. The journey of these Nordic artists serves as a testament to the power of staying true to oneself, cultivating one’s craft with dedication, and finding strength in the unique contours of one’s own creative path. As the music landscape continues to evolve, the voices of these women, forging their own way, are set to inspire a new generation of artists and listeners alike, proving that the most compelling music often emerges from the most personal of truths.
